How Have Mobile Phones Radically Changed the Expectations of Society and the Way it Behaves ?

Authors Avatar

NICHOLAS DOBSON

BA BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How Have Mobile Phones Radically Changed the Expectations of Society and the Way it Behaves?

Section 1.1- Executive Summery

Section 1.2 of this report provides an introduction, which gives an insight into the history of the mobile phone and also gives the basic points covered in the other sections of this report.

Section 2.1 provides a detailed description of the mobile phone industry. The main elements been mobile phone usage figures and the GDP of the industry in the UK.

Section 2.2 shows how mobile phones have changed since the first phones in the late 1980’s. This is shows how far technology has developed, especially over recent years.

Section 2.3 describes the effect mobile phones have had on society. It then goes on to describe how this effect has changed the way in which society behaves on a day-to-day basis.

Section 2.4 presents a detailed analysis of the government’s involvement in the mobile phone industry. This section provides an overview of the Stewart Report, which was commissioned by the government to investigate the health issues relating to mobile phone use.

Section 2.5 provides a view of possible future developments and potential areas for further research.

Section 3.1 gives the overall conclusions of this report.

Section 1.2-Introduction

1.21. Alexander Graham Bell made the first ever telephone call in 1876, but it was not until 1912 when the first commercial telephone calls were made in the UK. In 1979, the first cellular phone system was developed and deployed in Japan using the idea of “low-powered two-way radios - converting human voice and data messages into radio waves” (source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/

science/hottopics/mobilephones/index.shtml).

“On New Years Day 1985, Ernie Wise made Britain's first cell phone call on national TV on the Morecambe and Wise show” (source: http://www.guardian.co.

uk). These cost approximately £400 and only worked in four areas in the UK, with a maximum range of approximately 50 miles.

1.22. It is estimated that 75% of all adults in the UK today own or use a mobile phone and 83% of households in the UK have at least one mobile phone as shown in diagram 1. World wide it is estimated that one in six people have a mobile phone.

When mobile phone technology was new in the UK, they were mostly bought by men for women incase they had a problem, for example, their car had broken down and they needed to get assistance but were afraid to walk for assistance because they felt threatened by the environment they were in.

Upon seeing how useful it was for women to carry mobile phones, some families thought it would also be a good idea for their children as well, so if they had a problem, for example, they were going to be late home they could give prior warning to stop parents worrying. From this, mobile phones became more of a fashion accessory among young people, especially as they have become more affordable in recent years.

*Note - Figures up to March 2000 are based on GB population and are taken from MORI’s Technology Tracker. Figures from May 2000 onwards include Northern Ireland and therefore represent the UK adult population.

** Figure using previous sample to indicate continuous trend

Diagram 1: Number of Mobile Phones Used or Owned in Relation to Household Penetration of Mobile Phones (source: http://www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/

research/2003/q12mobr0403.htm)

1.23. The government is highly involved with mobile phone companies and mobile network providers. It is responsible for controlling licenses, which allow these companies to operate. This stops many companies from entering the market and by selling licenses, gives the government money to spend on researching health issues relating to mobile phones. These health issues are of concern to many people, but research that has been done in this area has been on several occasions conflicting or results not based on complete research. Mobile phones are also linked to crime, with them being the most commonly stolen items in the UK, and so the government is working on ways to reduce mobile phone theft.

1.24. In the future, I think that mobile phones will become even smaller and more discrete as well as features will improve, as new ones are invented. This is going to be essential if the mobile phone industry is to continue growing as if it does not, people are likely to keep the phone they have at the present time or not upgrade as regularly.

Join now!

Section 2.1-The Mobile Phone Industry Today

2.11. The mobile phone industry in the UK is dominated by five main network operators- O2 (formally BT Cellnet); Vodaphone; Orange; T Mobile (formally One 2 One) and the newest network provider 3 (Three). It can be very difficult to enter the market, as a mobile phone network provider cannot operate without a license, which is provided by the government, who regulates the industry, and these are limited and costly.

 

2.12. The continual increase in demand for mobile communications has contributed significantly to the welfare of the UK economy. The ...

This is a preview of the whole essay