NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Asurion, the global leader in technology protection services, announced today a national survey of 5,000 cell phone users, which shows that nearly 30 percent of survey respondents believe their cell phone is more helpful than their significant other.

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If that's not enough to cause a wedge in a relationship, the study also showed that more than 20 percent of survey respondents admitted to deleting messages their other half may find inappropriate. Meanwhile, some couples have taken secret messages to the next level, with three percent of respondents confessing to owning a secret cell phone their partner doesn't know about.

With Valentine's Day upon us, it's interesting to see how smartphones are influencing our relationships. In some relationships, the cell phone acts as a form of playful seduction. The survey found that 17 percent of all respondents have texted a "risque" photo and four percent of those noted they had sent a "risque" photo to the wrong person. Ouch!

In other relationships, seven percent of participants confessed to sending a "Dear John" letter in the form of a cold text message.  With this kind of mobile love addiction, it's important to remember to protect your beloved gadgets with cell phone insurance because replacing a new smartphone can cost upwards of $600.  And nobody loves that!

"Asurion protects the mobile phones of 95 million customers, helping to ensure their mobile security and help them hold tight to their contacts, pictures and videos," said Bettie Colombo, spokesperson for Asurion.  "This survey highlights the reliance consumers have on their phones and reveals a few quirks often associated with those relationships."

To see more fun facts and surprising survey results about consumers and the relationship they have with their mobile devices follow @Asurion on Twitter and "like" Asurion on Facebook. 

Asurion insures the handsets of more than 95 million consumers, protecting their investments and quickly reconnecting them in the event of handset loss, theft or out-of-warranty damage, including liquid damage.  Asurion provides replacement cell phones and smartphones – usually overnight – when a claim is made either over the phone or online.  Asurion is the cell phone protection company chosen by every major wireless carrier.

Survey Methodology

Asurion partnered with Survey Sampling International to examine cell phone and texting trends, Asurion surveyed a total of 5,000 wireless subscribers between the ages of 16 and 65 years old.  Additionally, respondents were required to have a role in cell phone related decision-making within their household.  Asurion surveyed an equal mix of males and females.  The margin of error is +/- 1.4 percent.

About Asurion

Asurion, a privately-held company operating across three continents, is the global leader in providing consumer technology protection services.  Asurion offers support to help customers derive optimum benefit from the usage of electronics; security to help ensure content privacy; and peace of mind through rapid replacement of lost, stolen, damaged or malfunctioning devices.  As the premier technology protection provider, Asurion's 5,000+ employees specialize in fulfilling the needs of more than 95 million consumers through strategic partnerships with the world's top wireless and cable brands. Asurion's constant commitment to meeting customer needs has earned the company an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and an average post-claim customer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.  For more information about Asurion, including its customer service ratings and reviews that help drive continuous improvement, please visit www.asurion.com.  

SOURCE Asurion