Cell phone culture and its social impact over fifteen years

Cell Phone Communication Technology Evolution Over the Past 15 Years

Cell phones have become a ubiquitous feature of modern life and contemporary society and culture. The term " the cell phone culture" is fast become a term that correctly describes the way that cellular technology is influencing modern communications and cultural trends in the world. This technology has in recent years accelerated in terms of sophistication and usage. No longer are cell phones mainly found in affluent and developed countries. Countries like India, South Africa and less developed regions of Asia have shown a remarkable increase in usage and growth in the last decade.

Cell phones have also had a huge and dramatic influence on society and culture throughout the world. This mode of communication that modern cellular devices offers has changed not only access and availability to easy communication but also the way that people interact and relate to one another. Aspects like convergence and the visual facilities offered by modern cell phones have had a decided impact on society and altered the way that we perceive ourselves and the reality of the world around us.

In recent years, the growth of this technology has meant that cell phones and mobile Internet connections have become more integrated to open up new vistas in communication and interaction. The integration of mobile phones and the World Wide Web has led to developments in the mobile arena that were unimaginable fifteen years ago.

The term convergence, which is being touted by many pundits in the field, is an example of the modern trends in cell phone technology. Convergence and "smart phones" refer to the integration and interaction with other technologies that become an integral part of the cellular phone experience. Convergence also means that many previously separate forms of data and activities can converge or take place in one single mobile device. This factor has changed not only the way that many people work and play but has also had a far-reaching affect on contemporary society.

This refers to not only the Word Wide Web and information accessibly but also to aspect such as games, video and entrainment that are now accessible via the mobile device. In fact the mobile phone has morphed from a device that was used a decade ago purely for communication, to a device that can be used for business, entertainment and almost any other facet that requires communication. In some countries, such a South Africa and South Korea, the cell phone culture has become so endemic that many people spend most of their time on the phone. However, the growth of the cell phone culture, as will be discussed, has both positive and negative implications for modern society.

This paper will provide an overview of the growth and development of the modern cell phone and will relate these developments to their social and cultural impact on the modern world.

Brief overview of the development of cell phone communication.

2.1. Early developments

In essence, the technological development of modern cell phones and cell phone communications systems has its origins in the extension of radio technology. The early cell phone technology can be compared to the way that a CB radio system functions. The limitations of a CB radio system is that it uses the same frequency for both receiving and transmitting, which limits the communication to a single person at a time. This is known as a simplex system. (Mobile Phones: A Brief History) the development of a duplex system of communication was to lead to the modern cell phone. A duplex system is described as one that "... uses one frequency for transmitting and a second, separate frequency for receiving" (Mobile Phones: A Brief History).

Another aspect of the origins of the cell phone that should be noted is that these devises operate within specified cells. These cells are divided by a base station in a specified service area. This means that cell phone calls are relayed or transmitted from one transmitting tower to another as the caller moves one cell or area to another. This is an aspect of cellular technology that took some time to develop.

While the technology for the cell phone was known in the 1960s, there was still a lack of technical infrastructure to make the mobile cell phone a functioning reality. The central problem that had to be overcome was the fact that the user had to remain in one cell area for the phone to operate. In other words,

Cell areas which were serviced by a base station were unable to hand off cellular phone calls from one base station to another. While you could make a phone, call, you weren't able to continue the call after you reached a set range.

Bellis)

Cell phones began to increase in popularity and usage and by the end of the 1980s and the early 1990's there was more access in terms of the cellular systems and networks. Cell phones were initially used mainly as "car phones" due to their size and bulk. Battery size was also a problem and "There were also a few models that came as briefcases, to hold large batteries necessary to make phone calls" (What is the History of Cell Phones?).

At this point in its development, communication over cellular phones was largely limited to emergency communications or communication while traveling. The technology at this stage was far removed from the ubiquitous and general usage that is experienced today.

Second generation cellular phones (2G) began to be developed in the 1990s. In technical parlance, these phones were designed to work on mobile phone systems such as GSM, IS?136 (TDMA) and IS?95 (CDMA). (What is the History of Cell Phones?)

One of the defining characteristics of this generation of phones was that digital circuits were used to switch phone transmissions. This had a number of advantages and brought about further advances in communications.

This ultimately enabled quicker network signaling, lowering the amount of dropped calls and increasing call quality. As 2G digital networks were online, most of the time, they replaced analog network frequencies, effectively making them obsolete.

What is the History of Cell Phones?)

Furthermore, the 2G phones were much smaller in size, making them more amenable to transportation by the individual and therefore increasing their usability and popularity. One of the central technological advances in the development and acceptance of the modern cell phone was the improvements in battery size and usage time. 2G phones has more battery life which made them more accessible and mobile.

Another important technical aspect was the development of computer chip technology, which also helped to decrease size and improve the portability of these devices. All of these aspects increased the usage levels and acceptance of cell phones.

Third generation or 3G technology refers essentially to the most recent technological innovations in cell phone technology. A distinction should be made however, in that 3G does not refer to a standard in cell phone development but rather to a number of requirements that networks and providers follow. (What is the History of Cell Phones?) the two main requirements for 3G are that they include 2 Megabits of maximum data rate indoors and 384 kbits for outdoor use. (What is the History of Cell Phones?)

The most important aspect of 3G technology is that it allows for the input of much more than the conventional data on 2G cell phones. This aspect has made mobile phones popular and leads to aspects of modern convergence between different communications technologies. In this regard, one can mention the SMS revolution in cell phone communication as well as email and the interaction with web sites and the online world.

This has meant that modern 3G cell phones have entered another level of interaction and communication that makes the modern cell phone a ubiquitous device that is able to deal with many different types and formats of information, including text, video and audio and input as well as output. Given these advances, including the reduced size, increase in battery life and the increased input features, the cell phone has become in recent years an almost indispensable aspect of modern life, especially among the younger generation. In addition the current technologies are improving al the time and streaming radio and TV as well a technologies like WIFI are increasing the popularity and the indispensability of these devices.

Cell phones, society and culture

The modern developments in cell phone technology, as is evident from the above discussion, have advanced beyond merely being a device for ordinary conversations and communication. The impact of cell phones on our lives has therefore extended beyond immediate functionality and they have become an intrinsic part of modern life. The younger generation who have grown up with cell phones, have become dependent on these devices to the extent that they are in many instances a primary mode of interaction and communication with friends and family.

Mobile cell phone technology has also altered the way that the world is perceived. As accessibility and features increase in cell phones, so the world in which most people interact becomes reduced to a small screen; which provides immediate and continual access to relationships, business and work opportunities and entertainment. On the one hand meeting, interacting and obtaining news and knowledge has become much easier than in the past through interfaces and sites like Facebook and others via cell phone.

On the other hand, many psychologists argue that normal interaction between people in society is being replaced by the cellular interface and instant communication over the Internet. This has, they suggest, negative as well as positive outcomes.

The fact that the data types that are transmitted via cell phone technology have increased considerably adds to the depth and potential of mobile phones. For example, email, internet sites, instant video, and TV access over the cell phone have become a reality and these new forms of data have enormous significance for every facet of society and culture - including business and politics.

While exact figures of the number or cell phones or cell phone subscribers in the world are changing all the time, the most recent assessment the of cell phones in existence are staggering. One recognized survey source states that in 2005 the total number of mobile cell phone subscribers exceeded 1.8 billion. (Total mobile subscribers top 1.8 billion). A more recent report suggests that there will be as many as two billion mobile phone subscribers by the end of 2008. (2 billion mobile phones by 2008) it is noteworthy that most of the new cell phone subscribes come from India and China. (Global Mobile Forecasts to 2010-4th Edition)

Another statistic that adds to the overall picture of how the cell phones user base is increasing worldwide, is that in most European countries the market is reaching almost one hundred percent penetration. However, in the rest to the world market penetration is estimated to be only at twenty-eight percent, which means that there are many more potential cell phone subscribers. (Total mobile subscribers top 1.8 billion)

Another indication of the acceptance of mobile technology and the way that it has developed to become an intrinsic part of modern life is the fact that there has been an increase in various aspects of the mobile industry in recent years. For example, there as been a radical increase in the profitability of the mobile services market. Reports from research firms like Research and Markets, state that the Indian mobile services market alone was worth $11.2 billion at the end of 2006. Another report has estimated that the Indian cell phone market will exceed $25 billion by 2011. (the Indian Mobile Services Market Was Worth $11.2 Billion at the End of 2006)

An important aspect are the ongoing reports about the increased adoption of services such as streamed video and audio chat, which has been increased by the move towards 3G technology. This not only adds greater depth to the cell phone experience but is also indicative the way in which the cell phone environment is expanding. A report from ABI Research indicates that the market value for mobile video telephony services including video mail, video calling and video sharing, will grow from $1 billion in 2007 to over $17 billion by 2012. (Revenues from Mobile Video Telephony and Messaging Services to Exceed $17 Billion by 2012) This also refers to the advent of Web 2.0 and the increase in video demand that is being viewed online and on cell phones.

One of the main aspects of the popularity of mobile devices is the increase in the ease of messaging and SMS usage. This has also advanced from plain text to more sophisticated and interactive forms of messaging; which includes video and audio - thereby again expanding the appeal and the interactive attraction of the modern mobile technology. It is interesting to note in this regard forecasts from reputable research firms like Gartner that "...2.3 trillion messages will be sent across major markets worldwide in 2008, a 19.6% increase from the 1.9 trillion messages in 2007" (2 Trillion Mobile Messages in 2008).

Broadband is another associated technology that has affected the accessibility and acceptability of mobile usage. With increased broadband availability in countries like India where there is a burgeoning population, the mobile internet has become the area of the greatest growth. (Mobile Internet users 14 times more than the broadband users)

Taking into account this rapid and extreme growth in cell phone technology the question is often asked - what are the social and cultural implications of these developments?

In the first instance the answer is that they are extremely positive with regard to the ease of use and the access to mobile facilities and features, which has increased dramatically since the early days of cell phone development.

However, with the emergence of the 3G improvements in this technology, cell phones were taken to an entirely new plane of access and influence. With the introduction of new data formats such as messaging and video, the appeal of mobile phones has increased as can be seen from the statistics quoted above. Mobile phones in the last ten years have become much more than a simple devices for contacting others. Cellular phones have in fact created an "environment" in which the user can live and indulge in relationships, entertainment and business.

The economic benefits of mobile technology are also evident from the above discussion. The vibrant cell phone industry creates work and employment for thousands around the world. Many people use the cell phone to work at any hour of the day. In this sense, the cell phone has changed working habits and the conventions of working place and time. The latest cell phone technology has also opened up new business possibilities and entrepreneurs make use of the myriad features of this technology to initiate and manage business online. Therefore, cell phones are changing the habits of centuries and creating new ways of thinking and working online.

A good example of the way that movie cell phones are changing the way we act and interact is in politics. Political candidates and parties make use of the Internet and cell phones to canvas and convey their message and polices.

However, while there are many positive aspects to this new technology there are also those pundits who point to certain warning signs. There is concern that while this new technology is advantageous in many respects, it can also have less attractive social and cultural ramifications. This can be seen in reports that many young people have become 'addicted' to the cell phone environment and are no longer interested in socializing in a normal way. This in the view of many psychologists may have detrimental developmental outcomes in adolescents. Another common critique of this new technology is as follows

Although phone texting has been praised for helping teens to connect to each other and to their parents, it has also been criticized for its potential in making it easier for teens to cheat on exams or to bully each other with the help of technology.

Sekkas)

There are also numerous other concerns, such as the increasing prevalence of pornography on the mobile phone. Video and other newer formats that can be viewed on the cell phone have also resulted in an increase in accessibly pornographic images.

A central concern is that there are inherent dangers in the very fact that mobile phone technology is changing the way we interact and relate to one another. As one critic notes, " Foremost of these changes brought about by this new technology is that it has changed the way people interact with each other. It modifies the means of communication in the society" (Negative Sides of Cellphones).

While some see these changes in a positive light, many critics point to an array of problematic consequences. One of the problems that are envisaged is that, "People become unaware of their priorities. It makes them more addicted to this new technology such as playing games and gambling" (Negative Sides of Cellphones)."

Another criticism is that the increase of mobile phone usage can affect the human race in a variety of ways. Among these are the view that, " it has systematically reduced self-reliance, and has decreased efficiency in the area of time management"

The negative effects of cellular communication technology on human behavior). Furthermore, it is claimed that cellular technology has "... reduced overall focus on life in the moment. It has diluted our ability to do for ourselves and has replaced effective time management with constant, chaotic communication"

The negative effects of cellular communication technology on human behavior).

The future of cell phone technology lies in the advance of "smart phones" and the convergence between different devices and systems.

It is highly likely that in the future cell phones will become even more ubiquitous as further advanced features are added. Many cell phone developers and manufacturers are testing new interfaces and designs in order to increase the main weak aspect of the cell phone - the small screen.

Making predictions about the future of cell phones is difficult. However, if we bear in mind that the advances and features of the common 3G cell phone of today would have been unimaginable fifteen years ago, then it is quite possible and highly likely that the future developments in this technology in the future will be equally amazing.

Works Cited billion mobile phones by 2008. March 6, 2008. http://www.mobiletracker.net/archives/2004/02/12/2_billion_mobil.php

Trillion Mobile Messages in 2008. March 6, 2008. http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Cellular/2283.html

Bellis, Mary. Selling the Cell Phone Part 2: Wireless PCS. March 6, 2008.

Technology http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa072199.htm

Global Mobile Forecasts to 2010-4th Edition. March 6, 2008. http://shop.telecoms.com/marlin/30000000861/MARKT_EFFORT/marketingid/20001163820/?proceed=true&MarEntityId=1204405387891&entHash=1005eae29a1&UType=true

Mobile Internet users 14 times more than the broadband users. March 6, 2008. http://www.pluggd.in/2007/12/mobile-internet-more-broadband-penetration india>

Mobile Phones: A Brief History. March 6, 2008. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/consumer_electronics/41996

Negative Sides of Cellphones. March 6, 2008. http://lancecorner.com/technology/negative-sides-of-cellphones/

Total mobile subscribers top 1.8 billion. March 6, 2008. http://www.mobiletracker.net/archives/2005/05/18/mobile-subcribers-worldwide

Revenues from Mobile Video Telephony and Messaging Services to Exceed $17

Billion by 2012. March 6, 2008. http://www.abiresearch.com/abiprdisplay.jsp?pressid=908

Sekkas N. Text Messaging Changing Way Teens Communicate. 2006. March 8, 2008. http://www.newsline.umd.edu/business/specialreports/teentechnology/textmessaging051706.htm

The Indian Mobile Services Market Was Worth $11.2 Billion at the End of 2006. http://www.bbwexchange.com/pubs/2007/04/03/page1421-528612.asp

The negative effects of cellular communication technology on human behavior.

March 6, 2008. http://poweringdown.blogspot.com/2007/03/negative-impacts-of-cellular.html

What is the History of Cell Phones? March 6, 2008. http://www.tech-faq.com/history-of-cell-phones.shtml