Mobile data attitudes in the U.S. 'positive and improving'

Thirty-nine percent of connected consumers in the U.S. have "positive and improving attitudes about their mobile communication devices" according to a new study issued by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which contends that mobile data services adopters are notably more active in many facets of digital life than their wired counterparts. The Pew report notes that 8 percent of U.S. adults (a group the non-profit think-tank dubs "Digital Collaborators") team with other users to create content and express themselves online, with another 7 percent ("Media Movers") sharing content via mobile device. A third group, which Pew calls "Roving Nodes" (9 percent), embraces mobile connectivity to improve their personal productivity. Still another group, the "Mobile Newbies," comprises the 8 percent of subscribers who are still acclimating to mobile devices,

But the majority of Americans remain on the fence about mobile data services. Pew notes that 7 percent of consumers are "Ambivalent Networkers," meaning they appreciate the potential of mobile social networking but lament being so available to their personal contacts. Pew calls the remaining 61 percent "the stationary media majority"--i.e., consumers who still prefer traditional broadband connections for communication and information gathering. They use their mobile handsets primarily for voice services, rarely surf the mobile web and find incoming messages intrusive. Pew adds that 14 percent of Americans remain off the grid, with neither online access nor a mobile phone.

For more on the Pew Internet & American Life Project report:
- read this release

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