WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

Even though texting while driving is illegal in Los Angeles, Samsung Mobile results of a local market survey revealed that not only do 80 percent of Los Angeles cell phone users text but that they're doing it everywhere.

According to CTIA, 4.1 billion text messages are sent everyday and many Los Angeles residents surveyed admit they have texted while at the doctor's office (55%), on public transportation (51%), at the movies (39%), at concerts or plays (33%), as well as in places some would consider to be taboo, such as at the dinner table (39%), on dates (26%), and in a house of worship (13%).

The California Highway Patrol issued almost 163,000 tickets to drivers talking on cell phones since mid-2008. But has only cited 1,400 texting while driving violations since January.

Meanwhile, last night at a local Sizzler, we saw six officers from the L.A. County Sherrif's department to other police officers from a local city all looking at their phones, many of which were iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones.  Therefore we can estimate that almost all police officers text while eating.  You can check your local donut shop to make sure.
The following are other texting behaviors revealed in the local market survey, and a national survey also by Samsung Mobile:

Staying In Touch Gets Easier

According to a national survey by Samsung Mobile, a majority of Americans (73%) are using mobile phones to stay connected via text, email or to update their social networking sites, and 64 percent of them appreciate that they can get in touch with their friends without having to actually talk to them on the phone. With access to text, email, Instant Messaging and social networking sites, mobile phones keep users connected more easily. Perhaps this is why those who actually use their phones to do this say they can reach their contacts more quickly (61%) and stay in touch on a more regular basis (60%).

Text Away My Troubles

As a true testament to the role text messages play in their busy lives, nearly half (47%) of Los Angeles texters feel texting makes their daily lives less complex. The text message carries so much weight that 81 percent of residents think texting has become the new email.

BTW, It Makes Things Easy

Another way Los Angeles residents are making communication simpler is by using abbreviations in their messages, such as "how r u" in place of "how are you." A majority (78%) admit they typically rely on this technique when texting.