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For Immediate Release October 15, 1997
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166

Arlington, Texas — More than 77% of America’s households now have a telephone answering machine, according to a nationwide survey by Decision Analyst, Inc., a leading national marketing research firm.

In its survey of 6,490 households earlier this summer, Decision Analyst found that 77.3% of U.S. households own an answering machine—an increase of roughly five percentage points since the first quarter of 1996.

"The answering machine is no longer a luxury. It has become a household utility, a necessity. It is perceived as valuable in screening out those annoying telemarketing calls that we all like to avoid, as well as capturing those calls and messages that we don’t want to miss," said Jerry W. Thomas, president and chief executive officer of Decision Analyst, Inc. "Overall, the household saturation levels suggest that the answering machine market will grow more slowly in the future, compared to the past five years."

The answering machine is particularly popular among younger consumers (85% of the 18-34 age group reported having a telephone answering device). Answering machines are least popular among those 55 years and older, where ownership drops to 67%.

The higher the household income is, the more likely that household is to own an answering machine. Eighty-seven percent of those earning at least $50,000 reported owning the machines. Those earning under $30,000 are least likely to have the machines, the survey shows. Additional detail about households that own answering machines is attached.

Its survey of telephone answering machines has a margin of error of plus or minus one percent.

For additional information contact:
Cristi Allen
Publicity
Email: callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 1.800.ANALYSIS (262.5974)
Address: 604 Avenue H East
Arlington, TX 76011

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