Eight Percent of U.S. Teens Own Cell Phone, says Survey

Piper Jaffray's newest poll on cell phones does little to paint a true picture of teenage penetration of the mobile devices. Many of the articles covering this survey reference the table of data from the study. But a closer look at these numbers indicate there is little to be learned.


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One important component missing from the table are the base sizes behind the percentages. These numbers would help discern whether there were significant differences between the time periods indicated and the varying price points respondents were willing to pay for phones.

I agree with Fortune's observation that the study "may say more about the demographics of the population Piper Jaffray is testing than the buying power of most U.S. teenagers." The sample here is likely an online population that is wealther, more technologically savvy, and in greater need of an iPhone than the general U.S. teen population. Whether these survey data were weighted to adjust for this discrepancy is unclear.

Mobile marketers should disregard these data if considering the iPhone or other similar touch-screen cell phone platforms for their near term campaigns.