Don't look now, but that Nokia in your pocket means you're over the hill

A survey of cellphone users in Australia, conducted by Panorama and released by Nielsen Media Research, has proved what pretty much everyone already knew: people are likely to base broad, stereotypical assumptions about you on your cellphone, just like they do with everything else you use and wear. 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.

[Via textually.org]

[humpty @ Mar 28th 2007 8:24PM]

iPhone: chimplike, dissolved of individual thought, easily distracted, more money than brains

[Billy Kincaid @ Mar 28th 2007 10:02PM]

^^^This entry is now official. Thank you.

[Z @ Mar 28th 2007 10:06PM]

That was hilarious. How about, iPhone: Easily swayed by fads and hype; insecure and in desperate need of having others think you're cool because you too, have an iPhone; enjoys letting Apple set all the limits; believes the "Think Different" slogan still applies and matters

[Rick Lyon @ Mar 29th 2007 10:08AM]

Wow, the windows cronies are and about again....

[jabar @ Mar 28th 2007 8:24PM]

these seem pretty acurate but i think the Sony Ericsson and Nokia users are one in the same. With sony ericsson users moving to a Nokia E-series product when they are over the hill.

[tchiseen @ Mar 28th 2007 8:25PM]

[b]HTC, Palm[/b]: *ahem ahem* NERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD.

lol

[Alex @ Mar 28th 2007 8:27PM]

So according to careful analysis, I guess I am a success-driven, harmony-seeking stay-at-home-mom, because my LG VX8300 can play mp3s and give me driving directions, and is just awesome in general.

[AndrewNeo @ Mar 28th 2007 9:42PM]

I must be the same with my full-keyboard for texting and web browsing VX9800.

[mastershake916 @ Mar 28th 2007 8:50PM]

Screw cookie cutter mororola.

[Will @ Mar 28th 2007 9:15PM]

as a cell phone salesman i must say that the nokia thing is right on...just about the only customers my store sells a nokia to is old people. this is mainly due to them being so far behind in styling and features here in america...i'm hoping this changes when we get the n75 and 6126 here in the next couple weeks

[Jeff @ Mar 28th 2007 9:32PM]

I know I'm proud to be a career-focused young woman.

[Alex @ Mar 28th 2007 9:59PM]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, there's no question about it. The data supports this assumption and I think you'd be a fool to refute it. All success-driven, harmony-seeking stay-at-home-moms tend to purchase full-keyboard-toting VX9800s.

[Octhothorpe # @ Mar 28th 2007 10:11PM]

As a cellphone user, I currently fit this stereotype with my motorola razr (because it was free), but NEVER again will I be given or my a motorola phone. The razr has software/firmware flaws that to me are unacceptable. I randomly deletes contacts and forgets it has bluetooth capability (I've replaced the phone 3 times, always same problems). I had a Nokia for years and I loved it because it just worked, flawlessly. It had bluetooth and could even play mp3s. I miss that phone (I regretably sold it when I got my "free" razr"). I had a Sony Erickson before that, I bought the Nokia because the Erickson just plain sucked (talk about featureless). I want a phone that just works, so I am now a Nokia fan, I won't even look at another Motorola. (or fruity-phone (apple i-thingy), unimpressive LG, lack-luster Samsung, or sometimes-it-works Sony. It's Nokia or nothing. (yes LG and Samsung phones generally work, but are critically featureless).

[August @ Mar 29th 2007 1:39AM]

My, what a terribly open mind you have.

[RijilV @ Mar 28th 2007 10:36PM]

In a study conducted by myself, of myself, I found the above data to be seriously flawed.

[Lee Roy Brandon III @ Mar 28th 2007 10:43PM]

I generally agree with the results of the survey as well. I had my dependable Nokias (a few generations worth) while I was managing a small retail establishment and working in a museum environment. I switched carriers when I went back to school, got a free Sony that was difficult to use, had major problems connecting to its own charger, and was a general nuisance. I recently moved to Helio, am about to put my BA to use in my own business, and got a Samsung Drift: cool slidey-format, plays music and video (with my one-gig card) has access to my MySpace, eBay, and e-mail accounts, plus has a very handy GPS for when I'm travelling and get lost in a new city. Oh, and the 2 mp camera isn't shabby, so I don't have to lug my Lumix when I go to concerts or parties.

[teklikethis @ Mar 28th 2007 11:10PM]

well, i do have a se... and that is me :)

[Josh @ Mar 28th 2007 11:20PM]

Awesome, i guess i am more stylish than i initially thought i was now that i have switched from my nokia to a motorola.

My nokia lasted forever but it was certainly not as flawless as people make nokias out to be. The backlight on the screen was iffy, it never had good reception where others got reception on the same carrier, and the navigation system was convoluted. I got lost trying to change options every time i went into the menu system. I have found the the motorola navigation system on sprint is superior to anything nokia can put out, and much more customizable.

For the record, the iPhone is untested and unused and to start commenting on the people who want one is ignorant. Thats like saying "the next season of Dirt is going to be watched by a bunch of mindless fools" when it hasnt even been released yet. If you changed that to american idol you would be accurate...

~Josh

[August @ Mar 29th 2007 1:39AM]

No, I think you got it right the first time with "Dirt".

[Santiago @ Mar 29th 2007 12:11AM]

No Sanyo?

[anon @ Mar 29th 2007 12:16AM]

Interesting how all of these are positive.

I probably would have answered the survey ... are content video game addicts ... are drug dealers ... are pimps...

[andrew harrison @ Mar 29th 2007 12:30AM]

i use a nokia [and have used one for a number of years] for a number of reasons.

the first is that i don't want to buy a phone with an mp3 player and all that crap. i just want a phone that makes calls and sends smss. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a phone, so the cheapest [or one up from the cheapest] will suit me fine.

second, i like the user interface of the nokias. i've used motorola's and samsung's to a reasonable extent, and don't like them at all. The only user interface that i'd be comfortable changing to is Sony Erricson's.

third, i have a lot of nokia accessories that I've been able to use with the various phones i have bought. Things like hands-free kits, chargers etc. I'm happy I don't have to buy a new hands-free everytime I get a new phone.

I've recently upgraded to a Nokia 6233, which is the most advanced phone i've ever had [bluetooth, WAP etc]. I only have it because they gave it to me for free when I renewed my contract. It's a fantastic phone, but I would never buy it outright.

I'm 22, and almost all of my friends also use Nokias. In fact, the only ones that don't are on the 3 network [there are 3 or 4 people i know on it]. Everyone else uses various classes of Nokias.

I'm in Australia, too :)

[BobTurbo @ Mar 29th 2007 12:45AM]

Nokia: smart people.

Apple: people with giant hands.

Motorola: dumb young people that like to follow trends because they have no brain or sense or style. Will buy inferior crap like Motorola phones just as long as their favourite celebrity has one.

[Michael @ Mar 29th 2007 2:20AM]

That is AWESOME!! I was using THAT phone until yesterday!! I dug it out of a drawer after my Treo broke and while I was waiting for my next phone to come in the mail. It's pretty old, but worked just fine (with it's oh so limiting features). It makes and receives phone calls, I guess I can't complain too much. ;)

[Eternal Density @ Mar 29th 2007 2:33AM]

I just bought a Nokia, and I'm a 21 y/o Aussiemale. It was cheap, had good tactile feedback on the keys (I text a lot) and didn't have needless features (already have a PDA and camera, why cram them into a phone?).

So there.

[jobyoreta @ Mar 29th 2007 2:50AM]

vertu- people who have nothing to do with their millions, attention seekers!

[Michael @ Mar 29th 2007 3:09AM]

HTC: Nerd. (However, it doesn't tell anything to Nokia users, because they are unaware of HTC's existence).

[Rich @ Mar 29th 2007 4:45AM]

HTC: Nerd
Palm: American nerd

[Dilbert @ Mar 29th 2007 5:57AM]

I have owned a Motorola, a Nokia, a Samsung, and now a Sony Ericsson.
Does this mean I am schizophrenic?... :P

[kadajawi @ Mar 29th 2007 8:21AM]

Oh, I didn't know my huge, brickstone sized piece of 3G smartphone was... uh, stylish. But thanks, I like that.

While the results were fun, I think they are not really reflecting reality. I mean not every Motorola is a Razr (which is fugly anyway). And what is individualistic about a phone that is probably the most successful phone of all times? Any manufacturer has a phone for any audience. Surely LG has business phones too, etc.

[Jess @ Mar 29th 2007 9:21AM]

Will: If you were a good cell phone salesman, you would know that Nokia is more advanced in features in their devices. It is the U.S. carriers who are not buying and offering to customers that they think are not smart enough to use Nokias. Carriers care only about cost and that is why you see these cheap phones on the market. Go to Europe and take your pick of phones.

[Stephen Paul @ Mar 29th 2007 10:40AM]

What about Pantech?! What does my C300 say about me? Please tell me that I'm at least male and under 20! Pleeeeease!

[John Stracke @ Mar 29th 2007 11:02AM]

Does Australia just not have the more advanced Nokias? I'd agree that their basic "feature phone" offerings are a little bland, but their Symbian-based devices can get pretty snazzy. Even my 6682, despite its bland styling, has some pretty serious functionality.

[Shawn K @ Mar 29th 2007 1:57PM]

Sounds about right to me.
Boy did I love my Sony Ericsson, now I'm stuck with a Motorola since T-Mobile dropped the SE phones.

Here's some of my thoughts:
iPhone - Somewhat technically oriented, with a slight sense of tasteful fashion. Sometimes overaccesorizes.
Helio - Under 24, Individualistic, fun seeker, sociable.
Palm - Middle-aged managers, technically oriented.

[tolta @ Mar 31st 2007 11:20AM]

I have a nokia 6682 and kids are much more impresed with that than the millions of razr's at high school

[iMac600 @ Mar 31st 2007 12:25PM]

Add to LG. "Found it on the ground". :P

That's how I found my phone anyway. It was fairly high specced, so I had a minor cleanup and a new SIM fitted.

[Tim @ Apr 7th 2007 11:27AM]

I've had 7 Nokias and 1 S-E. I had to get the S-E replaced due to mechanical failure of the headset jack in less than a year. Many of the people I know with Motorolas hate the OS, and I think it's slooooow, and the phones tend to be unreliable.

The Nokia OS has always been superior in my view, due to ease of use and just making damned sense. Being in the US, I am jealous of the Nokia models the Europeans get to play with, and, of late, disappointed with the selection (or lack thereof) in the US. I can't afford to import an unlocked phone of my choice. I am currently drooling over the N75 and waiting desperately for it to be released on Cingular. If it doesn't come out soon, I may actually get a Treo instead. I'm torn.

[brassready @ Apr 26th 2007 5:25PM]

"good looking, fun loving, Engadget reader".

And the whole time i was ready that i was thinking, "where do i fit in"?

Thamks Engadget for clearing that up.

[henry @ Jun 1st 2007 3:50PM]

"We're thinking "good looking, fun loving, Engadget reader"

and you'd be right :P