In a recent Sprint survey, findings show that 56 percent of women want to personalize their cell phone, rather than 32 percent for hairstyles.

Photo: Women Would Rather Personalize Cell Phones than Hairstyles Photo 1

Announcing the results of its "Women in a Wireless World" survey, Sprint concluded that women are also more interested in ringtones than men (54 percent compared to 42 percent) and are more likely to use ringtones to personalize their phone (81 percent compared to 75 percent).

The survey findings show that when compared to men, women are also more likely to want their phone within reach 24 hours a day (37 percent to 30 percent). Communicating with family beyond just making phone calls is certainly one reason: 70 percent of woman indicate they text message with family members, and 61 percent indicate they take pictures of their family with a camera phone.

And the style of mobile phone overwhelming preferred by women? The flip phone, garnering 72 percent of responses.

Forget the Bedazzler

Nearly two-thirds of women, 61%, choose to personalize items because they think its fun and 45% personalize items to differentiate their items from those belonging to others. What items are women most interested in personalizing?

- Computer Screen - 68%
- Mobile Phone - 56%
- Hair Style - 32%
- Stationary - 29%
- Themselves (ie tattoo) - 21%

Trending Toward Tones

Women are more interested in ring tones than men and are more likely to use ring tones to personalize their phones:

- Women who personalize their mobile phone with ringtones 0 81%
- Men who personalize their mobile phone with ringtones - 75%
- Women interested in ringtones - 54%
- Men interested in ringtones - 42%

Family Matters

When it comes to those who take pictures and send messages from their phone, women regularly identify their family members as the group with which they are most likely to interact. Here's the breakdown of how many women say they:

- Take pictures on their camera phone during the winter holidays - 71%
- Text message with family members - 70%
- Instant message with family members - 68%
- Use their camera phone for family gatherings - 35%

Mobile Usage

The majority of women, 89%, say their mobile phone is a time-saver. More women than ever before report making and taking more than half of their calls on their mobile phone:

- Make at least 50% of calls from mobile phone - 57%
- Take at least 50% of calls from mobile phone - 48%

Dialed In

As compared to men, more women want their phones "within reach
24 hours a day:"

- Women - 37%
- Men - 30%

Females Flip for Flip Phones

When asked their preferred phone style, women chose:

- Flip Phone - 72%
- Regular Phone (Candy Bar Size) - 20%
- Slider - 4%
- Rugged - 3%
- Business Device (PDA) - 1%

Admired Accessories

Although traditionally mobile phones have been silver or black, 44% of women said they want their phone to have a splash of color. Other ways women choose to make their phones their own are with accessories, the most popular of which are:

- Handsfree Headset / Ear Bud - 36%
- Car Charger - 32%
- Carrying Case - 15%

Guiding Light

The mobile phone can be used in a number of ways besides talking. One popular use of the mobile phone is to light the way in the dark. Women use their phone's backlight in the dark in order to:

- Look for something in the dark - 61%
- Find a keyhole - 43%
- Guide their way through the dark - 34%
- Read in the dark - 15%
- Replace a lighter at a concert - 6%
- Signal in code - 5%
- Shine in face to tell a ghost story - 1%