Are You Over the Hill? Change your phone!

I am always a sucker for articles about mobile phones, either from newspapers or websites. Every night, when I'm free, one of the usual things I'd probably be doing is web surfing through my usual dosages of phone sites, news feeds and of course, blogs. Anyway, a relative of mine recently told me about this article from Engadget which she thought I would find interesting.

Needless to say, it sure tickled me!

Here's what it said.

"A survey of cellphone users in Australia, conducted by Panorama and released by Nielsen Media Research (*who are they anyway??), has proved what pretty much everyone already knew: people are likely to base broad, stereotypical assumptions about you on your cellphone (*surprise, surprise... I definitely agree), just like they do with everything else you use and wear (*sounds alot like Bruneians). We're guessing this breaks down a bit differently in Aussieland, but here's how mobile users tend to associate down under:

• Nokia: Family-minded, middle aged managers, balance seekers, health conscious
• Motorola: Fashion conscious, under 24, fun seekers, individualistic
• Sony Ericsson: Ambitious young men, professionals, success driven, individualistic
• LG: Favorite of mums, stay-at-home parents, success driven, harmony seekers
• Samsung: Young women, career focused, success driven, fun seekers

The upshot of this research is that since most phone service providers rate the same, people are for the most part picking a carrier based on phone selection -- again, we're not exactly floored by the analysis here. Now all that's left is how to pigeon hole HTC and Palm users. We're thinking "good looking, fun loving, Engadget reader" would be a nice start (*Now THIS I totally agree. Says it all about Palm users doesn't it?)".

*comments in italics mine.

Well, whoever Nielson Media is and aside from proving what we all know already, (that people look at your phone as a status thing, whether here in Brunei or other countries, the reality is that people DO look at what you wear, what you drive expecially, what phone you use.... to classify your status. How superficial), this article has definitely amused me in terms of stereotyping what type of user you are based on the BRAND of your phone!

Nokia for middle aged family minded folks?!! LG for mums and stay at home parents?!! Hilarious!!! I can see everyone's faces now. You're probably looking at your phone now and thinking, "Hey, waitaminute, that can't be right".

But then, SE for the ambitious, professionals, individualistic? That sounds about right.

Motorola for fashion conscious and fun seekers? That's spot on!

Samsung for ladies (???) who are fun seekers and career minded? I'm divided on this one. But guys, if you're reading this, and you use a Samsung... I guess its not too late to change, or at least, don't show anyone in Australia you're using this girly brand ok?

But I do think, that if we did such a survey here in Brunei, we'd find quite interesting results that could dispute against this Aussie one. Especially for Nokia users in particular. But it makes you think though, what impression ARE you giving by using the phone you're using now. Any comments?