The Sprint U.S. Consumer Wireless Usage Study revealed that more than half of wireless phone subscribers (56 percent) rely on their mobile phones for features such as cameras, clocks, calendars, messaging, music and as a substitute flashlight for seeing in dark places.

“The list of features and data applications available on mobile phones continues to grow to meet the needs of consumers on the go,” said Jeff Hallock, vice president of product marketing and strategy for Sprint. “Whether it’s using location-based services to get driving directions, listening to streaming music or watching live TV, consumers are finding that the mobile phone is the one item they depend on most to stay connected and entertained.”

63 percent of respondents said they would use their wireless phone to retrieve maps or directions. Cameras remain popular with wireless users, with 55 percent expressing interest in the product. Walkie-talkies and ring tones are also popular with consumers, each cited by 48 percent and Internet access garnered 43 percent interest.

Showing further evidence of the interest in camera phones, 53 percent of camera phone owners take photos with their phone. The overwhelming majority of these “phone-tographers” (96 percent) use their camera phones for spontaneous pictures; nearly one-third take pictures at family gatherings (32 percent) or of their pets (30 percent), while more than one-quarter (27 percent) snap shots at celebrations or on vacation. Respondents also use their camera phone while shopping (18 percent), at concerts (15 percent) and for business purposes (15 percent).

“The majority of Sprint Picture Mail subscribers are active users of the service because they enjoy the ease and convenience of instantly taking, sharing, preserving, managing, editing, and printing digital images that are accessible from their phone and personal computer,” said Hallock.

33 percent of respondents have played games on their phones. Fifty-seven percent claim to have played games in the doctor’s office, 52 percent while commuting on the bus, train or subway, 37 percent while at the airport and nearly one-third of gamers (32 percent) admit to using the bathroom as a game room.

60 percent of respondents have used the backlight to look for something in the dark, 43 percent to locate a keyhole, 34 percent to guide their way through the dark and 20 percent to read. Additionally, 6 percent have used their backlight to replace a cigarette lighter held over the head at a concert, 4 percent have used it to signal in code and 1 percent has used it to light their face while telling a ghost story.

With more than one-quarter support, 27 percent of respondents want a printer/scanner/fax incorporated into their phone. A thermometer was the next most popular, garnering 17 percent support, followed by a money/business cardholder and a credit card, each receiving 15 percent support.

When asked what more mainstream features and functions wireless phone users might be interested in adding to their phone, still image cameras still topped the list (29 percent), followed by music players (22 percent) and video cameras (18 percent). A healthy portion of respondents expressed interest in instant messaging (15 percent), and games and TV/video clips both earned 8 percent of the vote.

The Survey was conducted in October 2005. The Sprint U.S. Consumer Wireless Usage Study is based on an online survey among a nationwide sample of U.S. adults subscribing to wireless phone services. Of the 676 participants, 36 percent were from the Midwest, 28 percent from the Northeast, 23 percent from the South and 13 percent from the West. Of the respondents, 53 percent were female and 47 percent were male. The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 4 percent.