Wireless phones are taking over American homes as more people ditch the traditional landline, according to a Pew Research report citing a federal agency report.
In 2013 just about two in five, approximately 41 percent, of American households relied on wireless phones, according to a National Center for Health Statistics report, with 39.1 percent of adults and 47.1 percent of children living in wireless-only homes. That's about 2.8 percent more than in 2012 and indicates that wireless adoption is slowing compared to previous years. Wireless-only homes grew 5.2 percent in 2010, 4.3 percent in 2011 and 4.2 percent in 2012.
The National Center for Health Statistics, which published the wireless use report, is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The biggest wireless-only adopters are the younger generation, with 65.7 percent of 25 to 29 year olds living in wireless homes.
One of the most startling statistics regarding traditional phone service is one involving those living in poverty. More than half, 56.2 percent, of those households have no landline service. In terms of ethnic populations, 53.1 percent of Hispanic households have no landline.
In terms of geography those living in the Northeast were less likely to be wireless-only compared to other regions with just 24.9 percent living without a landline. In the Midwest, West and South regions that number is more than 40 percent.
Other relevant statistics include the fact that younger people rely more on cellphones, as nearly two thirds of those in their late 20s live in a home with just cellphone use. Just 14 percent of those older than 65 uses only cell phones, and men are more likely to ditch landlines than women.
The report does not indicate why wireless-only use in the home is slowing. In one published report lead researcher Stephen Blumberg surmises that it could be tied to cable TV services.
"Or it could mean that we're hitting a ceiling for those people willing to completely abandon landlines," said John Palmer, a researcher at the Autonomous University in Barcelona, Spain, who was not involved in the report.
