Mobile users attached to handsets

Britain's mobile phone users are hanging on to their handsets for longer than ever, research reveals today.

The average British mobile owner has had the same handset for 20 months, compared with only 16 months a year ago, according to market analysts Taylor Nelson Sofres. Its year-long study showed that age was an important factor - those aged 12 to 24 averaged 17 months, while those aged 35 to 44 averaged 21 months.