Are you being heard? Multi-tasking phone users give their ‘divided’ attention

04/09/2007

What have surfing the net, cleaning the house, going to the loo and even cutting toenails got in common? They are all activities that people in the UK get up to when talking on the phone, according to a new report out today.

The secrets behind our phone habits are featured in a new report by the Post Office®, which reveals other bizarre habits people undertake when on the phone include brushing their teeth (six per cent of people) and having a work out (three per cent of people).

The Top Ten activities people indulge in when on the phone are:

1 Surf the internet (65 per cent)
2 Watch TV (64 per cent)
3 Lie in bed (54 per cent)
4 Eat (48 per cent)
5 Cook (43 per cent)
6 Draw / doodle (41 per cent)
7 Clean (34 per cent)
8 Use the toilet (31 per cent)
9 Get dressed (25 per cent)
10 Shop (26 per cent)

Alarmingly, seven per cent of UK residents admit to ‘being intimate’ with a partner when on the telephone to someone else. And men are more likely to chat on the phone when getting jiggy with their partner than women are; nine per cent of chaps admit to answering the phone when getting down to business with their partner, compared to only five per cent of women.

Geordies topped the poll here with 10 per cent of people from the region admitting to getting loved up with a partner while chatting on the phone to someone else.

Geordies can also feel flushed with success as they’re the most likely to have phone chats when on the loo, with 44 per cent of people in the North East admitting to it, compared to just 21 per cent of Scots.

Martin Moran, Post Office® head of telephony, said: "We are certainly a nation of talkers - and judging by these figures, we won’t let anything stand in the way of a good old gossip - which could turn out to be a fairly pricey habit.

"Fortunately anyone using the Post Office® HomePhone can make free local and evening calls*, and even free calls to other HomePhone customers**, so callers can chat without worrying about the cost - whatever they’re up to.

"We know that 94 per cent of us choose to have a landline phone at home, and it certainly seems that people are happily taking advantage of the freedom this offers."

HomePhone has already won more than 400,000 customers with the lowest line rental prices of any major provider. To find out more call 0800 092 0500, visit www.postoffice.co.uk or ask at any of our 14,000 Post Office® branches.

Work is also underway by the Post Office® to launch a broadband service in the autumn that will compete head to head with the major players in the market by offering a great value for money deal.


ENDS

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,188 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th - 16th August 2007. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults, including Northern Ireland (aged 18+).

Issued by Post Office Ltd:
148 Old Street
LONDON
EC1V 9HQ
www.postoffice.co.uk

*Applies to calls made in the evenings between 6pm and 6am and at the weekend between Friday 6pm and Monday 6am to UK landlines up to 60 minutes long; they are charged at standard rate of 3p per minute at all other times. Customers can redial after 60 minutes during the free periods to avoid incurring any charges.

** Applies to calls made to HomePhone landlines up to 60 minutes long at any time; they are charged at 3p per minute then after. Customers can redial after 60 minutes to avoid incurring any charges.

About Post Office HomePhone
The Post Office® HomePhone service was launched in January 2005 and has quickly become one of the fastest growing residential telephony providers.

HomePhone is committed to offering a simple, transparent service and was the first alternative provider to offer a single itemised bill for both line rental and call charges.

The Post Office® also offers a range of other great value telephony products and services:

Post Office® 118855
Its directory enquiries service - 11 88 55 - offers one of the most competitive prices on the market with all calls charged at a flat rate of 40p (no per minute charges). Customers can get two searches per call and free text back to mobile.

Phonecards and E Top-ups
Post Office® branches offer a range of great value domestic and international phonecards and a convenient E Top-up service for mobile phones.




www.postoffice.co.uk