Kids with Cell Phones

The Sacramento Bee reported earlier this week that "kids ages 10 to 14 are the fastest-growing segment of the population getting cell phones, according to Lewis Ward, a senior research analyst for IDC."

Ward expects the segment to grow 22 percent next year and that kids even younger are getting wired too. "With adults, those who are going to get them already have them," Ward said. "So it's a function of reaching younger and younger demographics. ... It's a relatively untapped market."

I'm not going to delve into the sociological impact of this trend, but it's easy to see why it is happening. Many kids today are technology sophisticates having grown up with computers, the Internet, video games, Game Boys, etc. For them, a cell phone is just another mobile device.

For example, my 9-year-old son, AKA Gadget Geek Jr, plays video games (computer and PS2), has had every version of Game Boy except the Nintendo DS, owns a iPod Shuffle, and has saved enough to purchase a Sony PSP. He oftentimes gets dragged along in my never-ending search for the next cool gadget, and loves to play with the various devices I have picked up over the years. Like father, like son I guess. (Disclosure: my 7-year old daughter has shown little interest in gadgets so far but recently inherited her brother's Game Boy Advance SP and now asks to play games on my cell phone when she's bored, so there is still hope)

My son has been clamoring for a cell phone for some time now. For him, a cell phone isn't just for calling people. It is a customizable mobile device that also plays games, movies and music, takes pictures, records video, sends messages and surfs the net.

But as Yankee Group analyst Linda Barrabee says, "Kids under the age of 10 have three places to call - mom's cell phone, dad's cell phone and home." And since both my wife and I work out of the home, there is little need for my son to get a cell phone at this time.

This won't stop my son from asking, but I have my eye on a better smartphone that can access high-speed data networks and has wi-fi so you never know....

Via Sacramento Bee (site registration)