Stats & Storylines

Wakefield Research has its finger on the pulse of tech trends, and that’s evident with recent coverage on TechCrunch, CNET.com, Ars Technica, PCMag.com, and PCWorld! 

The Wi-Fi Alliance and Edelman commissioned Wakefield to survey U.S. smartphone and tablet users on their attitudes towards streamlined Wi-Fi. The PR survey found that Americans are, in fact, more willing to pay for easier access to Wi-Fi hot spots. CNET reported the findings, highlighting that “90 percent of the 1,000 respondents polled said they would be more likely to stick with their current service provider if it offered the ability to connect automatically in Wi-Fi hot spots. And about 72 percent said they would pay more for it.”

Yes! USA Today continues its spring fever for Wakefield Research PR surveys. Brave souls on the dating scene can take notes from today’s Snapshot featuring Wakefield’s survey for Dentyne – which asks which unflattering qualities could be overlooked to still have a good date.

Half would not immediately dismiss a date with perspiring palms (50%), and 47% believe a date in wrinkled clothes could still go over smoothly. No time to clean out your ride? No fear, 46% of adults are willing to overlook your mobile trash can. 

One thing most can NOT overlook – bad breath. The study found that only 14% are able to overlook bad breath on a first date.  Just like bad breath, great stats are hard to overlook! Contact Wakefield to see how a creative PR poll can bring positive media attention to your program. 

While cell phones continue to grow in complexity nearly every day, their value stays simple: they save you valuable time. In fact, according to a recent survey by Wakefield Research for Microsoft Windows Phone and Allison & Partners, 91% of smartphone owners say that their phone has saved them time. The survey has been a springboard for the new Windows Phone PR and marketing campaign, underscoring that Windows Phones can give you some extra time in your day. 

The integrated campaign has garnered considerable press attention for both Microsoft and Wakefield from the likes of The Washington Post and PCWorld this week. 

A Wakefield PR survey commissioned by Motricity and Edelman is striking a chord with media! With March Madness winding down this weekend, popular tech blog, Mashable featured the data and revealed where sports fans use their smartphones to check scores.  The survey found that half of sports fans sneak off to the bathroom to check up on their favorite sports team. A little gross, but that’s dedication.   

PCWorld and USA Today are also taking part in the hoops hoopla and have recently featured the survey data.

To learn about other wacky ways sports fans are using their smartphones, you can read the Mashable article in its entirety here. 

The most frightening finding? 70% of those surveyed have found “something gross” in their rooms—including mold and cockroaches. With those statistics, it’s no wonder 40% are bringing their own bedding from home.

Have you ever lost everything you saved on your computer or other digital device? Have wedding photos, work projects, homework, and records magically disappeared, never to be seen again? You’re not alone.  According to a Wakefield Research survey for Carbonite, “51% of Americans have lost all their digital files from a computer crash, yet 39% reported they've never backed up their files, or at least haven't done so in the past year." 

While we’re partial to this survey data, we’re not the only ones who think it’s great. The survey appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle this week, and since its release in November, has sparked reporters’ interest at PCMag.com, Baseline, eWEEK and more.  The steady drumbeat of coverage demonstrates that this Wakefield Research survey has staying power! 

Wakefield PR surveys continue to catch the attention of Snapshot editors at USA Today! Highlighted in today’s newspaper, a Wakefield Research survey for Accertify asked whether or not it is fraudulent to use multiple e-mails to receive more promotional deals.  

A whopping 71% Americans said yes, it is fraudulent.  How’s that for morals?  On the other hand, one-fourth of respondents (25%) believed that creating multiple emails for promotions is not an act of fraud.  The line seems a bit blurry for some deal-seeking bargain hunters. 

Our work with Avanade, a business technology service provider, and Edelman PR has made the pages of The New Yorker! 

Wakefield Research surveyed senior business and IT leaders in 17 countries and found that nearly 9 in 10 companies (88%) are allowing employees to use their personal computing technologies for business purposes. With the global survey results in hand, the Edelman PR team put their pitching experts to work and succeeded in getting ink for Avanade in one of the hardest media targets out there – The New Yorker. 

How’d they do it? By not trying to shoe horn the survey where it doesn’t fit and force a story. Instead, the account team figured out how to pitch the survey and make it part of a bigger story about BlackBerry’s financial difficulties since American workers began bringing their own device to work. 

You can check out the study in the current issue of The New Yorker. To learn more about Avanade’s work with Wakefield, please read the Dispelling Six Myths of Consumerization of IT report.