Nokia survey finds that many Americans work on the can

We already know that a solid chunk of Britons use mobile internet while in the throes of passion, and now Captain Obvious (today known as Nokia) has awkwardly landed to tell the world that Americans do too. A recent survey, which we can only imagine was absolutely thrilling to conduct, found that some 53% of working Americans "have been interrupted by a work-related phone call or e-mail while in the bathroom." Furthermore, some 23% have allowed a call / e-mail to interrupt them while on a date, but that's probably because 59% of those polled never, ever turn off their mobile. Just think -- the next time your buddy answers with a hint of stress in his / her voice, there's a statistically significant chance that you're barging in on some seriously personal business.

[Image courtesy of fletchy182]

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 21st 2008 4:33PM]

uh.. why did you change the image?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 21st 2008 6:32PM]

"Hold on a sec... urrrrggghh *blonk*... yeh, what were you saying?"

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 21st 2008 8:01PM]

You know, I come here in good faith to read the latest on cell phone technology and end up getting this crap!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 21st 2008 10:09PM]

You know, this is why Nokia's "research" department is down in the dumps. How about collecting some insight that actually helps their shitty phone designs? They might stink a little lesser.

[derX Posted Oct 21st 2008 11:34PM]

Hey, don't even hate on Nokia. Their research department is pretty damn amazing. They were able to make an AMAZINGLY spec'd full touchscreen device for less than $400. That nothing less than awesome. And they were following their research and not the current trend in allowing users to input with the stylus to cater to the input needs of its Asian market.

Just because the research doesn't seem relevant now doesn't mean it's "crap."

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 22nd 2008 12:33AM]

@derX, just because they made a device under $400 doesn't mean squat. All devices cost that much these days, but some brands like Apple charge a premium for their design and OS, which they deserve if the market's response is anything to go by. In 1990s Nokia's devices were the standard. Their OS, their functionality, was best of breed, because it came from insights into consumer's real gripes. Today, the Symbian S60 or whatchamaycallit is a painful system to use. I could enumerate the pains of sending so much as a single SMS (in 4-5 clicks) whereas on my Blackberry or Iphone it's literally one tap away. I'm talking of the usability. I'm talking of the smartphone market. And btw, the touch phone from Nokia -- have you actually handled it? It has a ways to go yet. Just because they have one doesn't mean it's usable. Far from it. You sound like a Nokia fanboy. Enjoy the subpar experience. Some of us who have been exposed to the alternatives (not Windows Mobile drivel) won't settle for the shit that Nokia is doling out. Sorry, their R&D is at least 5 years behind. Read up on the junkettes their "ethnographic team" is organizing around the world and the kind of crap it's coming up with. It's a moronic Fin bureaucracy, and that's the good part.

[derX Posted Oct 22nd 2008 3:48AM]

I wouldn't call myself a Nokia fanboy, however, I certainly will say that in general Nokia's products are very user friendly and fairly-well spec'd, especially when one considers the price. I occasionally still use a Nokia N80, Nokia's flagship device circa 2006 and its specs still make it a fairly formidable device in 2008. I cannot relate to your experiences using S60, but mine haven't been bad at all. I still have a preference for WinMo, which I'm not sure why you berate, but Symbian S60 is definitely a close second.

I will agree with you I have not personally handled the Nokia 5800, so I cannot vouch for its ease of use, but I will say that other reviewers have rated the device fairly high. Also, don't tell me that all devices cost sub-$400 nowadays because that's complete BS. Devices that have the 5800's specs easily cost around $500.