June 12, 2009
6/12: PDA’s: Luxury or Necessity?
Although most Americans say they own a cell phone, more than eight in ten residents are not on the PDA bandwagon. In fact, just 16% report they own a personal digital assistant like a Blackberry, Palm, or iPhone. The proportion grows, however, when looking at employed residents. Nearly one-quarter of those with jobs say they carry this type of portable device.
©istockphoto.com/dovestudios
And, while Americans who earn an annual salary of $50,000 or more a year are nearly eight times more likely to have purchased a PDA than those who earn less, employed residents are more likely to carry a PDA than are unemployed residents, regardless of income. The proportion of employed residents who make less than $50,000 a year and who have a PDA is double the proportion of residents within this income bracket who are unemployed. When moving up to a higher income level, employed residents who make between $50,000 annually and $99,999 are three times as likely as unemployed Americans within this income bracket to carry this type of device. And, half of those who make $100,000 or more annually and who have a job carry a PDA. This compares with 35% of those who make a similar amount and do not have a job.
Age is also a factor. By a more than two-to-one margin, younger Americans are more likely to own a PDA. 26% of those younger than 45 years old fess up to owning a PDA compared with just 10% of those 45 and above. Once again, employed residents in both of these age groups are more likely than are those who are unemployed to have a PDA.
Related Stories:
Related Links:
Text Is Cheap: Do Your Friends a Favor: Put Down the PDA and Talk to Them