Half of all Americans think Facebook is a passing fad and the social networking site’s expected asking price of $34 to $38 is too high, according to a joint poll conducted by The Associated Press and CNBC. A third of those surveyed think the company’s expected value is appropriate, while 50% believe it is too high. Of those who invest in the stock market, 58% claimed Facebook was overvalued while nearly 3 out of 10 investors claim the expected share pricing is fair. Despite these claims, half of all the people surveyed believe Facebook is a good investment, compared to 31% who disagree and roughly 19% aren’t sure.

Not surprisingly, those under 35 are the demographic most interested in the company’s IPO because of the great exposure they have had to social networking.

Once Facebook is a publicly traded company, it will have to carefully examine the growing privacy concerns its users have. The survey found that three out of every five Facebook users have little or no faith that the company will protect their personal information, and only 13% trust Mark Zuckerberg and company, while only 12% would feel safe making purchases through the site.

The poll was conducted from May 3rd to May 7th and 1,004 adults were surveyed nationwide.

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A joint survey conducted by ABC News and The Washington Post found that Google beat out Apple, Facebook and Twitter to win the title of most popular tech brand. The poll revealed that a whopping 82% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Google, with 53% expressing a “strongly” favorable opinion of the Internet giant. Only 9% of respondents had an unfavorable opinion of the Mountain View-based company. Apple followed closely behind Google with 74%, however 13% of respondents had an unfavorable view of the company and only 37% expressed a “strongly” favorable opinion. Facebook and Twitter rounded out the survey with 58% and 34% approval ratings, respectively. Facebook had an unfavorable rating from 28% of those polled, while 36% of respondents had an unfavorable view of Twitter. The survey was conducted from March 28th through April 1st and 1,007 adults were polled.

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An overwhelming 98% of new iPad owners are either “very satisfied” (82%) or “somewhat satisfied” (16%) with their Apple tablets, a recent survey conducted by ChangeWave has determined. This is hardly a surprise, and BGR called the slate not one but two steps ahead of its competition when we reviewed the new iPad in March. Also not surprising is the fact that the majority of iPad owners don’t seem to care very much about the supposed heat issues that constantly pop up in the media’s coverage of the tablet. When ChangeWave polled 200 new iPad owners and asked what they disliked most about the third-generation Apple tablet, 7% listed excessive heat. A majority named the cost of the device as their biggest dislike (26%), and the cost of wireless data plans (23%) was the second-most disliked thing about the iPad. Despite being widely praised for its battery performance, 6% of those polled said short battery life was their most significant dislike. ChangeWave’s full press release follows below.

New iPad Owners Weigh in on the Latest Apple Tablet

BETHESDA, MD – April 2, 2012 – Two weeks ago, the new iPad hit the market with a bang. But now that the Apple tablet is in the hands of consumers, what is their initial reaction towards the new device?

A March 22-28 survey of 200 new owners looked at their impressions of the new Apple iPad, including overall satisfaction with the device, key likes and dislikes, and the impact of the heat issue. ChangeWave Research is a service of 451 Research.

Customer Satisfaction

User satisfaction with the new iPad is even higher than previous iPad ratings from a February 2012 ChangeWave survey.  More than four-out-of-five new iPad owners (82%) say they are Very Satisfied with the device.  Another 16% say they’re Somewhat Satisfied.

Here is a head-to-head comparison of the new iPad user survey results with previous iPad user results from the February 2012 ChangeWave survey.

Top iPad Likes and Dislikes

We also queried new iPad owners on the specific features they liked best and disliked most:

What do you like best about the new iPad?  (Choose No More Than Three)

By a landslide, the High-Resolution “Retina” Display (75%) is what new iPad owners report they like best about the device. Long Battery Life (22%) comes in a distant second, followed by 4G LTE Capability (21%) and the Faster Processor (20%)

New iPad Dislikes

When asked what they dislike most about their new iPad, users cited the Cost of the Device (26%) and the Cost of the Wireless Data Plan (23%) as their two biggest gripes.

And what do you dislike most about the new iPad?  (Choose No More Than Three)

Two other issues were each cited by 8% of owners – the iPad’s Size/Weight and its Amount of Flash Memory Storage.

Additional dislikes mentioned include its Integration with Other Devices (7%), Excessive Heat Coming From the Device (7%) and Battery Life (6%). No other issue was cited by more than 5% of new owners.

A Closer Look At The iPad ‘Heat’ Issue

In a recent release, Consumer Reports stated that the new iPad can heat up to as much as 116 degrees Fahrenheit when plugged in and continually running a game. While the consumer publication considered this to be “very warm,” they said it wasn’t especially uncomfortable if held for brief periods and they didn’t consider it to be a safety concern.

To gauge new iPad owner reaction to the heat issue, we presented respondents with a brief summary of the Consumer Reports findings on the new iPad and asked how much of a problem the issue of excessive heat was for them.

Baird Equity Research last week surveyed 488 “younger, tech-savvier” individuals on their interest in Apple’s new iPad, Fortune reported on Monday. Among current iPad owners, 48% were interested in purchasing the new iPad, with 35% of those already owning an iPad 2. The survey also found that 29% of international respondents were looking to buy Apple’s latest tablet, compared to 24% of surveyed U.S. citizens. Among new buyers, 42% of those planning to purchase the tablet have never owned one before. 15% of U.S. respondents said that they were likely to purchase the discounted iPad 2, while 28% suggested that they would purchase an iPad instead of a laptop. The top reasons to buy Apple’s latest tablet were its Retina Display, the A5X processor and LTE, although users cited high prices as the main reason to hold off on purchasing the device.

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We weren’t aware that the possibility of Apple entering the banking industry was so real that it warranted a study to measure consumer interest, but marketing and research consultancy KAE claims an entry into the field is so plausible, it would be hard for Apple to resist. Such a move might not be well received, however; in a survey conducted by Toluna on behalf of KAE, just 10% of the 5,000 respondents polled said they would consider letting Apple handle their day-to-day banking needs. Read on for more.

Of the 500 or so respondents who said they would ponder a move to the Bank of Apple, 81% are described as technology savvy consumers who currently bank online. Interest was fairly high among those surveyed who were already Apple customers, with 43% saying they would consider a move from their current bank to Apple, and the primary reason given by people who said they might bank with Apple was trust.

“Apple would face no capital constraints in building a deposits base,” KAE managing director David Rankin said in a statement. ”With a proven ability to cross-sell additional products, along with the highest sales per square foot of any retailer and an affluent customer base, it wouldn’t take long for Apple to become one of the most profitable consumer banks in recent times.”

Rankin continued, “Once the power of the Apple brand and its options for growth are understood, it tends to prompt one of three responses from financial institutions: accelerated invention, defensive benchmarking or blissful issue avoidance. We know that not everyone would be impressed by the arrival of an ‘iBank’; we also know that the boldness of the next big Apple move will inspire and terrify in equal measure.”

When asked how likely Apple’s entry into banking might be, Chief Commercial Officer at KAE Lee Powney stated, ”When you look at the possible cross fertilisation effects on purchases of moving this amount of cash into the model, and the resulting increases in preference for its platform from developers and content owners, it would take a remarkable display of discipline to resist. However it would be very ‘un-Apple’ to simply enter into a market without changing the terms of competition.”

Apple announced earlier this week that it will devote approximately $45 billion of its cash stockpile, which now likely totals more than $100 billion, to a dividend and share repurchase program.

Rumors surrounding a possible Facebook phone have been swirling for years, and the social networking giant has repeatedly denied reports that it is planning to launch an own-brand handset. While a number of industry watchers thought the company would fare well with a Facebook phone, a recent survey suggests that consumers are largely uninterested in a Facebook-branded smartphone. Baird Equity recently surveyed 875 consumers and found that just 12% said they were “very interested” or at least “interested” in a Facebook phone while 73% said they were “probably not interested” or “not interested.” Meanwhile more than 40% of those polled said they were either “very interested” or “interested” in a smartphone from retail giant Amazon, and 29% weren’t interested. Amazon has been rumored on several occasions to have a smartphone in the works. With consumer interest in an Amazon smartphone at a seemingly healthy level and Kindle Fire adoption having exploded last quarter, 2012 could be a good year for the retailer to enter the smartphone space. A table showing Baird’s findings follows below.

Apple has edged out Google to become the most reputable company of 2012, according to a study from marketing research firm Harris Interactive. The firm’s 13th annual Reputation Quotient (RQ) survey had Apple coming ahead of Google, which held the top spot in 2011′s poll. Coca-Cola, Amazon and Kraft Foods rounding out the top five. “We are seeing the emergence of a group of companies that garner reputation equity by being positively associated with multiple industries,” said Robert Fronk, executive vice president of Harris Interactive. “Companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon.com combine innovation and leadership across multiple business areas, giving them true competitive advantage.” Apple recorded an RQ score of 85.62, the highest in the survey’s history, and was the top ranked in four of the six key dimensions of reputation — financial performance, products and services, vision and leadership and workplace environment. The Cupertino-based company was topped by Whole Foods in social responsibility, and by Amazon in emotional appeal.

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Verizon Wireless on Thursday announced that it has received the top spot in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2012 Wireless Customer Care Full Service Study Volume 1. The carrier received a score of 762 out of 1,000, which was 10 index points above the industry average of 752. Virgin Mobile took the top spot in non-contract providers with an overall score of 735. J.D. Power also found that 38% of full-service customers who resolved technical issues online used an online chat service. Those who used the online chat services were also the most satisfied  (749 satisfaction points) as opposed to those who relied on a carrier’s website (734 points), emailed the carrier (721 points) or searched forums (664 points). Interestingly, owners of 4G devices were more likely to contact their carrier than owners of devices not capable of running on 4G networks. J.D. Power based its study on responses from 9,098 wireless customers in the United States. The non-contract study surveyed 2,840 wireless subscribers. J.D. Power and Associates’s full press release follows after the break.

UPDATE: An AT&T spokesperson contacted BGR via email with the following statemnt in response to J.D. Power’s study: “AT&T was again named No. 1 in walk-in customer service by J.D. Power as part of its 2012 Wireless Customer Care Survey – Volume 1, and third overall. We remain dedicated to continuous improvement so we can deliver the industry’s best products and services with exceptional customer care.”

2012 U.S. Wireless Customer Care Performance Studies – Volume 1 

J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Owners of 4G-Enabled Phones Are Far More Likely to Contact Their Wireless Provider for Customer Service than Are Owners of Less Technologically Advanced Devices 

Verizon Wireless Ranks Highest in Wireless Customer Care Performance among Full-Service Providers, While Virgin Mobile Ranks Highest among Non-Contract Customers

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif: 2 February 2012 — Wireless customers who own a 4G-enabled device contact their provider for customer service considerably more frequently than do owners of less technologically advanced devices, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Wireless Customer Care Performance Full-Service Study^SM—Volume 1 and the 2012 U.S. Wireless Customer Care Performance Non-Contract Study^SM—Volume 1, both released today.

Now in their 10th year, the semiannual studies provide a detailed report card on how well wireless carriers provide service to their customers via three contact methods: telephone calls with customer service representatives (CSR) and/or automated response systems (ARS); visits to a retail wireless store; and via the Web. The studies measure satisfaction and processing issues in each contact method, such as problem-resolution efficiency and hold-time duration.

Among customers who currently own a 4G (4^th Generation)-enabled device—which uses a faster, more efficient network—60 percent report having contacted their current wireless service provider during the past six-month period. In comparison, only 47 percent of a non-4G smartphone and 35 percent of traditional/feature phone owners contacted their provider for support.

Owners of a 4G-enabled device have a much greater propensity to contact their carrier due to network-related problems (18%) than do owners of a traditional phone that uses less advanced networks (11%). One of the main factors contributing to the higher contact rate among owners of 4G-enabled devices may be that higher network speeds are available only in limited areas, while slower 3G technology is offered in more areas of the country.

“It’s not unexpected that customers who use new technology or services would be more likely to contact their carrier with questions or problems, particularly with the 4G network rollout that began in 2011,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. “What is important to understand is that investment is needed in support services to not only handle the increase in customer interactions, but also to provide service representatives with the necessary training and information across all contact channels in order to offer a timely and superior service experience. In fact, it takes approximately five minutes more per contact, on average, to resolve issues pertaining to 4G-enabled devices, compared with issue resolution times for traditional phones.”

According to Parsons, creating a superior customer experience leads to a higher propensity for customers to spend more on services and a lower likelihood they will switch providers in the future. This is especially true among customers who own a 4G-enabled device, as they report spending $36 more per month and are more likely to say they “definitely will recommend” their current carrier than are customers who own a traditional mobile phone.

Verizon Wireless ranks highest in wireless customer care performance among full-service providers with an overall score of 762 on a 1,000-point scale. Verizon Wireless performs particularly well in phone contacts that originate in the ARS channel and are then transferred to a live service representative, and in phone calls made directly to a CSR.

Virgin Mobile ranks highest in overall customer care satisfaction among non-contract service providers with an overall score of 735. Virgin Mobile performs particularly well in phone contacts that originate in the ARS channel and are then transferred to a live service representative, and in phone calls made directly to a CSR.

The study also finds several key wireless customer care patterns:

• More than one-third (38%) of full-service wireless customers who resolved their issue via the online channel say they used their carrier’s online chat function for customer service, an increase of two percentage points from July 2011. In addition, satisfaction is higher among customers who use the online chat function (749) than among customers who research information on their carrier’s website (734); email their carrier directly (721); or utilize online user forums (664).
• Satisfaction averages 100 points higher (733) among non-contract customers who are initially addressed by a representative with the experience and understanding needed to resolve their issue, compared with customers who are transferred or referred to another representative (633).
• Approximately 40 percent of smartphone customers who contacted their carrier with a problem did so because they had a device malfunction or were experiencing repair-related issues.

The 2012 Wireless Customer Care Full Service Study—Volume 1 is based on responses from 9,098 wireless customers. The 2012 Wireless Customer Care Non-Contract Study—Volume 1 is based on responses from 2,840 wireless customers. Both studies are based on the experiences of current customers who contacted their carrier’s customer care department within the past six months. The study was fielded from July through December 2011.

For more information on customer satisfaction with wireless service, wireless retail sales, cell phone handsets, customer care, prepaid wireless service and business wireless service, please visit JDPower.com.

 

Demand for Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet has started to cool off according to one study. ChangeWave published results of a survey on Thursday, which found that just 2% of customers in January were “very likely” to buy a Kindle Fire, down from 4% in December. Respondents who were “somewhat likely” to buy the tablet fell as well, from 13% in December to 10% in January, though demand following the holidays is expected to slow. Amazon’s tablet has better satisfaction ratings than several other tablets, however. ChangeWave’s survey found that 54% were “very satisfied” with the Kindle Fire, compared to 49% of those surveyed who were “very satisfied” with other tablets and 74% who were “very satisfied” with the iPad. Read on for more.

Amazon’s tablet is also driving consumers to purchase goods from Amazon: 29% of Kindle owners expected to spend more money than they had previously with Amazon during the next 90 days, but just 19% of consumers who don’t own a Kindle Fire plan to do the same. Kindle Fire owners are most attracted to the price of the device — 59% of owners said it was what they liked most about the tablet — and 27% of owners said the lack of physical volume control buttons was their least liked feature. A link to ChangeWave’s report follows below.

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Users of Android phones are more likely to have sex on a first date and have one-night stands, according to survey results revealed by Match.com. The survey was conducted by Zoomerang and found that 62% of singles who use Android devices have had sex on a first date, compared with 57% of iPhone users and 48% of BlackBerry users. iPhone users are more likely to date someone in their workplace, with nearly a quarter of iPhone-owning singles having had an office romance in the last five years. More Android users, however, have visited an online dating site, compared to 58% of iPhone users and 50% of Blackberry users. After a first date, iPhone users will wait just one day before contacting an individual again, while Android and BlackBerry users won’t initiate contact until after the second or third date. Users of RIM’s BlackBerry platform are more likely to drink alcohol on the first date, with 67% claiming they have experienced love at first sight — perhaps due to the alcohol. The results were based on Internet surveys conducted with 1,068 Canadian singles between October 13th and 15th last year.

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The bathroom is a popular place to use a mobile phone according to the results of a new study. ”The writing is on the stall,” says Nicole Burdette of 11mark, the firm that conducted the survey. ”This study confirms what we all know – that the last private place is no longer private. And, that the ‘mobile-everywhere’ phenomenon is flushing out a host of new opportunities for savvy communicators.” 63% of those surveyed said they have initiated a phone call while using the bathroom and 38% have surfed the Internet. Android owners admitted using their smartphones in the bathroom more than any other group of smartphone users; 87% of the Android users responding to the survey said they have used a phone in the bathroom while 84% of BlackBerry users and 77% of iPhone users admitted the same. The full press release for “IT in the Toilet” follows after the break.

New IT in the Toilet Study Shows Americans Aren’t Spending Alone Time Alone

Study Highlights Americans’ Habits Behind Closed Stalls

ALEXANDRIA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Three-fourths of Americans with mobile phones report they use their phones in the bathroom, according to a new study by 11mark, a new integrated marketing agency. Americans are texting, emailing, and yes – as you may have heard – talking on the phone in the bathroom. Approximately one quarter of Americans report they don’t go into the bathroom without their phone. The new report, “IT in the Toilet,” uses the “bathroom benchmark” to examine just how connected we have become.

The survey of 1,000 Americans reveals that neither men nor women are going to the bathroom alone today – 74 percent of men and 76 percent of women report they have used their mobile phone in the bathroom. 63 percent report they have answered a phone call, and 41 percent have initiated a phone call. Many (67 percent) have read a text, and 38 percent have surfed the Internet. Men are a bit more attached, however, with 30 percent reporting, “I don’t go to the bathroom without my mobile phone,” versus 20 percent of women. Men also work more from the bathroom – 20 percent say they have participated in work-related calls versus 13 percent of their female colleagues.

Droid users are slightly more likely to use their phones in the bathroom overall; 87 percent have used their phone while indisposed, versus 84 percent of BlackBerry users and 77 percent of iPhone users. BlackBerry users are most likely to answer a call in the bathroom. 75 percent of BlackBerry users report they have done so, versus 67 percent of Droid and 60 percent of iPhone users. But, Droid and iPhone users are more likely to browse a social network or use an app (in the bathroom) than their BlackBerry colleagues.

As expected, Gen Y respondents are the heaviest IT in the toilet users. Ninety-one percent use their phone in the bathroom, but older generations are not far behind. Eighty percent of Gen X report they use the phone in the bathroom, as well as 65 percent of Boomers, and 47 percent of the Silent Generation (guess they are no longer silent.)

Americans are using apps to connect to their favorite content, quickly – 59 percent of Gen Y, 43 percent of Gen X, and 22 percent of Boomers have used an app in the bathroom. While online, they are doing more than just surfing; 16 percent of Gen Y report they have made an online purchase while in the bathroom. iPhone users are particularly likely to browse and buy in the bathroom – 22 percent have made a purchase, versus 10 percent of Americans with mobile phones overall.

“The writing is on the stall,” says Nicole Burdette, principal, 11mark. “This study confirms what we all know – that the last private place is no longer private. And, that the ‘mobile-everywhere’ phenomenon is flushing out a host of new opportunities for savvy communicators.”

The “IT in the Toilet” study is based on an online survey of 1,000 Americans with mobile phones in October 2011. To learn more and download the full free report, please visithttp://www.11mark.com/IT-in-the-Toilet.

BlackBerry owners tend to be older and wealthier than other smartphone users according to a new report released this week. Data from comScore Data Mine suggests BlackBerry users are “more likely to have a household greater than $75,000 when compared to average smartphone owners.” BlackBerry owners were also more likely to have at least part of all of their monthly mobile bill paid for by their employers. We’re not surprised, taking into consideration the vast number of enterprise users that still own a BlackBerry for work. “BlackBerry users over indexed in all age segments 35-64 in November 2011, with the 55-64 age bracket showing the highest index of 120,” comScore said in its report, which found the fewest number of Blackberry users between the ages of 18 and 24.

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In what is certainly one of the most bizarre mobile-related studies we’ve seen published in recent months, a new survey found that iPhone and iPad owners are generally very optimistic relative to owners of other handsets and tablets. The most pessimistic mobile users, according to the same survey, are BlackBerry owners. Consumer electronics recycler and reseller Gazelle recently published the findings of a survey conducted on the CES show floor that sought to establish a correlation between a person’s outlook on life and the mobile devices he or she carries. The firm’s findings, while anything but scientific, paint an interesting picture that suggests users of iOS and Android devices have a better outlook on life than BlackBerry users. Read on for more.

According to Gazelle’s poll, 52% of iPhone users and 58% of iPad users are always optimistic about their future while 28% of Android smartphone users and 36% of Android tablet users share the same outlook. 29% of iPhone users and 60% of iPad users expect the best in uncertain times and 31% of Android smartphone users and 55% of Android tablet users expect good things to happen more often than bad. 25% of iPhone users and 26% of iPad users don’t get upset very easily, and neither do 18% of Android smartphone users or 27% of Android tablet users.

Where RIM customers are concerned, Gazelle found that 33% of BlackBerry users subscriber to Murphy’s Law, holding the belief that if something can go wrong for them, it will. 16% of BlackBerry users hardly ever expect things to go their way and 33% of BlackBerry users rarely count on good things happening to them. 0% of BlackBerry users usually expect the best, Gazelle found.

“Who knew that Apple users had such a promising outlook on life, while BlackBerry owners hardly expect things to go their way?” Gazelle CEO Israel Ganot said in a statement.

9% of consumers in the United States have already cut cable TV service from their monthly utility bills, the latest State of the Media Democracy survey from Deloitte indicates. The company also found that 11% of U.S. consumers are considering cutting cable TV. Younger generations are more likely to get rid of cable TV, too. Deloitte found that 19% of those aged 23-28 are thinking about canceling cable while 13% of Generation Xers and 7% of baby boomers said they are considering doing the same. “For the first time, less than half of all viewers say they have viewed their favorite shows live on their home TV,” Phil Asmundson, Deloitte’s U.S. Media & Telecommunications Sector Leader said. “In 2011, the number was only 49%. In 2008, it was 71%. That’s striking.” Read on for more.

Deloitte found that 35% of survey respondents are now using their DVR to watch shows at their convenience. In 2009, just 17% of viewers streamed their favorite television shows online for free, and that figure jumped to 22% last year. Just 6% of viewers said they watch their favorite show from a smartphone or mobile device, but 9% used a game console such as an Xbox or a PlayStation 3. “Cable providers should consider enhanced ways to leverage their current strengths before users flock to other options,” Asmundson said. “DVR would appear to be a strong starting point for waging that battle – but today it’s underused.”

[Via GigaOm]

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While electronics vendors struggle to gain traction in the emerging media tablet market, Apple has managed to maintain a significant lead in the space despite an increasing number of rival offerings. Apple’s share of the global tablet market in the third quarter was estimated to be 61.5% by market research firm IDC, and it’s not just momentum keeping the company’s market share high. Apple’s user experience on the iPad has been touted by many as having a huge lead over rival platforms, and the majority of iPad owners seem to agree according to the results of a recent survey. Read on for more.

Wichita State University’s Software Usability Research Laboratory conducted a survey of iPad owners and found that 83.65% of users are satisfied with the tablet. 62% rated the Apple tablet as “excellent,” 21% said it was “good” and 10% of respondents said it was the “best imaginable” tablet. 4% of those surveyed said the tablet was “fair,” 2% said it was “poor” and another 2% called the device “awful.”

SURL’s study used a small sample set of 52 respondents, but the results mirror a number of larger studies that sought to determine users’ satisfaction level with the iPad. Studies conducted by ChangeWave have found the iPad’s satisfaction rating to be as high as 95%, and a recent user survey conducted by PCWorld determined that the iPad is “miles ahead of the pack in durability, ease of use, and features such as battery life, screen quality, and overall speed.”

The Software Usability Research Laboratory at Wichita State University also found that apps continue to be a big draw for iPad users — 46% of users have between 21 and 60 apps installed on their iPads — and web browsing is still one of the most common uses for the Apple tablet. Almost 90% of respondents said they browse the Internet daily on their iPads while less than 70% said they checked their email each day, the second most popular iPad function according to the survey, and just over 60% said they read the news on their iPads every day.

[Via The Loop]

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