•UK mobile users finding it hard to switch off
Fear of being out of mobile phone contact affects over 13 million people* across the uk and is causing stress levels to soar, according to a post office® telecoms report published today. Experts have coined a new term to describe this latest affliction to hit the ipod generation - nomo-phobia.
The term characterises a generation of mobile phone users who worry about being out of mobile phone contact with friends, family and colleagues.
Research shows that keeping in touch with friends or family is the primary reason people are wedded to their mobile; 55 per cent of people cited this as a reason for never switching off their phone. 10 per cent of people who never switch off said they needed to be contactable at all times because of their jobs, and nine per cent said that having their phone switched off made them anxious.
And with one in four of us used to never switching off our mobile phones, being out of mobile phone contact now ranks alongside traditionally stressful situations such as getting married, starting a new job and going to the dentist.
Experts warn that nomo-phobia could affect up to 53 per cent of mobile phone users -with 48 per cent of women and 58 per cent of men questioned admitting to experiencing feelings of anxiety when they run out of battery or credit, lose their phone or have no network coverage.
The post office’s® telephony expert stewart fox-mills said: "nomo-phobia is very real for many people in the uk. We’re all familiar with the stressful situations of everyday life such as moving house, breakups and organising a family christmas - but it seems that being out of mobile contact may be the 21st century’s contribution to our already manic lives.
"whether you run out of credit or battery, lose your phone or are in an area with no reception, being phoneless and panicked is a symptom of our 24/7 culture."
The post office® has produced a simple guide to avoiding nomo-phobia - which includes tips such as keeping your pay as you go phone topped up, leaving your loved ones with an alternative contact number or simply switching off your phone when you don’t want to be contacted.
The post office® is the uk’s second largest retailer of electronic top-ups for mobile phones and covers all the major mobile phone networks. E-top up services are available at all 14,000 post office® branches nationwide. The post office® also sells a range of great value domestic and international prepaid phonecards. Visit www.postoffice.co.uk for more details.
Box out:
The post office’s® top tips for avoiding nomo-phobia:
•Back it up: keep a record of your numbers in case you lose your handset
•Keep it safe: keep your mobile phone in a closed pocket or bag to avoid loss or theft
•Don’t get caught short: check your balance and top-up your pay as you go mobile phone regularly
•Fully charged: make sure you charge your battery before you leave the house, and keep a spare charger at your place of work
•What’s the alternative? If you’re heading somewhere with poor mobile phone reception, leave an alternative contact number with family, friends or colleagues so you can be contacted in an emergency
•Be prepared: keep a prepaid phonecard in your purse/ wallet so that you can make emergency calls in the event of your mobile being broken, lost or stolen
•Switch it off: if you don’t want to be contacted, liberate yourself from the shackles of your mobile by switching off your phone.
Ends
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from yougov plc. Total sample size was 2,163 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th - 20th march 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all uk adults (aged 18+).
*13 million relates to number of uk residents who ranked losing their mobile phone or running out of credit/ battery in their top three stressful situations from a choice of ten, expressed as a percentage of the uk population who own a mobile phone
For further information please contact:
3 monkeys communications
Christine jewell/helen prowse/gemma shaw
020 7440 2410
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Post office ltd
Hayley fowell
[email protected]
The post office® offers a range of great value telephony products and services:
Post office broadband and homephone
The new post office® broadband service was launched in october 2007 and offers customers a cash prepayment option, fast connection speeds, no rural surcharges and a range of great value packages, including bundles with the post office®’s telephone service - homephone.
Post office® 118855
Its directory enquiries service - 118855 - offers one of the most competitive prices on the market with all calls charged at a flat rate of 40p (no per minute charges). Customers can get two searches per call and free text back to mobile.
Phonecards and e top-ups
Post office® branches offer a range of great value domestic and international phonecards and a convenient e top-up service for mobile phones.
