A report out today confirms what many already suspected - Australians are becoming addicted to their smartphones.

The survey of smartphone users by the technology company Cisco reveals that the daily ritual for Generation Y Australians begins with texting.

Many of those surveyed admit they are checking for messages and updates at least once every thirty minutes and become anxious when their phone goes missing.

Cisco's chief technology officer Kevin Bloch says many people, especially from Gen Y, are crossing the border into a smartphone addiction.

"Literally as they open their eyes the alarm clock, which is probably on their phone, goes off. They reach out for the alarm clock, look at their updates, maybe on Facebook, maybe Twitter etc, maybe go through their email, and then they get out of bed," he observed.

"Nine out of 10 of the survey of 3,800 people under 30 years old are addicted to their smartphone and, in fact, one out of five are checking their smartphone every ten minutes."

Dangerous habits

Mr Bloch says the addiction to smartphone use is so strong for many that they have developed dangerous habits, such as texting while driving.

"It's happening subconsciously, and one out of five people are texting while they're driving, and it just speaks to this addictive, compulsive, behaviours that we're seeing," he said.

"You know, can you not put your phone down whilst you're in your car? I mean, we're talking not just about using the phone for voice, we're talking about texting while you're driving, and that's a really dangerous thing."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 5 minutes 45 seconds 5 m Australians addicted to smartphones ( Peter Ryan ) Download 2.6 MB

The Cisco report finds that it is not only Gen Y who are addicted to their mobile devices, but that the type of use varies with age.

"For example, under 30s, most of whom may not be married, their addiction will be just to be connected to their social lives, some of whom also to be connected to their work lives and so on," Mr Bloch observed.

"As you go on in life and you're established, you've got a family and so on, the addiction changes. It may be you're worried about your family so you want to stay connected and so on, but there will be different types of addictions or compulsive behaviour.

"But I think what is becoming consistent is that that smartphone is becoming the central point of contact to other services and people no matter what age you are."

Sorry, this video has expired One out of five people under 30 were checking their smartphone every 10 minutes.

Separation anxiety

Kevin Bloch says when someone's smartphone goes missing or it even starts running out of battery, they often start getting anxious.

"In the report they talk about, you know, the human body's got 206 bones and the smart phone's your 207th bone, and you'll know about it if you don't have it," he joked.

Cisco's report has also found gradual changes in the etiquette surrounding mobile phone use, with more people now using their devices at the dinner table and in bed.

"Three-quarters of the people surveyed use their phone in bed, and the question about romance and all that sort of thing comes up," Kevin Bloch said.

"I think 46 per cent will use their smartphone whilst at the dinner table, and if most of the table are texting while you're trying to eat I would consider that rude, and with my family I definitely try to stop it.

"I think it does have a whole lot of negative impacts on your personal life and your personal relationships, no doubt."

Mr Bloch says people need to re-evaluate their smartphone use.

"I think people need to take a step back and understand from their own personal perspectives how addicted they are, like any drug, I guess if I could put an analogy on it," he advised.

"Because, you know, it could touch on or infringe on things like your manners, all the way through to your work-life balance, all the way through to your personal safety."

You can follow Peter Ryan on Twitter @Peter_F_Ryan or on his blog.