The power of voice calls remains undiminished, while chatting continues to enrich communication options, according to a new nationwide representative survey by Yettel Hungary1. The findings show that Hungarians still most frequently keep in touch with most people via phone calls, especially when communicating with parents, where nine out of ten respondents prefer calling. After parents, respondents also communicate most frequently with their partners (77%) and children (69%) by phone, although text messaging already plays a significant role in these relationships as well. When it comes to more distant relatives, six out of ten people still prefer calling – a trend that is more typical among men (68%) than women (53%). In contrast, texting dominates among friends, with voice calls being the more popular option only among those aged 45+ – mainly men – while most people reserve SMS and video calls specifically for communicating with their children or partner.
The generational divide is clearly visible: while chat applications are the most popular communication channel among 18–26-year-olds, voice calls remain the preferred option for people over 45. Nearly half (48%) of the youngest age group consciously choose messaging over calling, while among those aged 54 and above, the exact opposite is true for 36% of respondents. More than half of people aged 18–26 and 36–44 specifically prefer receiving a message rather than a phone call when the matter is not urgent. At the same time, written communication is perceived as riskier in practice, leading to more conflicts, misunderstandings, time loss and awkward situations than voice-based conversations. This is further supported by the fact that only four out of ten respondents said they had to clarify or explain something after a phone conversation, whereas in written exchanges six out of ten had experienced similar situations due to misunderstood wording or emoji use.
My number is more than “just a number” – practicality and emotional attachment behind keeping a phone number
The research also explored how strongly Hungarians are attached to their phone numbers, whether for practical or emotional reasons. Half of respondents believe that the growing use of internet-based calls and chat applications has not diminished the importance of phone numbers, and almost all respondents said they would keep their current number even if they switched mobile operators. Seven out of ten respondents believe changing their phone number would involve a significant amount of administration, as they have shared it in numerous official and personal contexts. According to Yettel Hungary’s research, half of Hungarians are also emotionally attached to their phone number, while three quarters of respondents feel that a phone number is “more than just a number.” Interestingly, while people feel attached to their own number, they are far less likely to remember anyone else’s: only four out of ten respondents said they could call several friends or family members from memory.
Among those who feel less attached to their current phone numbers, two main reasons typically emerge. On the one hand, too many people already know their existing number – including some they would rather no longer stay in contact with. On the other hand, many are discouraged by the administrative hassle associated with number porting. In response to the survey findings, Yettel Hungary offers a simple and fast solution for customers switching from another operator while keeping their number. The process requires no in-person administration with the previous operator: once the request is submitted, Yettel Hungary handles the entire number porting process on the customer’s behalf. In addition, customers signing up for a new subscription and committing to a contract receive a 30% discount on the monthly fee for the first six months. Voice-based communication is made even more accessible by the fact that, until June 30 this year, selected plans include six months of unlimited domestic calls at no extra cost. This strongly reflects one of the survey’s key findings: despite digital communication trends, roughly every second respondent has at least one person in their life whom they still always prefer to call by phone.
More information: https://www.yettel.hu/szamhordozas and https://www.yettel.hu/prime-tarifa
1The survey was conducted online between 9 and 13 April 2026, on a sample of 800 respondents. The sample is representative of Hungary’s population aged 16 to 65 by age, gender, region, and type of settlement. (Impetus Research)