More Cord Cutters

The trend of young US wireless users opting to disconnect their home phone lines in favor of wireless-only options is growing, reports In-Stat. The typical cord cutter is under 35 years old with a small household and a lower income than the traditional phone user, the high-tech market research firm says. This was a notable finding from a recent In-Stat survey of US telecom consumers.

“The largest number of current cord cutters—those who do not have a landline, but rely solely on their mobile phone—are those one might expect: young, single, living alone, or sharing quarters such as a dormitory or rooming house,” says Jill Meyers, In-Stat analyst. “In many cases, these are people who are the least-likely candidates to have a landline phone.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

* Current cord cutter respondents use 22% more cellular minutes than the average survey respondent, and 40% more than those not interested in surrendering their landline.
* Some 24% of those with a landline would consider replacing it with a mobile phone.
* Potential cord cutters have the highest penetration of family or group mobile rate plans—they also have the highest spending, averaging $111.41 per month.