Do Consumers Really Want More From Their Cell Phones?

And speaking of spin...

Earlier this week, I reported on a new AP-AOL-Pew poll on how Americans are using their cell phones -- and what they would like from them in the future. I noted that only eight percent of respondents said they have used their mobiles to interact with a TV show, such as American Idol. I also reported that only 14 percent of Americans said they were interested in watching video on their cell phones. (And only two percent are actually watching video now.)

The results would seem to suggest that most Americans are not interested in the new cell phone technologies. However, I've been amazed to see many technology reporters spin the study to say that it proves that people can hardly wait to use them.

For instance, The Hollywood Reporter's article on the study carried this headline:

"Consumers Want More From Phones: Study"

To make matters worse, the article's lead paragraph read like this:

"Not many people use their cell phone to buy movie tickets, watch videos or play games, but a significant number of Americans are interested in doing just that."

Significant number? 14 percent of the nation says it might watch video on their cell phones? That's a significant number?

That's a dismal number.

The article also points out that only 19 percent of respondents said they would be interested in listening to music on their mobiles.

I don't want to pick on The Hollywood Reporter because I read similar takes in other publications.

The bottom line: Many tech reporters have a bias in favor of new features and technologies. And, consequently, they are more likely to say the glass is half full even when it's almost empty.

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