Regardless of whether they get good cell phone reception in Norris University Center or around the Lakefill, some students have caught the iPhone craze that researchers say was marketed toward an older generation.
“Smartphones are meant for people in the business world,” said Mary Healy, a Communication senior. “But kids are now more Internet-savvy and rely more on business technology than before.”
The typical owner of a smartphone – a full-featured mobile phone with organizational and e-mail capabilities – is 35 years old with an average household income of $94,000, according to data from research group Digital Life America. The study, released in February, also found that 54 percent of smartphone owners are college graduates.
While students may not fit the typical smartphone buyer, more and more are using smartphones such as the iPhone, Blackberry Pearl and Palm Treo.
“(Smartphones are) more common on campus,” said Tiffany Marshall, a Weinberg junior who uses an iPhone. “Since coming back to NU, I’ve seen more people with Palm Treos.”
Smartphone users have found ways to incorporate the features of the phone into their college lifestyle.
Sameer Kapadia was one of the first buyers of the iPhone. The Communication junior waited in line with his brother at his local Apple store and purchased the smartphone on June 29, the day it was released.
“I pretty much use everything on it,” Kapadia said. “I check the weather each morning, my e-mail refreshes every 15 minutes, and I use the iPod feature when I’m working out and in between classes.”
Kapadia also uses the iPhone to organize his life.
“I schedule all my (theatre) rehearsals and my class schedule on it,” Kapadia said. “I’ll also take notes on it occasionally … (and use it for) my grocery lists.”
Marshall, who purchased an iPhone because “it looked cool,” said she uses the Notes feature to organize her schedule.
“I jot down new assignments, dentist appointments and meetings,” Marshall said. “(The iPhone) isn’t a life-changer but it makes it more convenient.”
Although the Blackberry Pearl has made Healy “better organized than before,” the Internet capability attracted her to the smartphone.
“I really wanted the e-mail capabilities,” she said. “It’s not as necessary as if I were a lawyer, but I feel better informed having it.”
Kapadia, a self-professed e-mail addict, said he stopped checking his e-mail on his computer, opting instead to check it on his iPhone.
“College students are obsessed with e-mail and (the iPhone) has made my obsession with e-mail easier to deal with,” Kapadia said.
Although professionals may need to use the Internet on-the-go to do business and to increase productivity, students said they rarely feel the need to use the Internet capabilities. They just like the convenience, Healy said.
“There aren’t too many situations where I need to respond as fast (as the smartphone will allow me to),” Healy said. “But, I’m more accessible. … My parents know that I can respond to their e-mails faster.”
However, smartphones allow users to procrastinate just as easily by surfing the web, playing games and watching YouTube videos.
“It’s a great time killer,” said Kapadia. “I think it should be something college kids should use.”
Reach Paul Takahashi at [email protected].
