In this edition of Tech Trends, we look at some of the more unusual digital stories that popped up in our news feed, with unlikely information and endeavors that could be appreciated by real estate professionals.
Hanging On, Not Hanging Up. While some people look at landline telephones in terms of obsolescence, more than a few people prefer to stay connected via wires.
A new data study from ChamberOfCommerce.org noted that seven in 10 American adults are wireless-only phone users, or 183.1 million. However, 68.9 million have retained their landline service.
Curiously, one region shows a stronger than average fidelity to landlines. More than four in 10 adults (41.2%) in the Northeast still have a landline phone in their homes. New York State is the nation’s landline capital, with 52.4% of adults keeping their old-school telephonic habits. Other states where more than half of the households have landline phones include Massachusetts (52.1%), Maryland (50.8%), and New Jersey (50.5%).
On the flip side, adults in Idaho, Oklahoma, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Mississippi are least likely to live in homes with landline telephones. Seniors are the most likely age group to still have a landline phone, with 50.5% of Americans 65 and over still making their calls on a landline phone.
Router Power. While many households are keeping their landline phones, 28% of U.S. households intend to purchase a home network router or Wi-Fi extender in the next six months, according to the latest Parks Associates’ Consumer Electronics Dashboard report.
Parks Associates’ research found 61% of U.S. internet households have at least one remote worker. Advanced home networking equipment, such as high-speed routers, mesh Wi-Fi systems, and smart home hubs, has facilitated a more seamless and reliable internet experience.
“The rise of home networking equipment has become a cornerstone in modern living, especially in light of the increasing shift towards remote work and digital lifestyles,” said Sarah Lee, research analyst at Parks Associates. “This surge in demand reflects a broader societal transition towards greater reliance on connectivity for both professional and personal use cases.”
Old Cameras, New Owners. While many tech-savvy professionals keep an eye out for the latest breakthroughs in cameras, one company unveiled a marketing campaign to encourage the use of pre-owned cameras.
Atlanta-headquartered KEH, a purchaser and reseller of pre-owned camera gear, launched its “Better Than New” campaign to promote the benefits received when utilizing pre-owned instead of purchasing new equipment. The company is stressing the financial perks of not buying a brand-new camera – KEH said its buyers can get up to 40% off retail and those looking to trade can snag a 10% trade-in bonus – while also advocating for sustainability practices that are not helped by disposable-first mindsets.
“Since KEH’s inception more than 40 years ago, we’ve established our identity around the belief that pre-owned camera gear often has more ‘staying’ power in someone’s hands,” said Noah Treshnell, CEO of KEH.
Scams Galore. The new survey report “Digital Uncertainty: Scams, Privacy and Artificial Intelligence” published by the cybersecurity and anti-virus provider Kaspersky has determined it is nearly impossible to have a professional or personal life online without being assaulted by scams. The report found 42% of users have encountered scams on online dating apps, 38% have encountered scams on Facebook and 18% of users of online sports betting sites. Overall, 29% of users fell victim to some type of scam on one of these online platforms.
Phishing attacks were the most common scam format, growing by 40% in 2023 while expanding beyond fraudulent emails and websites to target users on social media, messaging apps, online gaming platforms and cryptocurrency exchanges. Making matters worse, new AI tools make it easier than ever for scammers to operate.
The survey found that 36% of Facebook Marketplace users have encountered scams on the platform, followed by 25% of Instagram users, 18% of online gaming platform players and 15% of online banking customers.
Furthermore, nearly six in 10 users have had to change their password for security reasons in the past six months – and, not surprisingly, 75% of consumers would like to see new privacy regulation passed this year.
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