Study: Bostonians Reach For Smartphone Before Coffee, Toothbrush, Significant Other

Have you ever fallen asleep with your smartphone in your hand? If you’re from Boston, odds are the answer is yes. 34 percent of Bostonians admit to doing so, which is higher than any other city, according to a recent Bank of America Trends in Consumer Mobility report.

But that’s not all! The report indicates 75 percent of Bostonians sleep with their phones. 39 percent say it’s the first thing they reach for in the morning. 20 percent do it before snagging a cup of java, 10 percent do it before brushing their teeth and 8 percent are checking that phone before greeting their significant other.

The study also explored new insights into how, when and why Bostonians are using their mobile phones, including general habits, banking behaviors and more.

Here’s a look at some Boston highlights:

• Bostonians never go off the grid. More than one-third (35%) never fully disconnect from their mobile phones. Even on vacation, only 6% shut down entirely.
• Mobile phones increasingly turning into mobile wallets. More than half (48% vs. 34% nationally) of Boston residents would consider or already have used their smartphone to make a purchase at checkout, tied with California for the highest response rate, and more than four in 10 (47%) would consider paying someone using person-to-person payments via a mobile banking app.
• Manners still matter in our mobile world. Three-quarters (75%) agree mobile phones are not appropriate in some places. Twenty-three percent are most annoyed by others’ mobile phone use in movie theaters, followed by religious institutions (17%) and restaurants (16%).
• A city of always on. Prominent majority (88%) of Bostonians check their mobile device at least a few times a day, with 38% checking “constantly.” Behavior also extends to banking – of those using a mobile banking app, nearly one-third (32% vs. 20% nationally) access it at least once a day or more.

What do you first reach for in the morning? Is it your smartphone? Comment below to share your smartphone routine.

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