The study also showed Americans are divided about which gadget -- a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a two-way e-mail device -- best complements a cell phone.

The poll, commissioned by LetsTalk.com, was conducted from February 15th to 18th with a representative sample of 1,023 Americans aged 18 or older. Respondents were asked to choose which device or devices they would carry if price were no object: a mobile phone; a two-way e-mail device, such as a RIM BlackBerry; a handheld PDA, such as a PalmPilot or Visor; or a one-way pager.

From All to Nothing

While a majority of respondents said they would use more than one wireless device, 25 percent said they would carry three or four gadgets, according to LetsTalk.com. The survey showed 53 percent of respondents wanted more than one device, 34 percent preferred one device and 11 percent did not want a wireless device at all, even for free.

When the responses were broken down by device preference, 82 percent wanted a cell phone, 35 percent wanted a two-way e-mail device, 30 percent wanted a handheld PDA and 11 percent did not want any device.

Of the respondents who wanted a second device to complement their wireless phone, 37 percent chose a two-way e-mail device, 32 percent chose a PDA and 31 percent chose all three.

Subscriber Numbers Climb

"This survey shows that in the minds of Americans, no single device can manage all different functionalities of a cell phone, a portable e-mail device or a wireless PDA," said Delly Tamer, president and chief executive officer of LetsTalk.com.

"Americans are willing to carry several mobile devices in order to have access to key communication tools and to increase their productivity," Tamer added.

According to a recent study by Allied Business Intelligence titled "Wireless Data Networking 2000," the number of wireless subscribers will continue to climb, reaching some 1.3 billion on second- and third-generation systems by 2005.

More than 500 million data subscribers will use Internet access as data services become mainstream, the study reported, noting that North America, Western Europe and Asia-Pacific will remain the regional leaders in voice and data subscribers.

San Francisco, California-based LetsTalk.com offers wireless ERP products for businesses and corporations, including comparison sites and a fulfillment center that can customize and brand products. The company's site features wireless products and services, including phones, PDAs and two-way e-mail devices.