zBoost 'State of the Cell Signal' Survey Reveals 51 percent of Cell Phone Data Function Users Experience Problems with Cell Phone Service While Using Data: zBoost Your Data at Home, in the Office or on the Go

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) January 7, 2009

According to the zBoost "State of the Cell Signal" Survey, commissioned by Wi-Ex, the leading providers of consumer cell phone signal boosters, and conducted by Harris Interactive®, nearly two in three cell phone owners (64%) use data functions on their cell phones and, of those, 51 percent experience problems with their cell phone service while using data functions. Showcased today at the 2009 Consumers Electronic Show in Las Vegas, zBoost offers a suite of products that improve in-door cell phone signals for both voice and data through the creation of cell zones.

The "State of the Cell Signal" Survey unveiled that 70 percent of cell phone owners experience problems with their cell phone service, including dropped calls (44%), poor signal reception or dead zones in their home (34%) and poor signal reception or dead zones at work (28%). The zBoost line allows consumers to take full advantage voice, data and Internet services on their mobile phones including 3G high-speed data and video, instant messaging, pictures and more.

"Our "State of the Cell Signal" Survey once again demonstrates the strong consumer need for the zBoost line of products," said Lloyd R. Meese, CEO of Wi-Ex. "While other options in the market continue to promise consumers a future solution, the zBoost line of products provides consumers with an answer today. With hundreds of thousands of units in the market and the launch of the zBoost International here at CES, we are committed to continuing to provide innovative solutions to meet this growing consumer need."

Other key survey findings include:

• 94 percent of cell phone owners who use data functions do so for messaging, including:
• Text (92%)
• MMS messaging (25%)
• Instant messaging (16%)
• 23 percent of cell phone owners who use data functions use their cell phones for email
• 20 percent browse the Internet
• Six percent use social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace on their cell phones.

Texan zBoost user, David Martin, recently found the zBoost both useful and necessary, "This device proved to be very handy after Hurricane Ike had passed and there was some obvious damage to cellular infrastructure due to flooding and loss of power due to the water, wind or both. The YX510 successfully pulled in cellular signals from other towers and helped keep us connected via iPhone when others were experiencing signal reception problems."*

All Wi-Ex products feature patent-pending technology to protect the carrier network. They are easy to install, affordable and increase in-building coverage by up to 2500 sq ft. The zBoost product line is compatible with 800MHz and 1900MHz and range in price from $119 - $399 including:

• zBoost International - Launched at CES 2009 and works with 900 MHz phones and 1800 MHz phones simultaneously - increases your indoor cell signal coverage - up to 200 sq. meters - Introductory price $499
• zBoost zPocket - Personal workspace booster works with both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz -

$119 - use with speakerphone or Bluetooth headset

• zBoost zPersonal (zP) - Personal booster that works with both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz -

$169; single user increases coverage from 4-6ft

• zBoost - Cellular frequency works with 800 MHz - $299 - multiple users simultaneously;

increases coverage up to 2500 sq ft.

• zBoost - PCS frequency works with 1900 MHz - $299 - multiple users simultaneously;

increases coverage up to 2500 sq ft.

• zBoost - Dual Band works with both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz - $399 - multiple users

simultaneously; increases coverage up to 2500 sq ft.

• zBoost for the car - Dual Band works with both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz - $299
• zBoost safety division - Flexible and affordable technology designed for the public safety market
• zBoost for the Professional Installer - zBoost 600 series of products include single frequencies or a dual-band unit.

About Wi-Ex:
Wi-Ex (http://www.wi-ex.com), the leading provider of consumer cell phone signal boosters, developed zBoost, the first consumer-priced signal booster for the small office/home office (SOHO) cell phone market. Wi-Ex manufactures and distributes the zBoost line of cell phone signal extenders for the home, office or car. They are easy to install, affordable and available at many retail and etail outlets including BestBuy.com (http://www.bestbuy.com) RadioShack (http://www.radioshack.com), Fry's (http://www.frys.com), WPS Antennas (http://www.wpsantennas.com), Tiger Direct (http://www.tigerdirect.com), RepeaterStore.com (http://www.repeaterstore.com) and Solid Signal (http://www.solidsignal.com). The zBoost product line works with most carriers including AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile. They were selected as a 2007 Consumer Electronics Association Innovations Honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). They also were selected as a finalist for the 2007 CTIA Emerging Technologies (E-Tech) Award in the Hardware - Mobile Accessory category. As the leader, zBoost has more awards, more sales and more locations than all their competitors combined. Wi-Ex continues to develop innovative products to meet the demands of an increasingly wireless society by enhancing wireless signals

About the zBoost "State of the Cell Signal Survey:
The "State of the Cell Signal" survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of WiEx between November 4 and November 6, 2008 among 2,168 U.S. adults 18 years of age or older, of whom, 1,886 are cell phone owners and 1,175 are cell phone owners who use data functions on their phone. Results were weighted as needed on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, and race/ethnicity. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, and error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to be invited to participate in the Harris Interactive online research panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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