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Survey Says: The Call Is Coming from Inside the Bathroom
More than half of people admit to talking, texting and tweeting while using the bathroom, according to a new survey.
Posted 4/ 7 11 at 6:00 PM | Business Trends, Technology, Business Travel, Online Business, Business Products & Services, Computer Hardware, IT Services, Telecommunications
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Is there no safe haven anymore? Turns out plenty of people love talking, texting and tweeting during a, um, very basic function. So it's not surprising that they also love their apps. And small-business owners are finally realizing how important data backup -- since plenty of them have learned the hard way. Here's a closer look at some of the latest small-business surveys.Don't Touch That Phone
Sure, we're a nation of multitaskers, but this might be getting a little out of hand. According to a survey by Insight Express and AdAge, 56 percent of people admit they use their cell phones while going to the bathroom.
Not sure we really want to know, but what exactly do they do with their phones while in the loo? Talking (70 percent), texting (62 percent), listening to music (20 percent), social networking (19 percent) and using location-based services such as Foursquare (13 percent). Seven percent indulge in the more traditional bathroom activity of reading.
While the survey wasn't specific to business owners, given how busy we are, there's a good chance that entrepreneurs account for a substantial percentage of those talking and texting on the toilet.
Is there a business opportunity here? Phone sanitizers, anyone?
Many App-y Returns
Mobile and wireless technologies are becoming essential to small businesses, AT&T's Small Business Technology Poll shows. Forty percent of small businesses say all their employees use wireless devices or technologies to work away from the office. That's up from 24 percent in 2008 and projected to grow to 50 percent by 2012.
Seventy-two percent of the small businesses surveyed use mobile apps in their businesses. In fact, about 40 percent of the business owners claim their businesses could not survive -- or it would be a major challenge to survive -- without mobile apps.
GPS/navigation and mapping apps are the most important ones for small business, used by nearly half (49 percent) of those surveyed. I don't have a keen sense of direction and I'm often on the road for business meetings and events -- I know I wouldn't survive a day without my GPS. (Well, I might survive, but I'd be extremely late.)
Back It Up
Small businesses are learning that it's crucial to back up computer data. Unfortunately, too many of us are learning it the hard way -- by losing data. In a recent study from online backup provider Carbonite, 42 percent of SMBs report losing data. Of those, 32 percent never retrieved their lost files.
Even business owners who regularly back up their data often put it at risk by using physical devices, which can be damaged or destroyed. Eighty-six percent of business owners use a physical device for part or all of their backup, including external hard drives (42 percent), USB/Flash memory sticks (38 percent) and CDs/DVDs (25 percent).
In addition to running their businesses, 65 percent of the business owners in the survey say they are responsible for backup duties at their business as well. Given that, why spend the extra time doing physical backup? Get thee to the cloud -- it's easy and cheap.
Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Follow Rieva at Twitter.com/Rieva and visit SmallBizDaily.com to sign up for her free TrendCast reports.
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
This picture isn't appropriate for young children. It's a man with his pants and underwear down. This implies, "Mommy Daddy, why is there a picture of a person with their pants down on the toilet? I can see his underwear."
What makes you say it is always a He
oh shut up. So someone is sitting on a toilet...gasp!!!!!! Why does someone always have to make something out of nothing??????
iT IS DISGUSTING TO HEAR SOMEONE YOU ARE TALKING TO DOING HIS "BUSINESS".
I'm so tired of cell being way over-rated and people being addicted to them. Talking on the cell phone or texting in the bathroom, in the car while driving, in an airplane while flying the approach, at a resturant while taking your order, etc. People are so irresponsible and rude, not to say creating safety concerns and hazzards. True freedom brings so much misuse, and how unfortunate it is that our very freedoms are used against us. Wake up people, and use your brain !!
I thought the person I was talking to REALLY enjoyed my idea...Instead, his "ahhhhh" indicated the conclusion of a successful bowel movement. Today, people have essentially nothing to do but tweet, twitter and text themselves to oblivion. Tweet Twitter Text....How's that for alliteration describing a lost generation who feels that EVERYONE they may know actually cares about their mundane existence. There are no knew fundamentals so brain dead humans immerse and hide in their purchased technology.
This is nothing new. Forty years ago (1971 for the mathematically challenged) I installed four, "Illegal", phones in my house from the one AT&T line I paid for, including one in the bathroom. Obviously I was ahead of my time.
Who cares?
LOL.. And How Did we Babyboomers ever Get By w/o a Cell Phone?
But many of us Bought Stock in them, as a Kids Toy that Teens would eat up.. and it sure paid off..!
Just saw a Article> Over 36,000 Accidents happen every yr using the Toilet...
I wonder? HOW MANY CELL PHONES ARE DROPPED INTO THE TOILET AND URNALS EVERY YR? I BET THAT WOULD BE A # TO FIND OUT ABOUT.. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MAYBE?
Geech, I wonder What People are doing in there?
We averaged at least 1 cell phone left in our Limo's EVERY DAY! And We charge a Reg. Far Rate ( ave $50) to deleiver them to the client... ave 1 NoteBook/LapTop PC every Week!
And since they have gotten So Small Now? Seniors Are Loosing them Like Crazy! Not to mention everyone else...
Bring Back the BRICK Phones!
;-)
How nice of you to rob the elderly and others blind for returning their cell phones. Why don't you name your business?
It's really something to hear someone you think is beautiful flushing a commode. Hello.
I don't use a cell phone. However, for those who do, I notice the nose is located against the part one speaks in. -Imagine the stick there after using the phone in the bathroom. Dah???
I drive a big rig through out the 48 states and Canada and in my travels 95% of my restroom usage is in the restroom with mutiple enclosed toilets and if its busy sometimes there will be 2 to 3 people on the cell phone haveing conversations, it sounds like a hen house. I like my peace and quiet in the jon so if I can not get it. I'll make rude noises, flush the toilet several times, cough ect., one shouldn't be on the cell phone in such a place like this. One deserves to be embarrased!
what's the big deal -- so many have said for so long that the toilet seat is cleaner than their desktop that I'm seeing more people eat their lunch in the head instead of at their desks! (yeah right, like these germaphobes merit listening to!)
DUH....What else do you have to do in there sitting on the throne....
I really don't enjoy turning my pc on and seeing a male sitting on the toilet. I wouldn't watch my son use the toilet why would I want to see someone elses. It is gross and crude. Is that the best you could do AOL. Maybe we need to find a new server, one with class.
I fail to see what sitting on the commode and small business back up plans have to do with each other ,I myself do not want a cell phone ,And would not use one unless it was an "emergency " in the bathroom.And even then I would put the other person on "hold" . Anyone that needs a phone that bad is very lonely and needs to get rid of the cell phone and get a life.
Tweet this.
LIFE BEFORE CELL PHONES WAS MUCH EASIER,,
YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE AND NO ONE COULD JUST CALL WHEN THE MOOD HIT THEM,
WHEN YOU LEFT WORK ,YOU GOT TO GO AND NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR BOSS CALLING YOU ,
SHOPPING NOW A DAYS IS A JOKE PEOPLE CANT SHOP WITHOUT A PHONE IN THEIR EAR, AND THE SHIT YOU HAVE TO OVER HEAR AT TIMES CAN BE FROM MILD TO WILD,,
NO CELL TOWERS TRACKING YOUR EVERY MOVE ,,
YEP ,LIFE WAS MUCH MUCH EASIER WITHOUT CELL PHONES
Its called multi tasking, and sharing with others. As a plumber I love it when a phone gets flushed down a toilet, makes for a great service call.