Do Mobile Phones Have a New Calling?

Media Release Embargoed until1am 27 March 2015

Do Mobile Phones Have a New Calling?

50% of Gen Ys say that data is more important than call minutes or texts

Auckland 27 March 2015 – A new survey by consumer satisfaction company Canstar Blue shows that the way we use mobile phones is changing, with 50% of Generation Ys saying that data is more important to them than any of the phone’s other communications functions.

Nearly a third (32%) of Aucklanders feel the same way about their data, ranking it higher than calling or texting in their priorities. However, more than one in five Kiwis (21%) don’t actually know how much data they use each month, says Canstar New Zealand General Manager, Derek Bonnar.

“Baby boomers are the age group most out of touch with their data use.

“It’s important that New Zealanders are savvy about matching their plan with their data use. A lot of money could be lost in exceeding plan limits and having to purchase top up data packs, or in paying extra for a higher data allowance than they are really getting through.”

Snooping on your spouse?

The temptation to spy on one’s nearest and dearest is strongest for Gen Ys, as close to one fifth (19%) have been caught looking through their partner’s phone, or caught their partner looking through theirs.

It would seem that the older we get, the more trusting we become as Gen Xs (16%) and Baby Boomers (5%) are much less likely to spy on their partner’s mobile phone activity, says Bonnar.

“But Gen Ys, may be on the road to becoming more trusting as snooping rates have dropped since 2013 (26%).”

Driving dangerously

Also under the microscope are Kiwis’ mobile phone habits while driving, showing that 9% of New Zealanders regularly talk or text while on the roads, with 3% stopped by police for doing so.

Gen Ys (19%) were shown to have the most dangerous texting/talking while driving habits compared to Baby Boomers (3%).

However, the anti-texting while driving message may be starting to resonate as there has been a slight decrease in this behaviour since the previous survey in 2013 (2013: 11%, 2015: 9%)

Not on the weekends, Boss

Twenty eight per cent of Kiwis have a mobile phone they use for work calls. Men (34%) are more likely than women (22%) to have a second phone for work purposes.

Close to a quarter (24%) of those with a work phone switch it off after hours and on the weekends, with Cantabrians the most likely of those surveyed (29%) to leave work for office hours.

Canstar asked both pre-pay and plan customers to rate their provider on:

1. Value for money

2. Customer service

3. Accessibility of the provider

4. Billing

5. Network coverage

6. Overall satisfaction with the mobile phone provider

This year, Skinny Mobile came out on top for the pre-paid survey and 2degrees took away the top spot for the plan providers.

It is interesting to note that both of the winners are challenger brands who operate a lower cost model in the market, says Bonnar.

“Skinny received five star ratings across all of the six categories, and were the only pre-pay provider to receive top marks from their customers for value for money and network coverage, representing great use of the Spark network at a lower price point.

“2degrees has the most satisfied plan customers, who have rewarded them with near perfect scores across the board. Since 2009, 2degrees has brought a new level of competition to the market, which is great for consumers that are looking for better value from a mobile phone provider,” says Bonnar.

Mobile Phone Providers by region

Auckland: Aucklanders are the most likely (equal with Otago) to have dropped their mobile phone and cracked the screen (17%), most likely (equal with Manawatu/Wanganui) to say that data is more important to them than call minutes or texts (32%), most likely (equal with Bay of Plenty and Manawatu/Wanganui) to regularly talk or text while driving (10%), most likely to be unsure of how to operate their mobile phones (24%), most likely (equal with Otago) to have been stopped by police for using their phone while driving (4%) and most likely to have a mobile phone for work calls (33%)

Waikato: Those from the Waikato are the least likely (equal with Bay of Plenty) to have dropped their mobile phone and cracked the screen (14%), least likely to have more than one mobile phone (15%) and least likely to switch their work phone off after hours or on weekends (17%)

Wellington: Wellingtonians are the most likely to have acquired their mobile phone by signing up to a plan (26%)

Canterbury: Cantabrians are the least likely to have been caught looking through their partner’s phone, or have caught their partner looking through their phone (7%), least likely to (equal with Bay of Plenty and Manawatu/Wanganui) have a mobile phone they use for work calls (23%) and most likely to switch their phone off after hours and on weekends (29%)

Otago: Those from Otago are the least likely to expect their mobile phone to last them longer than 2 years (24%), most likely (equal with Auckland ) to have dropped their mobile phone and cracked the screen (17%), least likely to have acquired their mobile phone by signing up to a plan (20%), least likely to regularly talk or text while driving (4%) and least likely (equal with Auckland) to have been stopped by police for using their mobile phone while driving (4%)

Bay of Plenty: Those from the Bay of Plenty are least likely (equal with Waikato) to have dropped their mobile phone and cracked the screen (14%), most likely (equal with Auckland and Manawatu/Wanganui) to regularly talk or text while driving (10%), least likely to say that data is more important to them than call minutes or texts (20%) least likely to have been stopped by police for using their phone while driving (1%) and least likely (equal with Canterbury and Manawatu/Wanganui) to have a mobile phone they use for work calls (23%)

Manawatu/Wanganui: Those from the Manawatu/Wanganui are the most likely to have been caught looking through their partner’s phone, or caught their partner looking through theirs (13%), most likely to not expect their phone to last longer than 2 years (32%), most likely (equal with Auckland) to say that data is more important than call minutes or texts (32%), most likely (equal with Bay of Plenty and Auckland) to regularly talk or text while driving (10%), most likely to have more than one mobile phone (26%), least likely to be unsure of how to operate their mobile phone (13%) and least likely (equal with Bay of Plenty and Canterbury) to have a mobile phone that they use for work calls (23%)

ENDS

About the survey

We partner with respected professional market research agency Colmar Brunton Australia, who undertake research on our behalf using Your Source.

The outcomes reported here are from the 2220 people who currently have an active mobile phone account (plan or prepaid) in their name and who pay the bills. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.1%.

Age Groups:

Gen Y: 18-29

Gen X: 30-44

Baby Boomers: 45+

About Canstar Blue:

Canstar Blue is a division of financial research and ratings company, CANSTAR, which has been operating in New Zealand for nearly a decade.

Canstar Blue uses market research to determine customer satisfaction ratings across a range of products and services in New Zealand to help consumers make the best purchasing decisions for their needs. Canstar Blue conducts similar research in Australia. New ratings are added regularly. Results are freely available to consumers who are encouraged to use the ratings as a guide to product excellence. The results can be seen at www.canstarblue.co.nz.

About CANSTAR:

Founded in 1992, CANSTAR Pty Limited is Australia and New Zealand's premier researcher of retail finance information for over 350 institutions such as banks, building societies, credit unions, finance companies, brokers, mortgage originators, life companies and finance related internet portals. CANSTAR customers use the extensive database for competitor analysis as well as a means of disseminating their product range. This information is also distributed to print and electronic media for publication and to agents, accountants, brokers and internet portals for use in advising their clients.

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