Half of Britons 'addicted to email'

Half of Britons believe that they cannot function without email, a new poll has revealed.

The poll, conducted by ICM Research for software broadcaster Nasstar, asked people if they could carry on without access to email - 50% of 25 - 34-year-olds said no.

The study suggested that this age group was leading the way in adopting electronic communication as a vital way of keeping in touch with the office and with friends.

However, the survey found that the latest technologies have not been monopolised by the younger generation.

Only 41% of teenagers admitted to relying on their email, while 35 - 44-year-olds appeared to be embracing new technologies for communication much quicker, with 44% saying that their email was vital to them.

The study also revealed some regional variations. Respondents in the South-East placed the most importance on email access, with 43% saying that they would struggle without it, compared to only 34% in Wales and the South-West.

However, there was only a slight variation between the sexes, with 41% of females admitting that they would find life without email contact difficult, compared to 38% of males.

Charles Black, chief executive of Nasstar, said: "The first wave was the mobile phone and many of us would admit we reply on our mobile and can't remember how we ever survived without it.

"This poll shows that the next phase is the growth of mobile email. There's an increasing demand for email on-the-go and technology has developed to meet this demand. Now with your mobile, or your Blackberry, you can have access to your email anywhere and everywhere.

"Thirty and forty-somethings have fitted email into their busy lives as a vital form of communication. It's not restricted by time, you can email in the middle of the night without disturbing anyone. And now it's no longer restricted by location.

"While teenagers are passionate about their mobile phones and texting in particular, the older generations are relying more and more on email because of its use in a business capacity. Email really works for business people on the go."

(KMcA/JM)