Cell-phone sales quiet down a bit
Cell-phone sales have fallen for the first time in a couple of years. The number of new customers signing up has taken a double-digit dive, too. Market saturation is one reason. The slowing economy is another. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Cell phone (IStockphoto)
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TEXT OF STORY
KAI RYSSDAL: It's not literally true that everybody has a cell phone by now, but it sure does feel like it, and that's starting to show up in the numbers. Sales of handsets have fallen for the first time in a couple of years. The number of new customers signing up has taken a double-digit dive, too. Market saturation is part of that -- if everybody's got a cell phone, not so many people need a cell phone. But the slowing economy's not helping any either. And that's got the industry wondering whether anybody can hear 'em now. Stacey Vanek Smith reports.
STACEY VANEK-SMITH: Sales of handsets have slowed more than 20 percent so far this year, according to the NPD consumer research group.
JIMMY SCHAEFFLER: Well, I think the cell-phone industry reflects the economy.
Jimmy Schaeffler is a senior analyst with the Carmel Group. He says cell phones are in the same boat as many other consumer electronics -- consumers may be looking, but they're not buying.
SCHAEFFLER: People who have cell phones are saying, "I'm going to get along with what I've got until the economy improves." Those who are looking to upgrade, many of them are waiting.
That means cell-phone companies may have to wait, too. Shaeffler predicts a tough couple of years for the industry.
Telecom analyst Jeff Kagan says the dropping numbers are also growing pains. He says up until now a lot of the industry's growth has relied on people buying their first mobile phone or families expanding their plans. He says those missions have been accomplished.
Jeff Kagan: We have sold 259 million phones already, and there's only about 300 million of us in the Unites States. At some point, you're going to run out of people to sell cell phones to.
Kagan says the down economy is dividing the market. He points to growing sales for high-end phones, like Apple's iPhone and the new Blackberry. He attributes that to more people relying on them for work or for entertainment.
KAGAN: Ten years ago, if we have the economic tough times, customers may have just cut that expense. But today cell phones are not a luxury anymore. They're a necessity.
And, Kagan says, that's true for the younger generation, too.
[CINGULAR COMMERCIAL]
MOTHER: Who are you texting 50 times a day?
DAUGHTER: IDK, my BFF Jill.
In Los Angeles, I'm SVS for MP.
RYSSDAL: The very hip Stacey Vanek-Smith for us there.
Comments
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From Carme-by-the-Sea, CA, CA, 05/21/2008
Oz, in his email comment, makes a great point.
From Chicago, IL, 05/20/2008
I was hopeful that this story would have said something about my own reason for having not purchased a new cell phone in almost 2 years: I am stuck with whatever phone will work with my carrier.
I asked my carrier what would happen if I went out and purchased an iPhone, or something else that's not on the carrier's list. They said that only the phone would work--not texting or internet. So, I'm stuck.
Unfortunately, your story handled cell phones as if they are like televisions: something that I can buy for myself or as a gift, and know that it'll function.
Also, there are the contracts that people are waiting to get out of because they want to switch carriers, but a new phone might also require starting a brand new 2 or 3yr contract.
These are 2 apsects of the cell phone market that weren't even alluded to in your story.
Yes. I've got $300 and would LOVE to buy a new phone right this very minute. The problem is: the market doesn't want my money. So, the bellyaching about a downturn in sales is partially something the industry brought on itself.
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