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Cell phone companies value teens as a 'golden' market
A cell phone seems as vital as an iPod, MySpace page and video games for U.S. teens. Wireless service providers and accessory suppliers cater eagerly to young users, a rapidly growing market and an especially trend-conscious one. Many also turn into high-volume users, a new study shows.
"Teens simply use their phones to do more, from text messaging to purchasing premium content," explains Frank Dickson of MultiMedia Intelligence, a business research firm. Its national survey of more than 2,000 teens, released last month as a 35-page report, says more than 16 million Americans aged 12-17 have their own cell phones -- up 12 percent from 2006. "The teen market has been the 'golden child' for cellular providers in the U.S.," says Dickson, noting that 57 percent of teens have cell phones by age 13. Even schools recognize the educational value of handsets with Internet access, though many districts require them to be kept in lockers or turned off during class hours. New York City offers teachers classes on how to incorporate cell phones into lesson plans. Suggested readings include an essay titled, "What Can You Learn From A Cell Phone? - Almost Anything!"
Front Page Talking Points is written by
Felix Grabowski and Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2013
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Apple's iPhone and other Internet-enabled devices allow more than talk and texting. Discuss what newspaper content is most useful for quick access on cell phone screens.
Technology coverage and ads help readers keep up with products, applications and trends. Find a recent example.
Some papers present a column, blog or reader forum focused on computers, gaming and other electronics. Look for a feature like that in the Lifestyle or Business pages . . . or send a message to the editor suggesting such an addition. 
Gender gap: Of all teens, 17-year-old girls are the most likely to carry cell phones. Ninety-one percent of them had handsets last year, compared with 78 percent of 17-year-old boys.