1 in 3 Americans Would Cut the Local Phone Cord and Switch to Cell, U.S. Survey Finds.

SAN FRANCISCO -- If Monthly Rates Dropped and Coverage Improved, Phone Customers Would Drop Land Lines and Go All Wireless, Says LetsTalk Survey

Online wireless retailer LetsTalk today announced the results of a scientific survey that found a third of Americans would cancel their local phone service if their wireless providers improved basic services and lowered the monthly cost. The two biggest reasons Americans said would push them to switch immediately are cheaper wireless minutes and better coverage.

"We were shocked at the sheer number of Americans who would consider dropping their local phone service," said Delly Tamer, CEO of LetsTalk. "The goal of our survey was to help prioritize where wireless carriers could improve to gain market share in the wireless-only market. We found it interesting that if the wireless industry offers basic improvements to service quality and cost per minute, it appears they could grow the wireless-only market much faster than almost anyone expected."

The survey, commissioned by LetsTalk and conducted by noted research firm Wirthlin Worldwide, was conducted in early May 7-10. The poll interviewed a representative sampling of 1,000 Americans aged 18 years or older. The survey asked Americans: If you were to rely only on a wireless phone for home use and cancel your local telephone service, please tell us, in order of priority, what is most important for your wireless carrier to provide for you to make this change?

The survey found that only nine percent said they would never consider getting rid of their local phone service. Only one percent said they had already gotten rid of their local service. A third would drop local phone service if their first priority was met; 38 percent if their top two priorities are met.

Americans' Top Wish for Dropping Local Phone Coverage

--Cheaper wireless minutes: 42%

--Better wireless coverage: 31%

--Broadband coverage: 8%

--Better handsets: 3%

--Already have wireless only access for local: 1%

--Don't expect to ever get rid of local phone coverage: 9%

2nd Priority

--Cheaper wireless minutes: 35%

--Better wireless coverage: 34%

--Broadband coverage: 15%

--Better handsets: 16%

3rd Priority

--Cheaper wireless minutes: 11%

--Better wireless coverage: 17%

--Broadband coverage: 26%

--Better handsets: 16%

4th Priority

--Cheaper wireless minutes: 6%

--Better wireless coverage: 10%

--Broadband coverage: 48%

--Better handsets: 36%

About LetsTalk

LetsTalk is an online retailer for cell phones and wireless service plans. LetsTalk.com is a customer-friendly place that helps consumers research, compare and purchase wireless products and services online. LetsTalk's mission is to save consumers money in wireless. LetsTalk is based in San Francisco and was founded in July of 1999.