What Does Your Phone Say About You?

Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:08PM EDT

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I've featured many phones here on Yahoo! Tech, most of them created to appeal to a younger, style-conscious generation that wants both form and function packaged in a good looking phone. After all, phones are an extension of our personality and the reason we pay a lot of moolah to have them covered in Swarovski crystals. That's not to say we solely judge a phone by its cover. This generation of tech-savvy consumers has all the shopping comparison tools they need to make an informed decision. Add tech blogs, forums, and techie friends to the mix, and young consumers will have enough reasons to think twice before plunking down $300 on a phone, just because it's cute.

A recent survey conducted by Nielsen Media Research confirms what we long suspected: cell phones do say a lot about our personality. According to Nielsen Media Research associate director Mr. Jody Loughlin, "The type of mobile you're seen with could even be more important than whether you're with...one of the other major carriers." Most of us know that mobile phone companies will do anything to get their phones into celebrity hands as a tactic to make them more desirable. Forbes recently shed some light on a practice called "celebrity seeding" where companies gift actors with their products hoping to garner media attention in return. Nothing new here, but lately I've seen celebs pictured with more than two gadgets in their hands, sometimes even three. Blogs like Geeksugar never fail at keeping us guessing what phones celebs are sporting on their regular column called "Match The Celeb with the Cell Phone."

So I've combined what Nielsen Media Research and Dawn Bratton say about phone stereotypes, and added a little celebrity phone sightings to find out if what they say is true. What do you think?

Do you fall into any of these categories:

Motorola Magenta RAZR: Fashion conscious, under 24, fun seekers, individualistic.The "It" girls must have phone.
Celebrities who have one: Maria Sharapova, Paris Hilton, Denise Richards, Nicole Richie, Rachael Bilson, and Mischa Barton.

Dolce & Gabbana V3i RAZR: Only 1,000 of these were made so this phone screams "I'm One of a Kind."
Celebrities who have one:
Sharon Stone, Hillary Duff, Reese Witherspoon

Chocolate LG Pink: Favorite with moms/stay-at-home parents, success driven, harmony seekers.
Celebrities who have one: Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Jessica Alba, Snoop Dog, Hugh Hefner, Girls Next Door.

Sidekick 3: You can be exclusive and you like to have people wonder what you are doing at all times.
Celebrities who have one:
Hillary Duff, Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan

Nokia: Family-minded, middle aged managers, balance seekers, health conscious.
Celebrities who have one: Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige

Sony Ericsson: Ambitious young men, professionals, success driven, individualistic
Celebrities who have one: Robbie Williams, Helena Christensen

Samsung: Young women, career focused, success driven, fun seekers
Celebrities who have one: Leonardo DiCaprio, Allison Janney

Blackberry:  You are into all of the tech things and like new things. Carrying a PDA also means you may be demanding but only because you are a multi-tasker. You are extremely organized.
Celebrities who have one: Jaime Fox, Britney Spears, Lauren Conrad, Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson, Adrian Grenier, and Tina Fey.

Treo: You are into all of the tech things and like new things. Carrying a PDA also means you may be demanding but only because you are a multi-tasker. You are extremely organized.
Celebrities who have one: Mathew Broderick, Peter Gabriel

Could the stereotypes be true? What phone do you have?

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Comments on What Does Your Phone Say About You?

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  • 26 Posted by khadijasworld on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    04-01-2007, I'm Khadija...I have a BlackJack...I'm one of those people who enjoy the latest tech things, it's a all in one, do everything phone, because I am damanding, and I consider myself to be very organized, a multi-tasker, this phone allows me to do things when I want to....not to mention it is very entertaining....

  • 27 Posted by gregmfg on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a 5 year old Motorola v60 or some darn thing. It dials, it receives, it does what I need it to do. Anyone who judges another person based on the phone they carry is dumber than braindead.

  • 28 Posted by cookieski2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    Samsung: YOUNG WOMEN, career focused, success driven, fun seekers Celebrities who have one: LEONARDO DICAPRIO Does anyone Else find this HIlarious???

  • 30 Posted by davidhull@prodigy.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    Cell phones represent one thing to me: intrusion into my personal life. I take the hundreds of $$$$ I save a year in not having one and go on a trip every other year to a cool destination (last year Vietnam, next year Japan!). The payments I DON'T make to a cell phone company finance my trip. Then, when I need to make that rare call and I'm not near a land line, I just ask who ever I'm near to use their cell phone! 95% of people will let you, if only to succumb to the vanity associated with having you see their personality revealing cell! I fawn over the style and coolness of their phone to make them feel good about themselves. Its the least I can do! Its a great way to meet new people, too. So, when you are cutting that check or EFT to your cell phone company, just imagine the world travels (or whatever indulgence floats your boat) you could be having instead. LOL!

  • 31 Posted by gfneuman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    My Motorola V180 came free, plus an additional $50 mail in rebate through an on line service a little over two years ago, with a 1 year contract w/T-Mobile. I had to replace the battery this winter, but I expect it will last at least another two years! And I have two digital still cameras and a Canon SLR film camera, so why would I ever want a poor quality picture taking phone at an absurd price???

  • 32 Posted by afjag97 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Regardless of what cell phone one uses, one should proofread what they write. We don't "judge a phone by it's (sic) cover." "It's" is a contraction meaning "it is" and does not connote the possessive. BTW, I have a Samsung . . .

  • 33 Posted by swimmur4lifenc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hey a camera phone is good because some people can't afford a camera and a phone so a camera phone is a perfect solution. plus you can carry less materials around. so maybe some peoples predictions aren't true, or what they are, that doesn't mean that phones aren't a necessary. What if you got in a car wreck or ran out of gas for your car, you would probaly want to call your friends or family to come and pick you up. I am not saying your phone has to be fancy, i am just saying that is darn handy!!!!!!!!!!

  • 34 Posted by mlhs42@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with linniem. These days, not only are we judged by the way we dress, the car we drive, the home we live in, or if we wear a size 2 or 20, NOW we have to be judged by what type of cell phone we use. It's really all too sad. There are truly more important things to be concerned about. I have a plain ol' LG. My only "extravagance" on that is a "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN" ring tone, and THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE THOSE MOVIES!

  • 35 Posted by wwoloczyj@prodigy.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    this is the most ridiculus thing i have ever read. being involved with the wireless industry since day one. you need to get a real job.

  • 37 Posted by supersal5_21 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have a sidekick 3. and i really DO like the attention of people asking me where i am. so true. =]

  • 38 Posted by ladiehuskie09 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have a razor and i love it!! but i text more than i talk! texting is so fun calling people takes to long for me im very busy and on the move!

  • 39 Posted by mholeton@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Motorola Black RAZR, I'm a techie, professional, individualist, and over 40. I buy what I want, not because someone else likes it. The people that have the PDA phones usually don't know how to use them or don't understand a phone is not suppose to be your diary. Never used the camera on the phone, phones should not have them period.

  • 40 Posted by md71430@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Helio Hero - absolutely love it! I've had every phone company imaginable - Helio tops them all...by far!

  • 41 Posted by santor0730s@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    SOMEBODYS_HERE Don't be ridiculous and stingy. If you don't want to be bother just turn it off as simple as that. get one it comes very handy sometimes! =)

  • 42 Posted by hnda1998 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have a sprint samsung a900 with over 30+ t.v. channels and another 30+ sat. radio stations,incld. a few locals from L.A.,new york.chicago and miami.so my phone says i will never be bored as long as i have a signal.oh it always says im not cheap.

  • 43 Posted by rhcpwoman2@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    ummm.... i have a pocket pc its like a more advanced side kick type thing....its got microsoft word, excell, powerpoint...and even msn messenger and some other stuff its really neat...and with the open up keyboard its really helpful if i want to do homeowkr or go on the internet or even text message.

  • 44 Posted by feindtchen on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    This article made absolutely NO sense. What about us poor souls that HAVE TO have a Blackberry because it was provided to us by our place of employment. A Blackberry is definately not the type of phone I would choose of free will. I don't want everyone to be able to get in touch with me all the time. Useless article.

  • 45 Posted by cpamad@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Motorola Fire Red Razr, Hate the dog gone thing. Will definitly go back to LG.

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