MELBOURNE: Believe it or not, mobile phones say quite a lot about their owners, says a new study. Social analyst David Chalke said a person’s mobile phone could give outsiders insight into their attitudes towards work, rest and play.
“Twenty years ago when you said ‘your phone’, you meant the white Telecom commander on the wall in the kitchen, but it doesn’t mean that at all now it means your social accessory. People always used to say it about cars, ‘you drive what you are’… and now your phone (represents) what you are,” he was quoted by the ‘Courrier Mail’ as saying.
In fact, a research by Roy Morgan revealed most attributes differed between the owners of mobile phone brands. The typical iPhone user thinks computers give them control over their lives. “iPhone is the Alfa Romeo,” Chalke said.
Sony Ericsson users like a full social life and fast food. Users of an LG handset are usually women aged 14 to 24, not mechanically minded and unlikely to have pay TV. “LG is the Kia,” Chalke said.
Samsung users tend to be conservative dressers over 50 who don’t like taking risks. “Samsung is the Daihatsu.” BlackBerry users are high-earners aged 35 to 49.
Nokia users are unlikely to be aged 14 to 24 and less likely to have played arcade video games in the past three months, according to him. “Nokia is the security blanket … it is the Toyota of phones,” Chalke said.