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Global Survey finds that mobile phones are replaced most frequently, but with a cost.

Consumers' Purchasing Habits Have Large Environmental Impact

Seattle - March 18, 2005 - In a recent survey of 20,000 consumers worldwide, a recent GMI Poll found that mobile phones’ latest models are the most coveted in 20 of the world’s top economies including the USA, UK, China, Russia and India. When consumers were asked what technology they most frequently upgraded, 63 percent cited mobile phones.

The proportion of consumers who are swapping older for the newest models is highest in the fastest growing and potentially largest markets for mobile services, including Asia and South America. Almost 75 percent of consumers surveyed in India and China, and 67 percent in South America, said they upgraded their mobile more frequently than any other technology. This compares to 47 percent of American and 38 percent of French consumers.

This and other findings highlight how new consumer technology products are transforming markets worldwide, but also adding to a growing environmental problem of the waste generated by old technology being disposed of for the latest models. By 2005, 100 million mobiles will be thrown out annually in Europe alone. In the United States, nearly 130 million cell phones - totaling about 65,000 tons of waste - will be thrown away every year, according to a recent study by INFORM, Inc., an independent research organization. Disposed mobile phones are growing faster than the volume of waste overall, according to recycling experts (http://www.crra.com). Toxins associated with this waste include heavy metals and poisons such as arsenic, lead, and mercury.

"A lot of the international attention on e-waste focuses on legislation when the answer could be in product design," said Dr. Mitchell Eggers (chief pollster and COO of GMI). "There is an opportunity for marketers to tap into ‘Generation Eco’, the young green early adopters that are tech savvy and planet conscious. Marketers should explore designing responsible products that will retail at a premium. Additionally recycling programs, such as the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association’s pioneering partnership with Planet Ark, are role model examples of excellent ‘problem solution’ marketing at work."

Despite the media alarmism, environmental concerns appear to be having little or no impact on making people think twice about replacing their mobile phones with new models. According to the GMI Poll results, only nine percent of American consumers and 12 percent of UK consumers take environmental impact into account when upgrading new technology; however, in other parts of the world, namely India and China - 20 and 26 percent respectively - said environmental reasons could prohibit them from upgrading.

The GMI Poll found that the overwhelming factor in buying a new model mobile devise is cost and contract terms, with 79 percent of consumers surveyed saying this would stop them from upgrading; in India and China, the major factor was also cost.

About GMI Poll

GMI Poll quickly and accurately gathers international opinions about topical issues and critical global events, with real-time results available in as little as 24 hours. GMI Poll is the only survey that polls global opinions in real time, online, and with statistically accurate results.

About GMI

GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) is the only company that provides comprehensive integrated solutions for global market intelligence for both market research firms and corporate market research departments at Global 2000 companies. Solutions include Net-MR®, a suite of software tools to manage and automate research throughout the project lifecycle, desktop analysis tools, 24x7x365 service bureau capabilities, and one of the world’s largest, highly profiled, double opt-in managed panels, spanning across 200 countries. In addition, GMI offers high-value, real-time enterprise feedback solutions for customer, partner and employee programs. Founded in 1999 with world headquartersin Seattle, Wash., GMI has operations on five continents.