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Cell Phones Are Americans' New Best Friends
Relationships with phones rival relationships with loved ones, but the attachment is short-lived
Dexter, Mich., Dec. 7, 2010 - As we head into 2011, it appears mobile interactions are replacing human connections for many Americans. According to a 2010 survey1 from Recellular - the world's largest reseller and recycler of used phones - cell phones are increasingly present with the loved ones in the bedroom and at the dinner table, especially among 18- to 34-year-olds. Of this 'cell phone frenzied' demographic, 40 percent sleep with the cell phones and 33 percent text at the dinner table.
What else is this group saying about their mobile manners?
All the attention and attachment is short-lived, however, as more than half of Americans (55 percent) say they have replaced their cell phones in the last 12 months. When it is time to part ways, more than one-in-three Americans will either stash his or her used phone in a drawer (36 percent) or throw it away (32 percent). In reality, there is a lot of life left in these used phones and ReCellular is putting them to good use by renewing the relationship.
With ReCellular, individuals can purchase fully refurbished cell phones for their holiday upgrade and throughout the year, while making a sustainable purchasing decision and saving money in the process. "Many Americans fail to realize that their old phones are perfectly functional and that buying a refurbished cell phone instead of buying new is a lot like giving someone you love a second chance," said Steve Manning, CEO of ReCellular.
"We find that individualss relationships with their phones lead them to need a quick fix. Be it an individual who's under contract and loses his or her phone or a mom who needs to replace her child's broken phone without breaking the bank, there's a refurbished phone out there for every situation. A cell phone that has lost its appeal to one person can actually be an upgrade for the next," said Manning.
Individuals can visit ReCellular's consumer store, ReCellularToo.com, to browse the selection of more than 100,000 refurbished phones, from iPhones to BlackBerries, available for sale each month. Before being put back on the market, each phone is tested, scrubbed of all personal data and cosmetically renewed to offer a fresh face for the next owner. In addition to purchasing refurbished cell phones, individuals can also sell used cell phones for cash to generate some extra spending money for the holidays. This will come in handy for the 28 percent of the 'cell phone frenzied' who expect to give or receive a cell-phone related gift this holiday season, further reinforcing that our relationships with our phones, old and new, are as strong as ever.
About ReCellular Inc.
ReCellular Inc. is the world's leading electronics sustainability firm. ReCellular provides solutions for the collection, reuse and recycling of used personal electronics that generate financial return for company partners, quality products for customers, funding for charity organizations and protection of the environment. Corporate, charitable, consumer and wholesale information is available at www.ReCellular.com.
1The ReCellular survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) between November 22-23, 2010 via email invitation and an online survey. A nationally representative sample of 1,072 Americans ages 18+ was used. Because the sample was based on those who self-selected for participation, no estimates of sampling error can be calculated.