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High-tech solutions for holiday shopping needs

This year, Santa’s sleigh will be carrying a lot more high-tech gadgets to Atlanta’s good little girls and boys, as well as, more than a few discriminating adults. According to a recent survey commissioned by Sprint, more people are adding technology gifts such as wireless phones, digital cameras and computer games to their wish lists for the 2004 holiday season.

“Electronic gifts are becoming favorites among a growing group of consumers in Atlanta,” said Gabe Peck, Atlanta area retail director for Sprint. “According to a recent survey, mobile phones are high on the holiday gift lists of Atlanta teens and adults because they offer so much in one package, allowing them to stay in touch, play games, take photos and videos, access information on the Web and more.”

Atlanta-area parents surveyed said mobile phones are the number-one gift among technology items they would buy for their teenage children. Nearly half of the respondents (49.6 percent) said technology/electronic gifts top their child’s gift list, and 43 percent say they believe a mobile phone is their child’s most desired gift this holiday season.

Among Atlanta teens and young adults surveyed, digital cameras are the most-requested technology gift with mobile phones and computer games coming in second and third, respectively. Digital cameras ranked highest across all demographic groups surveyed, and camera phones have quickly become a “must-have” item for teens and young adults. When asked which mobile accessories they would most like to have, participants responded with “built-in camera phone” more than anything else (33.9 percent).

“Mobile phones have become a part of daily life for Atlantans of all ages who use them for much more than talking these days,” Peck said. “Sprint is seeing an increasing demand for phones that do it all because it’s the one device that most people have with them at all times.”

Here are the results of the Atlanta survey:

• Nearly half (49.6 percent) of parents surveyed say that technology/electronic equipment tops their children’s (ages 13-19) holiday wish list.

• With 43 percent of parents saying a mobile phone tops their children’s (ages 13-19) holiday wish list, it ranks the highest among technology/electronic equipment gifts.

• When asked which mobile phone accessories their children (ages 13-19) would most like, parents responded with “built-in camera phone” (43 percent) more than anything else, followed by “games” (26.3 percent).

• Parents’ perceptions seem accurate, with more overall respondents (36.3 percent) ranking technology/electronic equipment at the top of their wish lists than anything else.

• When asked which mobile accessories they would most like, participants responded with “built-in camera phone” (33.9 percent) more than anything.

• Nearly one-third (32.1 percent) of all respondents also said technology/electronic equipment was their favorite gift last year, more than any other gift category.

• Among technology/electronic equipment items, digital cameras topped wish lists for all demographic categories, followed by mobile phones (27.2 percent).

• When asked which electronic device would be most difficult to live without for a single day, 27.8 percent responded with “mobile phone,” more than any other device.

• When asked which electronic device would be most difficult to live without for a month, 18.4 percent responded with “mobile phone,” just behind Internet access (24.2 percent).

• Respondents ranked mobile phones as the fourth most important item in their daily lives, behind Internet, PC and e-mail, but ahead of music, radio, photos, newspaper, fashion, politics and video games.

• Mobile phones ranked second among respondents when asked which products introduced in the past 50 years have had the greatest positive impact on their lives, behind the Internet.

• Overall mobile phone use is at 95.8 percent, with every demographic coming in over 90 percent.

• Overwhelmingly, respondents say “calling plan” is the most important factor in their decision to purchase a mobile phone (90.5 percent).

• When asked how their children (ages 13-19) typically use their mobile phone, respondents predictably ranked “talk/keep in touch” highest. However, 47.8 percent said their children “play games,” 12.2 percent said “take/send pictures,” 8.9 percent said “check/send e-mail,” and 6.7 percent said, “connect to the Internet.”

Here are the results of the national survey:

• Nearly half (46.8 percent) of parents surveyed say that technology/electronic equipment tops their children’s (ages 13-19) holiday wish list.

• With 42.4 percent of parents saying a mobile phone tops their children’s (ages 13-19) holiday wish list, it ranks the highest among technology/electronic equipment gifts.

• When asked which mobile phone accessories their children (ages 13-19) would most like, parents responded with “built-in camera phone” (39.4 percent) more than anything else followed byÊ“games” (22.7 percent).

• Parents’ perceptions seem accurate, with more overall respondents (35.3 percent) ranking technology/electronic equipment at the top of their wish list than anything else, including more than half of young adult males (53.7 percent) and teen males (50.3 percent).

• When asked which mobile accessories they would most like, participants responded with “built-in camera phone” (32.8 percent) more than anything.

• Nearly 30 percent (29.7) of all respondents also said technology/electronic equipment was their favorite gift last year, more than any other gift category.

• Among technology/electronic equipment items, digital cameras topped wish lists for all demographic categories, followed by mobile phones (23.6 percent).

• When asked which electronic device would be most difficult to live without for a single day, 25.9 percent responded with “mobile phone,” more than any other device.

• When asked which electronic device would be most difficult to live without for a month, 18.8 percent responded with “mobile phone,” just behind Internet access (25.7 percent).

• Respondents ranked mobile phones as the fourth most important item in their daily lives, behind Internet, PC and e-mail, but ahead of music, radio, photos, newspaper, fashion, politics and video games.

• Mobile phones ranked second among respondents when asked which products introduced in the last 50 years have had the greatest positive impact on their lives, behind the Internet.

• Ninety-three percent of respondents own or use a mobile phone, with every demographic coming in over 90 percent.

• Overwhelmingly, respondents say “calling plan” is the most important factor in their decision to purchase a mobile phone (89 percent).

• When asked how their children (ages 13-19) typically use their mobile phone, respondents predictably ranked “talk/keep in touch” highest. However, 43.7 percent said their children “play games,” 13.2 percent said “take/send pictures,” 11.2 percent said “check/send e-mail,” and 8 percent said, “connect to the Internet.”