The study “Teenagers: A Generation Unplugged” by the wireless trade association CTIA and Harris Interactive reports that cell phones have become a vital part of a teen’s identity. The coolness of the cell phone is considered a marker for popularity and status and having a phone is essential to a teen's social life. (While most teens agreed that the iPhone was the coolest phone, most teens had a 'conventional' cell phone. Few could manage the high cost of the phone and the rates charged by AT&T.) The study results were announced at the CTIA Fall 2008 trade show. (See the overview at CNET.com) Photo credit: Local12. com The importance of a cell phone to teen identity matters to cell phone makers and network operators because teens are a huge demographic. (A recent CNET review is entitled "Top Cell Phones for Teens".) In fact, four out of 5 teens carry a cell phone with total cell phone owners up 40% since 2004. A Nielsen study reported that the average age of … [Read more...]