1 in 8 Mobile Moms Say They Lose or Misplace Their Smartphone “Very Often” or “Often”
Kensington, makers of Proximo™, today announced findings from its 2014 Essentials for Mobile Life Survey. The nationwide lifestyle survey polled adult parents who use mobile electronic devices and have an “on the go” lifestyle. Proximo uses an app along with a Key Fob and/or Tag to alert users before they have left their smartphone or tagged item behind, a handy companion when you consider the survey revealed 1 in 8 mobile moms lose or misplace their smartphone “very often” or “often.” Having to replace a smartphone is expensive, time-consuming and stressful. Proximo is only a fraction of the cost of a new phone, meaning it pays for itself, and then some, the very first time a mobile mom needs it.
Essential Items for a Mobile Mom
What comes as no surprise, the #1 item mobile moms in America say is most important to get through an average day is a purse/wallet (73%). But what was a surprise is that mobile moms named their smartphone (70%) such a close second, meaning that mobile moms now regard their smartphone nearly as vital as their purse, and slightly more important than their car (69%).
Technology’s Increasing Role in Parenting
Most mobile moms in America have a smartphone (88%), and they are relying on their phone to stay in contact with their children. Kensington’s survey indicates a budding shift from traditional communication methods between parent and child toward digital methods. While the #1 way almost all (90%) mobile moms in America think is best to communicate with children today is still talking in person, more than a third believe texting (37%) or a phone call (35%) is also best.
Danger Zones for Mobile Mom
Any busy mobile mom frequents many locations throughout her day-- from home and office to the kid’s school and grandparent’s house. The pain point of losing a smartphone ranks[1] third among top problems associated with using one, following dropping it or running out of battery power. For today’s mobile moms, a smartphone is more than just expensive to replace — it is often the “keeper” of a tremendous amount of personal, confidential and work-related information too. Kensington’s research shows that some locations pose more risk than others to mom when it comes to losing her mobile device.
When asked where a smartphone went missing, the #1 place mobile moms in America say a smartphone has been forgotten, lost or stolen is at a family member or friend’s home (32%). Other top locations range included:
- A car (24%)
- A child’s bedroom (17%)
- A store/retail outlet (16%)
- A school (16%)
“It’s interesting to see our research show how connected mobile moms are to technology. These women have enough on their to-do list every day without worrying about losing their phone,” said Anne Costello, Senior Marketing Manager at Kensington. “That’s why Proximo can be such a valuable mobile add-on for them. It ensures busy moms have one less thing to worry about because they’ll always be able to find their phones and other items easily.”
For the mobile moms worried about losing their most valuable possessions, Kensington offers peace of mind in Proximo, available for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S. Proximo safeguards your phone to ensure it always stays with you.
- The Proximo app’s Proximity Meter acts as a 24/7 guardian, letting you know how far away your stuff is and alerting you if you leave it behind.
- The Proximo Fob triggers an alarm on your phone, even if it’s on vibrate, so you can find it quickly and get on with your day.
- The Proximo Tag can be put on any items like backpacks or handbags so you can always find them easily with the Proximo app on your phone.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by TNS on behalf of Kensington from December 5-9, 2013 among 1,000 adults 18 years and older. For complete survey methodology, including raw data and weighting variables, please contact Dan Jackson at Grayling at dan.jackson@grayling.com.
[1] Source: Kensington Proprietary Research
Notes to editors
About Kensington
Kensington is a leading provider of desktop and mobile device accessories, trusted by IT, educators, business and home office professionals around the world for more than 35 years. Kensington products empower people to dynamically interact with content, creating a better working experience for productive performance. In both office and mobile environments, Kensington’s extensive portfolio of award-winning products provides trusted security, desktop productivity innovations, and ergonomic well-being. Our core competencies in engineering, industrial design, product quality and responsive customer support make Kensington The Professionals’ Choice™.
Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Kensington operates as the technology division of ACCO Brands (NYSE: ACCO), one of the world’s largest designers, marketers and manufacturers of branded business, academic and consumer products, sold in more than 100 countries across the globe.
Kensington is the inventor and worldwide leader in laptop security locks, the acknowledged leader of Trackball innovation and offers a broad range of premium-branded desktop productivity solutions.