As reported by:

By ANICK JESDANUN – 21 hours ago

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans have become more dependent on their cell phones than conventional phones.

For the first time, Americans say they would have more trouble giving up a cell phone than a traditional phone, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said in a report Wednesday. Less than two years earlier, respondents still considered their landlines the most crucial technology.

“The preferences have flipped,” said John Horrigan, author of the new Pew report. “During that timeframe, people have gotten new devices that have more capabilities. People have more experience using cell phones for text messaging and other information tools. That has helped pushed cell phones as `go to’ devices.”

The new survey found that 58 percent of cell phone users have sent or received text messages, an increase from 41 percent in April 2006.

On a typical day, 31 percent of cell phone owners use text messaging and 15 percent use the devices’ camera features. About 8 percent use the phone to play games and a similar percentage use it for e-mail.

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