http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20050906/tc_usatoday/cellphonemarketerscallingallpreteens
Cell phone marketers calling all preteens
By Laura Petrecca, USA TODAY
Tue Sep 6, 8:59 AM ET
Forget the Barbie Dream House. Today's 9-year-old wants her own cell
phone -- and Mattel will be happy to provide one.
The toymaker is one of many companies vying to connect with the
preteen and younger market through mobile phones, services and
accessories. The goal is not just to tap new revenue - it's also to
establish brand loyalty early.
Some parents welcome the appearance of kid-friendly cell phones, while
some critics worry that easy-to-influence preteens will be exposed to
a barrage of marketing messages.
About 16 million teens and younger kids have cell phones, with the
bulk of them older teens, according to the researcher GFK's NOP World
Technology. But as the teen market gets saturated, cell providers and
other companies are eyeing the younger set.
In February 2002, 13% of 12-to-14-year-olds had cell phones. That
number jumped to 40% in December 2004, according to NOP. Some 14% of
10-to-11-year-olds now own cell phones. While NOP doesn't have
comparison data for that group yet, Vice President Ben Rogers says its
ownership is rising.
Even kids under 10 are using personal cells to call for rides
home. "We're seeing cell phone growth from ages 8 and 9 on," says
technology analyst Rob Enderle.
Mattel licensed its "My Scene" brand name, which focuses on preteens,
to Single Touch Interactive. This month, they'll sell a full-service
$79.99 cell phone with prepaid minutes priced at 25 cents each. Next
year, Walt Disney launches Disney Mobile service through Sprint. It is
designed for families with kids as young as 10.
Some companies are aiming even younger.
Just in time for the new school year, educational tech company
LeapFrog and wireless firm Enfora are launching the $99.99 TicTalk
phone for children ages 6 and older. Courtesy Firefly Mobile
Inc.Firefly Mobile's phone is geared to kids ages 8 to 12.
Firefly Mobile has a simple $99.99 phone with five "speed-dial"
buttons for "mobile kids."
Many parents are buying in.
Gaithersburg, Md., mom Phyllis Corrao just got her 10-year-old son,
Daniel Mangle, a full-service Nextel phone so she can stay in touch
when he's at school.
Eric Webber of Austin says he's about to cave in and buy his
11-year-old son, Jake, one. "I have the cell phone debate every day,"
says Webber, adding that his son has worn him down.
When parents put phones in kids' hands, they're likely creating a
lifelong cell phone customer, say experts. That gives both the service
providers -- such as Sprint or Verizon -- as well as brands with names
on the handsets -- such as Mattel's "My Scene" -- access to new
customers and sets the stage for future sales.
"Once you give it to them, you can't take it away," Rogers says. He
adds that as kids get older and are exposed to more advanced phones,
"Parents are going to experience a lot of pressure to upgrade."
He says the simpler phones, such as the Firefly, are seeding the way
for future growth. "There is a role for those limited phones to get
people in young and then drive intake of fully functional phones at a
younger age," Rogers says.
In addition to paying for upgraded phones, parents and kids are also
buying ring tones, cell phone shells and hip carrying cases.
Firefly's Web site, for instance, promotes a $12.99 wristlet purse to
carry the phone, as well as colorful "bubble gum" and "limeade"
exchangeable outer shells for the phone at $12.99 each.
That might be just the start. While Disney hasn't disclosed all its
plans, some telecom analysts already are speculating about the
potential it has to market an array of products through Disney Mobile.
Enderle says Disney could sell ring tones that promote its movie
characters or include discount coupons to its theme parks with the
monthly cell phone bill.
That vast marketing potential has some children's advocates worried
about exploitation.
"It's open season on kids," says Gary Ruskin, executive director of
advocacy group Commercial Alert. Ruskin rattles off a range of
concerns, from children being exposed to marketing messages on the
phone itself (such as Mattel's "My Scene" design) to the potential for
kids to be pressured to buy ring tones and accessories.
Ruskin says some companies will harness the nag factor -- when a kid
harasses a parent for so long, the parent gives in -- to sell their
goods.
Marketers defend their phone products. Mattel says: "We believe it is
ultimately the choice of the parent to decide when his or her child is
ready for a cell phone. Research shows that kids are going wireless,
and we wanted to provide girls with a communication device that is not
only functional and fashionable but that also encourages responsible
cell phone use."
It appears that more parents are on Mattel's side. Webber, who works
in the ad industry, says he sees how marketers can take advantage of
kids. His son is already turning ad messages he's heard into arguments
for a phone. "He's playing the safety and security card on me, saying,
'Wouldn't you feel safer if I had it?' " Webber says.
At this point, Webber is just about sold. Both he and Corrao agree
that cell phones can teach their kids about responsibility. Corrao's
son, Daniel, does chores to earn the talk time, and Webber says he'll
do the same with Jake.
Corrao says giving Daniel a phone has paid off in other ways: "He's
called to say he loves me."
Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
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Marcus Didius Falco (falco_marcus_didius@yahoo.co.uk)