According to a new JupiterResearch report, wireless carriers can significantly increase their subscriber base and revenues by targeting teenagers and parents with separate marketing messages. The report, "Teens: Mobile Subscriber Acquisition," finds that 58 percent of teens have cell phones compared with 70 percent of adults. "To effectively capture the teen market, wireless carriers should create separate marketing messages for teens and their parents," said David Schatsky, president of JupiterKagan.

"Parents will be responsive to the value proposition, whereas teen marketing should focus on trendy gadgets and content," according to Schatsky.

Family plan promotions from wireless carriers have succeeded in pulling 60 percent of teen mobile subscribers into a family service plan; however, the 29 percent of teenage cell phone users with their own plan consume more premium content and are likely to yield a higher margin, according to Jupiter.

"Wireless carriers have been very successful in getting parents to expand their plans to include their teens, but between free phones and shared minutes, it's not the most lucrative proposition for carriers," said Julie Ask, Research Director at JupiterResearch.