Shopping for a Graduate?

Recent Asurion survey reveals what grads want, what they need, and why you should protect it

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May 13, 2014, 08:00 ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- It's that time of year, college and high school graduate gift-buying time. And guess what? Today's graduates are not looking for the monogrammed pad folio, briefcase or even dorm room accessories their parents likely received. Asurion, the global leader in technology protection services, recently surveyed 1,000 upcoming graduates to find out what is on their technology gift list. In turn, we asked the same class to tell us what they thought they would need to be successful. Here is what we learned.

Asurion survey data reveals what technology gifts graduates really want and which gifts grads will need to be successful. (PRNewsFoto/Asurion)

Top Technology Wants
The most popular gadgets on graduate's wish lists are:

Laptops (52 percent)
Smartphones (12 percent)
Gaming systems (12 percent)
Tablets (11 percent)

Top Technology Needs
In contrast, Asurion was curious if a graduate's wants and needs would be the same. So we asked participants what technology they felt they needed to be successful. You may be surprised but there are no gaming systems on this list!

Laptops (75 percent)
Smartphones (66 percent)
Printers (40 percent)
Tablets (27 percent)

Top Technology Fails
So what happens when the critical technology your student needs for classes doesn't work? This is something most students will face, with 60 percent of grads having had an issue with their technology at school. Some of the most common issues included:

Internet connectivity (85 percent)
Software or app malfunction (34 percent)
Broken device (23 percent)
Virus or malfunction (23 percent)

"As parents, it's important to send your graduate into the next chapter of life with all the tools they'll need to be successful," said Bettie Colombo, an Asurion spokesperson. "But it's equally important to have peace-of-mind that when they have an issue, your wallet is protected. Asurion, our retail and wireless company partners are focused on making sure your student is never held back because of a lost, stolen, broken or malfunctioning device."

When purchasing graduation gifts this year, remember to add a protection plan to your graduate's technology devices to make sure they have everything they need to be successful in school.

Methodology:
Survey results based on responses from 1,000 participants ages 17-25 who are graduating from college or high school in May 2014. Data collected by Asurion in April 2014 via SSI.

About Asurion:
For two decades, Asurion has been the global leader in technology protection. Today, as everyday life becomes increasingly dependent on such technology, Asurion keeps 280 million consumers' lives up and running. The company provides premier support that enables users to fully utilize their digital devices and products; applications to protect privacy and provide security; and rapid replacement of lost, stolen, damaged, or malfunctioning devices. Asurion's global team of over 15,000 employees supports the top wireless companies, retailers and service providers, enabling those companies to focus on their core businesses. When a product is missing or simply doesn't work properly, Asurion solves the problem with a system that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, speaks six languages, and works across any device, platform, or provider. For more information about Asurion, including customer service ratings and reviews, please visit www.asurion.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140512/86700

SOURCE Asurion