58 Percent of Black Friday Shoppers Say Smartphones are Critical to Learn, Buy and Save

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Friday means pre-dawn bargain searching, emptied store shelves, anxious shoppers and harried sales staff, right?  Perhaps not for everyone it turns out. A survey of nearly 1,000 adults by Asurion, the global leader in technology protection services, reveals 49 percent of shoppers will make Black Friday purchases from their smartphone.

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And that's not the only reason a full 58 percent of survey respondents described their smartphone as "very important" for Black Friday shopping.  For 46 percent of those responding, the smartphone will be their shopping assistant, providing a wealth of product information. Once that must-have holiday gift is found, 35 percent of those surveyed said they'll use their smartphone to save money by finding discount codes and coupons.

"Technology should make our lives easier and it looks like smartphones will do that this holiday season," said Bettie Colombo, Asurion spokesperson.  "It's another example of the mobile lifestyle we live today.  With our smartphones and tablets we can be connected from almost anywhere.  On Black Friday, shoppers and retailers alike will take advantage of that connectedness."

Smartphone owners surveyed by Asurion said they already have three or four shopping applications from popular retailers on their device.  Sixty-two percent say they will use those apps to make their holiday purchases.  

The Asurion survey clearly highlights the important role smartphones play in the lives of consumers, including Black Friday shoppers.  Asurion encourages consumers to protect their mobile devices.  Today, more consumers depend on Asurion than any other company to protect their smartphone investment, secure the personal content that lives on their smartphone and get the most benefit from the device's features.  If an Asurion customer's phone is lost, stolen or damaged, the company will send a replacement overnight.  Asurion's sophisticated security software allows the customer to remotely lock their lost or stolen phone to protect personal information from unauthorized access.  And the company's Premier Support service provides consumers a friendly and knowledgeable expert support technician capable of answering questions or helping with the phone's hardware and software features. 

Survey Methodology
Asurion partnered with Survey Sampling International to examine cell phone trends, Asurion surveyed a total of 725 wireless subscribers between the ages of 18 and 70 years old in October 2013. Asurion surveyed an equal mix of males and females.  The margin of error is +/- 1.4 percent. 

About Asurion
For two decades, Asurion has led the technology protection industry around the globe. The Company provides premier support solutions to enable optimum use of technology; digital applications to protect their privacy and provide security; and rapid replacement of lost, stolen, damaged or malfunctioning devices. Asurion partners with the leading wireless companies, retailers and service providers enabling them to focus on their businesses and to provide services that delight their customers. Asurion's 14,000+ employees worldwide specialize in fulfilling the needs of more than 280 million consumers. For more information about Asurion, including customer service ratings and reviews that help drive continuous improvement, please visit www.asurion.com.

SOURCE Asurion