A report released today by the Australian Communications and Media Authority shows that 90 per cent of household consumers have both a fixed line phone and mobile phone, with nearly half (45 per cent) preferring to use mobiles as their main voice communications.

According to ACMA’s research, the majority of consumers use their fixed-line and mobile phones as complementary services with fixed-line used when at home and for longer calls and mobiles when outside the home.

A small proportion of household consumers (around 10 per cent)—‘techno non-adopters’—do not have a mobile phone and choose to rely solely on their fixed-line phone for voice communications.

There is also an increasing proportion of consumers—‘enthusiastic embracers’—who have or intend to replace their fixed-line phone service with other forms of voice communications. A quarter of household consumers indicated they would consider replacing their fixed-line service with another form of communication. Cost was the biggest factor in considering replacement, with many indicating they would replace their fixed-line if the price of mobile calls was reduced.

The research provides a snapshot of consumers’ choice and preferences in using telecommunication services.

The report also found that despite the availability of converged technologies that offer both voice and data services on one device, such as 3G, VoIP and mobile email, most service replacement relates to fixed-line and mobile phone voice services. Although take-up of these converged technologies is low, consumers are starting to become aware and understand the benefits of these services.

Other report findings include:

Nearly a third of consumers own a 3G-capable phone, however two-thirds of these do not use the 3G services available on their phones;

One in five household consumers with internet access have used a VoIP service and over 80 per cent of households with internet access are aware of VoIP; and

Age is a significant factor in the take-up and use of these new and emerging services.

The report is the fifth in ACMA’s ongoing Telecommunications Today research program conducted in 2007 examining the take-up and use of telecommunications services in Australia and can be found on ACMA’s website.