Executives want news sent to mobile phones

NEW YORK -- When it comes to wireless phone usage, business professionals embrace advanced features that would enable them to receive business-related news and breaking news via their cellular telephones, according to research released by Forbes.com.

More than 550 Forbes.com users participated in the study, which was conducted with SmartServ in November 2002. Highlights from the study:

▪ Professional/managerial respondents are more likely to use advanced features on their cell phones and to consider new features in their next cell phone purchase.

▪ 36% of all respondents expressed interest in subscribing to business-related news delivered through their cell phones; 51% for general news/services, and 24% for entertainment and commerce news/services.

▪ Nearly 20% who are interested in receiving business news via cell phone indicated they would be willing to pay more than $1 per month for such services; 16% would be willing to pay for general news/services, and 15% for entertainment news/services.

"As part of Forbes.com's mission to deliver its unique style of journalism to our audience at any time, anywhere -- be that in print, via a screen or over the telephone -- the wireless distribution platform is a key part of our strategy," said Jim Spanfeller, president and CEO of Forbes.com. "It's very gratifying to find that our users show such an interest in next-generation wireless cellular technologies, and through our relationship with SmartServ we will continue to expand our wireless offerings."

According to the research, business professionals embrace advanced wireless phone features that would enable them to receive business-related news and breaking news via their cellular telephones. Additional findings of the survey are: 

▪ 91% of Forbes.com users currently own a cell phone, and on average 10% use advanced features on their cell phones.

▪ Overall, Forbes.com users are more likely to own a cell phone (46% of U.S. population v.s. 91% of Forbes.com users own a cell phone). Additionally, Forbes.com users spend more per month on their cell phone bill. The average monthly cell phone bill in the U.S is $54 compared to $59 for Forbes.com users.

▪ Compared to non-managerial respondents, professional/managerial respondents are more likely to currently use advanced features on their cell phones and to consider new features in their next cell phone purchase.

▪ 36% of all respondents said that they are interested in subscribing to business related news delivered through their cell phones; 51% would do so for general news/services and 24% would do so entertainment and commerce news/services.

▪ Nearly 20% of those who are interested in receiving business news through their cell phones indicated that they would be willing to pay more than $1 per month for such services; 16% would do the same for general news/services and 15% for entertainment news/services.

▪ 43% of all respondents are interested in receiving breaking news from Forbes.com through their cell phones. Professional/managerial respondents are more interested in such services than non-managerial respondents.