Most cell phone users don't know the make or model of their handsets, according to a consumer research study of wireless subscribers in the U.K.

Photo: Most Cell Phone Owners Don't Know What They Use Photo 1

Conducted for LogicaCMG, 58 percent of users surveyed couldn't name either the make or model of their phone, over half (51 percent) were clueless to the manufacturer, and one in ten (9 percent) were oblivious to both.

According to the poll, men and younger users (in the 15 to 34 age group) were most likely to know details of their device. These groups were also those most likely to engage with advanced data services (such as MMS and mobile internet browsing) than women and the 55 plus age group.

Accurate handset details are crucial when a query is made to customer call centers. While consumers themselves may not be overly interested in knowing the details of their phone, it's important for customer service specialists to know enough about the handset to be able to offer the appropriate technical advice.

The study concluded that carriers attempting to increase sales of mobile services, such as multimedia messaging (MMS), video calling, and mobile internet browsing are being thwarted because neither the user nor the marketing agent know what features to pitch.