ATLANTA, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- This Valentine's Day love is in the air, but don't ruin your perfect match with bad cell phone manners. Let Cingular Wireless be your wireless relationship coach.
For the third year, Cingular, the nation's largest carrier and an industry leader in wireless safety and courtesy, has commissioned a survey of adult cell phone users to determine how cell phones have affected their love lives. The survey, conducted by ICR (International Communications Research), showed that good wireless manners are more important than ever before, with 38 percent of respondents indicating they would be upset if their date took a call while on a date, compared to 29 percent in 2005. And, it is no wonder the dating game is not easy, considering that 33 percent admitted their dates had answered their wireless phones in the midst of great dinner conversation.
"Trying to find 'The One' can be challenging enough in today's world, so let your wireless phone play Cupid for you," said Jennifer Bowcock, director consumer media relations, Cingular Wireless. "As our survey results indicate, you need to make a commitment to good cell phone manners. You can also spice up your relationship by sending flirty text messages, capturing a special memory with multi-media services, or designating a ringtone for your significant other."
The survey asked a total of 13 questions related to dating and wireless courtesy, including:
1. Have you ever flirted with someone via wireless phone/text messaging?
(28 percent said yes, compared to 22 percent in 2005)
2. Do you use text messaging to communicate with your date or mate?
(27 percent said yes compared to 24 percent in 2005)
3. Has your wireless phone ever saved you from an uncomfortable date?
(17 percent said yes compared to 14 percent in 2005)
4. Have you ever ended a relationship over rude/offensive wireless
behavior? (7 percent said yes compared to 8 percent in 2005)
5. Have you ever answered a wireless phone in the midst of great dinner
conversation with your date? (29 percent said yes compared to 26
percent in 2005)
6. Have you ever used text messaging news as a conversation starter with
your date? (9 percent said yes compared to 9 percent in 2005)
If your phone does ring on a date, it might be good to remember that you are also judged by the tone you project -- the ringtone that is. More than one-quarter of those surveyed said they have formed an opinion of someone based on their ringtone choice.
Committing to Good Cell Phone Manners
In addition to aiding your love life on Valentine's Day, Cingular Wireless is the industry leader in cell phone safety and courtesy year round. Be Sensible is Cingular's award-winning, signature program to educate consumers nationwide about safe and courteous ways to use wireless phones and devices. Be Sensible focuses on using common sense and using your phone when it's safe and when it won't disturb those around you.
To demonstrate that love and wireless courtesy can go hand-in-hand, Cingular offers a few courtesy commandments:
- Let your date know in advance if you're expecting a call that you know you'll need to answer. Hint: It had better be someone important - and impressive.
- On those occasions when you're in a public setting and you need to use your phone to have a private conversation with your sweetie, text messaging may just be the best tool for the job. After all, sometimes love just won't wait.
- Variety is the spice of life, so mix up your romantic wireless techniques by sending flirty text messages one day then a multimedia message with your favorite "couple" photo the next. To really add a little heat to the fire, add a love note to the photo. That's sure to make Cupid smile.
- Eliminate the "Do you love me?" question forever by jazzing up you phone's screensaver with a photo of your beloved. A picture is worth a thousand hugs!
Always Be Sensible and remember that a dinner or movie date is no place for a ringing phone if you want to live happily ever after.