Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

“BOG OFF! I’m on the phone!” - iGizmo uncover shocking stats on the UK's gadget usage

“BOG OFF! I’m on the phone!”

-35% of British people admit to using their phone while on the loo-

-UK citizens use their mobile during funerals and even whilst having sex-

Naomi Campbell used hers to assault her assistant, Rebecca Loos used hers to send Becks saucy text messages and Paris Hilton famously used hers while enjoying a steamy love making session. Now, a new survey of the UK population has revealed some equally intriguing facts about UK citizens and their mobiles.

The exclusive survey, conducted by igizmomag.co.uk, into the gadget habits of British people has found that UK citizens often exhibit possessive, rude or downright peculiar behaviour when it comes to using their mobile phones and favourite gadgets, including over a third of people who admit to using their phone whilst on the lav!

Furthermore, much like airhead hotel heiress Paris Hilton, an estimated 730,000 of the UK’s population have chatted on their mobile while in the throes of passion with a lover. However, during sex and sitting on the bog aren't the only strange and inappropriate places we as a nation use our phones, a macabre 2% even said they had chatted whilst attending a funeral.

Ross Burridge, Editor of igizmomag.co.uk, commented “we are a nation that loves our gadgets and it seems we take our mobiles everywhere with us - even to the lavatory. It is amazing to think that some people will even chat and text while in the throes of passion or at funerals. Our survey also revealed some even stranger places that people admitted using their mobiles, such as while having a filling - and even during a rectal examination.”

Not only that but…

We as a nation are obsessed by gadgets and gizmos and even prioritise our favourite toys as more desirable and important than alcohol and smoking. In fact, nearly 9% of the younger members surveyed even cited their mobile phone as more important than their family, health and friends.

Green Gadgets

On average, it was found that many UK residents own two mobiles and two MP3 players each, meaning that a whopping 240 million unwanted gadgets are going to waste in Britain alone. Furthermore, only 36% of respondents said they would consider recycling their old phone or giving it to charity - the exception being older consumers (+65 years), with over half claiming they conscientiously recycle old electronics.

The UK-wide survey looked into the gadget usage habits of nearly 10,000 male and female consumers aged 16 – 45.

Findings

Strangest place to use your phone:

•Over a third have chatted to friends on a mobile whilst on the toilet at work, at home or in a public lavatory
•2% of mobile users have chatted whilst at a funeral
•1.2% have held a mobile conversation whilst having sex
•20% of people have been told they use their mobile too much by friends, family or colleagues
•Some other responses included: ‘whilst having a filling at the dentist’, ‘whilst having a rectal examination’, ‘at Princess Diana’s funeral’ and ‘in Brixton on a Friday night.’

Priorities:

•A mobile phone and an MP3 player are ranked higher on the list of priorities than beer, wine, spirits and smoking
•Under 24s value socialising and their mobile second only to their family
•Women value their mobile second only to their family and health.
•Nearly 9% of under 16s view their mobile phone as more important than their family, their health and their family.
•Consumers are more concerned about the loss of an MP3 Player or mobile phone than losing a handbag or briefcase

Notes to editors:

iGIZMO magazine (www.igizmomag.co.uk):

iGIZMO is the WORLD’S FIRST fully interactive digital magazine dedicated to bringing you the very latest and best in consumer technology straight to your inbox – in stunning detail.

Published every fortnight, iGIZMO is like a print magazine, a website and TV show all wrapped up in one package, with unbiased verdicts on all the latest gadgets, technology news and product releases.

iGIZMO has over 100,000 users already since launching in March 2008.

-ends-

For more info, or further stats breakdown, contact Hermione Clulow or Richard Tompkins on 020 7566 2990 or e-mail hermione@braben.co.uk or richardt@braben.co.uk