Has the global economic slowdown made you change your cell phone plans? You may not be alone, as a new poll for <a href="http://www.getjar.com">GetJar</a> shows that more than 75% of respondents are planning to cut back on their bill, or wait to upgrade or buy a new phone.

Marin Perez, Contributor

October 29, 2008

2 Min Read

Has the global economic slowdown made you change your cell phone plans? You may not be alone, as a new poll for GetJar shows that more than 75% of respondents are planning to cut back on their bill, or wait to upgrade or buy a new phone.Mobile Attitudes has a great breakdown of the survey, and it shows that 78% of people are planning to delay buying or upgrading their cell phones, and 76% are "immediately planning to reduce the amount they spend on phone usage."

"What we are seeing is a quite understandable reaction to the economic news that has dominated headlines all around the world," said Ilja Laurs, founder and CEO of GetJar. "It will be interesting to see how these intentions are played out in reality over the coming months -- whether they are based on short-term concerns that will fade quite quickly, or whether we will see long-lasting changes in consumer behavior."

Have the economic woes made you change your cell phone habits? A few months ago, I realized I was tired of paying $90 a month for a data plan and voice services. I switched to the local MetroPCS and now have unlimited voice and texts for half that price. My phone can't do as many cool things, and the out-of-area coverage is atrocious, but I'm not missing my personal smartphone that much.

I must say, though, I've been extremely tempted to hop back into the data plan game with the G1, BlackBerry Bold, and BlackBerry Storm here, or just around the corner. It's really tough, though, because there have been plenty of powerful, cool smartphones in the last 6 months. I just know the minute I snap one up and get locked into a two-year contract, an incredible smartphone will be rolled out.

About the Author(s)

Never Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.

You May Also Like


More Insights