From their work life to their home life, Orange customers have the flexibility to choose how and when they connect to people, information and entertainment. We spend a little time listening to them. That's the key to our future success. [6]
Here is the data example of mobile phone market share for Q2 2005: [5]
Social
“In the UK, the National Radiological Protection Board published a report by its Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones in January 2005 report, which looked closely at the published research, couldn't find any decisive evidence to support the idea that mobile phones are hazardous to health or could increase the risk of cancer. [3]
Children and mobile phones
The group also emphasised that research into the long-term risks from use of mobile phones was limited. However, it drew attention to some studies that have suggested that prolonged exposure to mobile phone energy may affect how well the brain works, increase susceptibility to cancer and damage genetic material (that is, DNA in the brain cells).
Because these effects may have severe consequences (even if they're rare) the group has recommended caution until the situation is clearer. In particular, those people who may be more vulnerable, such as younger children, should avoid using mobile phones as far as possible, use a phone with a low SAR (specific absorption rate value – a measure of the rate at which electromagnetic energy is transmitted to the user) or use text messages instead of speaking (as the phone is held further from the head).” [3]
This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Trisha Macnair in December 2005
Men hooked on mobile phones may suffer a 40 per cent drop in fertility
Men who are heavy users of mobile phones have significantly lower sperm counts than those who are not, according to research that suggests radiation from handsets could be damaging male fertility.
Both the quantity and quality of a man’s sperm decline as his daily mobile phone use increases, a study of 361 infertility patients in the United States indicates.
The greatest effects were seen among very heavy users who talked on a mobile phone for more than four hours a day. They produced about 40 per cent less sperm than men who never used a mobile phone at all. Smaller falls in sperm count were also found among those who used the phones less frequently.
The findings, from a team led by Ashok Agarwal, of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, could indicate that the electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phone handsets are interfering with sperm production.
Previous studies have shown that close and heavy exposure to this form of radiation damages sperm in the laboratory, though an effect has never been demonstrated convincingly outside this environment.
Other researchers, however, cautioned that the study showed only an association between mobile phone use and sperm counts, but established no causal link. It was more likely that heavy phone use was linked to another factor, such as stress or obesity, which was responsible for the effect, they said.
In the study, 361 men whose sperm was being analysed before fertility treatment were asked about their mobile phone use, and split into four groups: those who never used a phone, those who used a phone for less than two hours, two to four hours, and more than four hours a day.
Median sperm counts were measured at 85.89 million per millilitre for non-users, 69.03 million for the second group, 58.87 million for the third and 50.30 million for the fourth. Sperm motility, or swimming ability, also fell as phone use increased, as did other measures of quality.
“The main finding was that on all four parameters — sperm count, motility, viability and morphology — there were significant differences between the groups,” Dr Agarwal said. “The greater the use of cell phones, the greater the decrease in these four parameters. That was very clear and very significant.” [2]
Dr Agarwal said that if the effect was caused by mobile phones, several explanations were possible. Studies have shown that electromagnetic fields can damage Leydig cells in the testes, and mobile phones are also known to cause a heating effect on tissue that may be hazardous to sperm. Both phenomena occur over short distances, so holding a phone to the head while speaking should not be dangerous. [2]
(October 24, 2006. By Mark Henderson)
Technology
A few decades ago mobile phones were like a symbol of rich people. Time after time it became reasonable for more and more people. Of course these phones had just simple functions. Now in 21st century of technologies is almost everything possible. Mobile phones are becoming better. They are almost like small computers, so you can not only talk or send text messages, but also use internet, send and receive e-mails, download lots of music, videos and games, talk to your friends face-to-face using video calling. I wonder what new miracles of technology we will have in the future.
3 is now the market leader in 3G. It provides national coverage for calls and texts, and has the best 3G coverage in the UK, with over 88% population coverage for video services including video calling, video messaging and the downloading of video clips. 3’s services are available in over 8,800 retail outlets across the UK. [8]
Adult mobile phone ownership or use: by age, 2001 and 2003
According to the Oftel Residential Survey, 75 per cent of all adults in the United Kingdom owned or used a mobile phone in May 2003. Twenty one per cent used their mobile as their main method of telephony, with 8 per cent of homes only having a mobile, and no fixed line phone.
Ownership of mobile phones varied with age. Nearly 90 per cent of people between the ages of 15 and 34 owned or used a mobile phone in February 2003. This proportion declined with age; less than a quarter of those aged 75 and over owned or used a mobile phone. However in the two years between 2001 and 2003, the largest increases occurred among the older age groups, with the proportion of people aged 75 and over with a mobile phone nearly doubling.
According to the Young People and ICT Survey carried out in England for the Department for Education and Skills in September and October 2002, 41 per cent of girls and 30 per cent of boys aged 5 to 18, and in full-time education, owned a mobile phone. Again, ownership increased with age: 12 per cent of children aged 7 to 11 (Key Stage 2) owned a mobile phone compared with 52 per cent aged 11 to 14 (Key Stage 3) and nearly 70 per cent of children aged 14 to 18 (Key Stage 4 and Post-16).
Another factor which affects mobile phone ownership is income. Ownership within households in the middle income bracket (£17,500 to £30,000 a year) has increased the most in the last few years and in February 2003 were as likely as people in households in the high income bracket (over £30,000 a year) to own a mobile phone (88 per cent and 90 per cent, respectively). Those with lower incomes (less than £17,500) are much less likely to own or use a mobile phone (62 per cent in February 2003). [7]
3 in 10 men aged 80+ own a mobile phone
In 2002 around three in ten men aged 80 and over and nearly one in five women in England said they owned a mobile phone. Use of mobile phones and the Internet can help older people to remain independent by making it easier for them to communicate with their family and friends or to access public and commercial services. While Internet access is greater at younger ages, around one in ten men aged 80 and over and just over one in twenty women reported using the Internet in 2002.
As people age and their working lives end, they may have more free time available to spend on leisure activities. However, a variety of barriers to more active leisure pursuits may exist. These include health and mobility problems, poor transport and lack of finance.
People’s ability to travel affects their quality of life. Older people’s travelling patterns depend in a large measure on their health and general mobility which are likely to be lower as they get older. [7]
Car usage declines with age and varies by sex. Fewer older women than men have access to a car: 77 per cent of men and 64 per cent of women aged 65-74 in 2001 in Great Britain. Among those aged 75 and over these proportions were far lower at 57 per cent and 34 per cent respectively.
People over 60 are more likely than those in their 50s to use public transport. In 2002, 23 per cent of women and 11 per cent of men aged 70-74 in England said they use public transport a lot, compared with 14 and 10 per cent of those aged 50-54. [7]
Analysis of questionnaire
While doing my primary research, I have made a survey with 50 respondents. In the questionnaire gave demographic questions and attitudinal questions about mobile phones and networks in United Kingdom. Here I will try to show the results of my survey with explanations, tables and graphs.
Table 1
In the Table 1 we can see that the biggest amount of respondents are aged 27 years old and more. Only 7 respondents are 15-18 years old. Furthermore in the Graph 1 is presented expression of percentage of this table.
Table 2
In the Table 2 we can see the number of males and females. There were 8 percents more females than males.
Table 3
The highest number of my respondents was employees and students. I did not have an opportunity to ask any pensioner. Anyway, in my opinion, students and employees is the biggest part of mobile users.
Table 4
Statistics in Table 4 and Graph 4 shows that top 3 networks of mobile phones of the respondents are “3”, Vodafone and T-Mobile. Orange and Virgin are not so popular. That means that these top three networks suggest better services and conditions for their new and senior customers. They also advertise good deals which we can find in the newspapers, Internet, billboards etc.
Table 5
I was very surprised that even more than a half of respondents have Nokia. All other brands share almost the same percentage. I think Nokia is the most popular because it keeps good quality, upgrade facilities and is fashionable. This manufacturer pays attention to its customers needs and tries to match it with new technologies. On the other hand I don’t think that other manufacturers are worse. They are also going step-by-step to new technologies.
Table 6
As we see in the table and graph, monthly plans and pay as you go owners are divided in two equal halves. Of course business people prefer monthly plans, because it is cheaper. In my survey there were more young people, so the number of pay as you go users is quite high.
Table 7
Mobile internet is getting more and more popular. Even 24% of my respondents are using it. Of course there are a big number of those who can’t afford use internet on their mobile phone or they are just not interested in it. But anyway, new technologies let us enjoy different services and entertainments.
Table 8
Most of my respondents spend about 20-30 pounds per month. Also many of them spend less than 20 pounds or just a bit more than 30 pounds. Just 10% of respondents spend more than 50 pounds per month. I think that those who choose monthly plans usually spend about 30 pounds.
In the Graph 9 I have made a positioning map of call charges and colour of the phone. So the respondents of my survey pointed that call charges are very important while choosing mobile network and buying the phone. I have chosen the colour of the phone as other criterion to show the difference of importance. The other criterions like size, design or brand name may not differ from call charges in this graph. They are also important while choosing a mobile. So the colour of mobile phone is not very important, but of course people pay attention and to it. Positioning map is a good way to illustrate where one or the other criterion is situated.
Findings
In this assignment I have analysed industry of mobile phones and networks. First of all I made secondary data collection and analysis, where I used different authors’ articles and opinions about mobiles and environment related with it.
Then I carried out PEST analysis. I found out that mobile phones are dangerous for our health. Children should not spend much time playing with phones, because it can affect their health.
In the primary research I have made a survey with a sample of 50 respondents. My purpose was to know their opinion about mobiles and the networks they are using. After that I analysed the statistics and illustrated it with explanations.
This assignment was useful for me, because I increased my knowledge about mobiles, their advantages and disadvantages. I had an opportunity to take part in my work not only as secondary data researcher, but as primary as well.
Questionnaire
Hello. I am Business Administration 1st course student of University of Greenwich. I am writing an assignment about mobile phones and I would appreciate to know your opinion on following questions about mobile phones and networks. Your answers will be anonymous and only be used in assignment.
- What age group are you?
- 15-18
- 19-22
- 23-26
- 27-and over
- You are:
- What is your occupation?
- Student
- Employee
- Pensioner
- Other …………………………
- How would you rate the following attributes when buying a mobile phone? (Circle one digit of each option. 1 – is least important, 7 – is most important).
Design 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Brand name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Colour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Call charges to other networks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Upgrade facilities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Which UK mobile network do you use?
-
“3” (go to question 6)
-
O2 (go to question 7)
-
Orange (go to question 8)
-
T-Mobile (go to question 9)
-
Virgin (go to question 10)
-
Vodafone (go to question 11)
-
How do you rate mobile phones of network “3” using the following attitudes? (Circle one digit of each option. 1 – is least important, 7 – is most important).
Design 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Brand name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Colour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Call charges to other networks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Upgrade facilities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
(Now go to question 12)
-
How do you rate mobile phones of network O2 using the following attitudes? (Circle one digit of each option. 1 – is least important, 7 – is most important).
Design 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Brand name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Colour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Call charges to other networks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Upgrade facilities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
(Now go to question 12)
-
How do you rate mobile phones of network Orange using the following attitudes? (Circle one digit of each option. 1 – is least important, 7 – is most important).
Design 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Brand name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Colour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Call charges to other networks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Upgrade facilities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
(Now go to question 12)
-
How do you rate mobile phones of network T-Mobile using the following attitudes? (Circle one digit of each option. 1 – is least important, 7 – is most important).
Design 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Brand name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Colour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Call charges to other networks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Upgrade facilities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
(Now go to question 12)
-
How do you rate mobile phones of network Virgin using the following attitudes? (Circle one digit of each option. 1 – is least important, 7 – is most important).
Design 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Brand name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Colour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Call charges to other networks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Upgrade facilities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
(Now go to question 12)
-
How do you rate mobile phones of network Vodafone using the following attitudes? (Circle one digit of each option. 1 – is least important, 7 – is most important).
Design 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Brand name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Price 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Colour 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Call charges to other networks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Upgrade facilities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
(Now go to question 12)
- Which mobile phone brand do you prefer?
- Nokia
- Samsung
- Siemens
- LG
- Sharp
- Other …………………
- You are on:
- Monthly plan
- Pay as you go
- Do you use Internet on your mobile phone?
- How much do you spend on mobile phone per month?
- £20 or less
- £21 - £30
- £31 - £40
- £41 - £50
- £51 and more
THANK YOU