Cellphoney

With a smirk I have to admit I'm beginning to become the Old Fart that I've spent my life despising. You know who I'm talking about; the guy/person who says stuff like, "I just don't understand the things people do these days."

Well, I don't.

The other day I was doing my photography and in the midst of a particularly spectacular sunset (as if they're not all!), in one of the most remote parts of the world, some people came into frame. No sweat. I like people. They tend to add to my pictures, like little speckles of energy that dance on the body of this big ol' Mama.

And then, sitting down together side-by-side in perfect frame position for a shot of the sun enflaming the ocean just over their heads, they each shook a cell phone out of their respective pockets and dialed in to some moments somewhere else.

One of my life quests has been to learn to be more here, more present in each moment. As if to insult a lifetime of seeking, everywhere I go are people being THERE now! On the street, in their cars, in your driveway, next to you at the restaurant, coming out of the rest room, in the middle of a conversation even! Wherever you go, whatever you do you are surrounded by people whose bodies are in front of you, but their presence is elsewhere.

It's not like this was new to me. Somehow, though, this one just felt like a brand new insult. Right at the place where you surrender your cares to the richness of the moment-- one of the few places where you can actually share your solitude with another human being – lives the Intruder.

When this cell phone thing first started to leave the cities and get more rural I was living in an intentional community in Oregon. It was (a surprisingly eclectic group of) about 30 adults and 8 kids living on 87 acres and running conference and permaculture design centers along with hosting a personal growth workshop and publishing a magazine. We were known as a community that really seeks to work the interpersonal connection angle into the day-to-day (and formidable!) tasks of living as examples of sustainability.

As you may guess, although not on the radical "tree-sitter" side, even the former Navy Intelligence Officers in the community amongst us were clearly oriented toward a value system of relationship over action, presence over distance.

But then, in my fifth year there, more and more "guests" (people coming to a conference and spending the weekend living with us) were shaking out their cell phones and walking around (of course within the confines of "live" spots or whatever they're called) the property -- trails, creeks, meadows -- chatting away with the ethers.

Every week we had a business meeting. In one such meeting, where we decide policy and such, barely thinking twice about it, I put a motion up for consensus on setting aside a specific area for people to use their cell phones.

Hell, there was precedent. Years ago the community did the same thing with cigarette smokers. There was one little spot on the property, near the conference center classrooms where one could go to smoke. The truth is, it was a dismal lean-to type shed with one lousy chair and an ugly, open coffee can for butts sitting on the concrete walk. If I had come to that community a smoker, I would have quit out of sheer embarrassment. Since the area was in full view of the paths leading to the center, it always looked quite zoo-ish, the only thing missing being Dunce caps for the less-than 1%ers.

It was my fervent hope that the community would feel that such sequestration would help individuals face themselves much more directly. Hopefully, which seemed to be true for smokers, eventually enough people would feel uncomfortable enough so that word would get out that of course we’re tolerant, but if you smoke or use a cell phone on this chunk of nature, you’re gonna feel like an idiot.

I figured it would be a slam-dunk to get this one through but Boy, was I wrong! No sooner had the words, “I’m sick of seeing the ugly little glowing Bastards everywhere I turn,” come out of my mouth than I noticed three or four hands out of a table of about 18 people reflexively going to some part of their clothing or anatomy to make sure they had their cell phones with them.

It reminded me of when I was a paramedic and walked into a tough-ass bar on the other side of the tracks when we -- me and my partner being the only white guys around -- would catch little metal glints of knives and guns getting made ready out of the corner of our eyes.

And these were my fellow communitarians. It was then I knew life as I’ve known it is over.

Back to the beach. My first thought was, "What the hell am I gonna do with this shot?" But then I realized, "Crap, they’re all like this!!"

I've taken so many Primo-shots of deeply touching Nature with people and cell phones in them that I may as well gear my whole portfolio toward spinning Marlboro Man images into Cellular Phone-promoting spreads and foldouts and brochures and whatevers and at least make some money off the damn photos I end up chucking because this unnatural thing is occurring.

And now, it's exponentially getting worse because the cell phones take pictures.

On photographic projects on the beach, even as short a time ago as May (2005) I could work with sunset and shoot people celebrating it and not worry once about the result. Today (September) and in any shot with five or more people in it, one of them is pointing their phone either at their ear or at someone else. Some of my pictures look like the stand-off of multiple gunmen in one of (actually, many of!) Quentin Tarantino’s flicks.

How arrogant am I, though!

For being all of that balanced person who I claim to be, here I am negating the experience of other humans for nothing more than my own grasping need to die in a world that is familiar to me.

Probably ten years from now, it will be as common to have people pictures laden with cellular phones as it was to see handkerchiefs in the pockets (suit pockets, no less!) of men on the street in photos taken in the 1950’s.

Why does that sound terrifying to me?

Besides, if I had spent a little more time observing and less time bitching while up on the bluff, I may have found that, indeed, each of these people was beaming out photographs of that joyful sunset to their target callers. How Sweet -- sharing this glorious moment with friends in Louisiana under four feet of water!

It’s hard enough to be in a rotten mood and have to listen to that bubbly fool on the other end of any phone. But to be able to get the whole picture of that joy is torturous. The moment becomes a series of thumbscrews bleating, “See how Happy I am? What’s wrong with your miserable existence?”

You're so damn busy getting annoyed at the callers happiness you can't even appreciate the beauty that's around you, that's the soul that cellphones suck out of you.

What will happen to our anonymity and privacy? “C’mon, Dear, I know you’re miserable but turn on the camera so I can really see!”

No, I will not get a cell-phone. I don’t have to. The last time my motorcycle and I broke down on the road, for instance, I just jumped out in the middle of the highway, spread my fingers with my pinkie pointed to my mouth and my thumb to my ear and within four cars and a near side-swipe, some guy pulled over and let me use his cell phone to call for help.

Like any red-blooded American, of course I reserve the right to be a hypocrite. But still, because I am an American, I shouldn’t have to give up my inalienable right to hide. Places to hide are getting fewer and further between, and that, in the final analysis, is my bitch with cell phones and their spawn.

Now, the privileged drive SUV’s with those systems that put you in touch with Central Command immediately in the event of an emergency. Like if one of the kids in the back seat says “I gotta pee,” next thing you know a voice comes out of the heavens to say, “Just make the next left, go two blocks and turn into the McDonald’s…Oh, and while you’re there, don’t forget to Supersize the fries, the extra salt will help the kids hold their bladders longer, and Mr. Mandel, please don’t run the red light like you did that one three blocks ago.”

Though I have nothing against him personally, when Gary Coleman tells me (in commercials slathered over TV, Internet AND Movies!) “Somebody should” know where I am every minute of my life, I can’t help but wince and prepare for Armegeddon.

I know it starts with people like Gary appearing to me to prepare me for the way life will be. I know the same technology that will let you see and talk to me will let “them” see and listen to me, and frankly, I want no part of it.

Unless, of course, I get stranded.

Russ Reina shares over 35 years of experience in the healing arts through his web site http://mauihealingartist.com It is a potent resource for those wishing to deepen their abilities in connection and develop their powers as healers. For a powerful free tool to explore your inner world, please check out his adjunct site http://thestoryofthis.net (Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

Don't Just Manage Your Time, Track It

Decades ago we started to learn about the forthcoming paperless office due to the advent and widespread acceptance of technology. Well, that did not happen even though electronic document management and knowledge management have come a long way since then.

Then we moved on the era of ease of communication and away from fax machines.

Emails, cellphones, voicemail and video conferencing were the tools for the future designed to make us more effective and productive. A decade ago 40% of US workers called themselves ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ successful but by 2005 that number had fallen to 28%.

A common retort is now “We are never able to concentrate on one task anymore. You take a little chip out of it and then you are on to the next thing. It is getting harder and harder to feel like you are accomplishing something really worthwhile.”

The average time spent on a work computer is now around 16 hours per week, compared to 9.5 hours ten years ago. We are all now bombarded with email, computer messages, cellphone and telephone calls and endless meetings.

Many of us are moving faster and faster and still knowing and feeling that we are accomplishing less and less. From that same research, twelve years ago 82% of US workers said they accomplished at least half their daily planned work, but that number has now fallen to 50%.

So has technology made work easier and quicker? Obviously not. By speeding everything up it has paradoxically slowed us down by fragmenting what we do, and in a lot of cases people being unable to distinguish the important from the so-called urgent.

Keeping Track Of How You Spend Your Time Is Not Time Management

For effective time management, you have to apply a time management system that will help you see where changes can and should be made.

Keeping track of your many daily activities and analyzing how you actually spend your time, can help you determine what changes you need to make.

This is where many people’s attempts at time management fail.

They look at a specific day in their Day-Timer or Outlook calendar or on their PDA which is packed with activities from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and don’t know how to really analyze the information.

So they fall back on the tried and true by eliminating a few activities and prioritizing others. But they haven’t really managed anything; they’ve just rearranged it.

All the perceived problems and frustrations of the day’s activities are still there – and at the end of their day they are still just as frazzled.

Manage Your Time With Time Management Categories

How do you actually manage time? The secret is in the categories.

Look at your calendar for tomorrow. It is probably already full of events and activities that you are hoping to accomplish. As you work, or afterward, you will be filling in the blank spaces.

Now look at the list and categorize it. How much time during your working day did you actually spend:

(a) Putting out fires. An unexpected phone call. A report that’s necessary for a meeting that should have been printed yesterday. A missing file that should be on your desk. How much of your day was actually spent in crisis mode? For most people, this is a negative category that drains their energy and interferes with their productivity.

(b) Dealing with interruptions. Phone calls and people dropping by your office will probably top the list when you’re assigning events to this category. Once again, for most people, this is a negative category because it interferes with (and sometimes kills) productivity.

Looking at and answering email falls into this category also. For me the analogy is talking to someone, but when the phone rings [and without even knowing who it is] picking up the phone and ignoring the person you are meeting with.

Email is similar to this. How many of us are working away on a task and hear the ‘ding’ as an email arrives and immediately look at it? How more productive it would be if we only had our email on for say one hour per day.

(c) Doing planned tasks. This is the most positive use of time during your work day. You are in control and are accomplishing what you intended to accomplish. Planned tasks can include phone calls, meetings with staff, even answering email – if these are tasks that you have put on your agenda.

(d) Working uninterrupted. You may not be working on a task you had planned to do, but you are getting to accomplish something, and for most people, this is a very productive, positive work mode.

(e) Uninterrupted downtime. Times during the work day that are used to re-energize and regroup. Lunch or breaks may count if they are uninterrupted. We all need a certain amount of uninterrupted downtime built into our day to be productive during work time.

Realign your effort into categories which produce effective results.

Use categories to analyze your work week. Go through the entries of each working day and categorize them. Keeping a running total at the bottom of each day will make it easy to see just how you’ve spent your time each day.

You now have the data you need to make changes to the way you spend your time.

Are you spending too much time putting out fires? Then you need to make the organizational or physical changes to prevent or defer these constant crises.

Do you lack sufficient time to be effective at completing major tasks or projects?

Finally, rearrange your effort to spend more time on your CSF’s – Critical Success Factors, and not busy work.

After all it is only by achieving your CSF’s that management or the Board will determine how effective you are in your role.

You won’t be evaluated on the fact that you received and answered about 46 emails a day – half of which were unsolicited!

If you do what you have always done, you’ll get what you have always gotten. - anon

Author: Denis Orme www.leader-success.com

Denis Orme http://www.leader-success.com As Performance Leader of the Leadership Success Institute, http://www.leader-success.com he has been heavily recruited by start-up businesses through to Fortune 500 companies to analyze operations, develop and implement change management and repositioning strategies, and return organizations to sustainable profitable long-term growth. Cited in Who's Who in Emerging Leaders, Who’s Who in Sales and Marketing and Who's Who in Industry and Commerce. He has received leadership awards from the American Lung Association, Business Volunteers for the Arts and the Greater Houston Partnership.

What Exactly Are Cellular Hotspots?

Cellular hotspot... is a new phrase that is related to making a certain place suitable for “cellular” or WIFI use. Enabling the entire area in a WIFI is somewhat an impossible thing to do for a lot of reason. One reason that can be seen is economics. Putting a certain place in a marketable map would require a lot of money.

Some of the areas in a certain country or place are usually not accessible for such a cable connection would be inevitable. One reason is the connectivity of the island and the means by which the place is given enough budget for support.

What’s Keeping All Countries from Reaching All Areas for Communication?

Tourism and marketability of the place should also pose a problem. If the place does not support enough number of people to boost up its money-generating status, it is usually hard to find a way to get all places connected electronically.

Several program applications have been used so far to alleviate this issue. Just in Taiwan, WiMax is used to connect several areas of the country to get the place within the reach of cellular and other electronic communication devices.

In some cases, where cable and DSL connection will not be available in the area, satellite use is encouraged. Although satellite provides a relatively slower data transfer compared to the above method of connection, it surely is an alternative way to reach to other communities where the above connection will not be possible.

Collaboration All-Over...

International and local communications giants are working hand in hand for the installation of such electronic communication technologies. Microchips and computer technology companies have joined the race to make every place in the world to be within “communication-reached”. Enumerating on the positive outcome that be brought about by the installation of such electronic gadgets around an island, there are also negative consequences for such. Providing all this connection may pose a connection hurdle towards all stations where connection is given.

Although technologies are available to avoid this from happening, in practice, it is however, costly to support the installation of electronic communication stations per specific radius per region in order to avoid communication log-phase and line-breakdown. In East Asian countries alone, Intel and other local satellite and cable media communications giants are taking the leap on networking solutions through a cable-free environment and rely on satellite technologies.

Each company has a role to take in this ambitious pursuit. Monitoring, administration of communication, relay processing, data transcription, video and sound message transmission. All these have kept the technology from evolving and contributed to the development of a sound and more profound satellite communication scheme.

What is Being Done So Far?

To alleviate the above scenarios, a similar digital technology used in cellphones is now used in several areas across a region. This technology allows all data to be received in a single microcellular gear embedded in a box functioning much like in a super computer semiconductor.

This cellular semiconductor gear allows two-way communications and handles all function related to GPRS, SMS, video and sound transfer. While this technology is already available, it is still under the experimenting stage, and improving some areas that may cause problems in the future.

Running a test on certain areas and using such tool to existing communication technology in order to determine compatibility. One good thing about this invention is its size. While a single radio/phone station that will handle most of the data transcription is usually large and requires a large space, the microcellular GSM gadgets can fit into something like the size of a box similar to that of a PC monitor case.

This technology is best for it works less on cables and relying more on satellite technology. The end result, it would reduce the number of landline cables in the community and would make way for the development of the nascent satellite machinery.

Cheap Yet Highly Useful Technology...

At this point in time, the good thing about this new technology is its ability to supply such service to a relatively vast area without spending the cost of physical cable connections. The aerial mode of communication transmission is more efficient and does not make use of resources that would generate more expenses and risk to the community.

Bart Rutherford

Editor

Stop by http://www.officialcellular.com for more informative tips and information. Make sure and visit there...... These facts are from actual experiences and dealings at a dealership, from the horses mouth so to speak.

Wireless USB Vs. Bluetooth: Battle Royale

As the release date for Wireless USB draws ever closer, discussion is heating up around the emerging standard. In particular, there has been a lot of debate concerning the pros and cons of Bluetooth versus Wireless USB. Both of these standards offer particular benefits as well as particular challenges, and it appears that both standards will be competing with each other for the same manufacturer and consumer base. Let’s examine how the lines are being drawn.

Bluetooth came onto the wireless scene in May of 1999. Initially developed by Ericsson, it was quickly adopted by such companies as Microsoft, Apple, Motorola, and Toshiba. It has since become a major standard for wireless device connectivity. Using wide-band, low-power radio waves to transmit data over short distances, Bluetooth has been used for wireless keyboards, mice, and other peripherals, cellular phones, PDAs, MP3 players, and some digital cameras. Concerning Bluetooth’s popularity with cell phone manufacturers in particular, one of the benefits of Bluetooth is that it has a very low power consumption rate, especially when it comes to audio transmission. This has made Bluetooth the technology of choice for cell phone manufacturers looking to pair wireless headsets to their phones.

Despite widespread adoption by many manufacturers, Bluetooth has been plagued by some nagging problems. A major complaint has been the lack of interoperability between different manufacturers’ Bluetooth devices. For example, using a Motorola Bluetooth headset has difficulty being connected with an LG cell phone. Security has been another major issue with Bluetooth-enabled devices. There have been documented instances of device “hijackings” where a third party has taken control of the device through the Bluetooth link. Issues with eavesdropping, data theft, and Bluetooth-spread viruses for PDAs, cellphones, and computers have also been reported. These problems are being dealt with as new revisions of Bluetooth are released.

The creation of the Wireless USB Promoters Group was announced in February of 2004 at the Intel Developer Forum. This group, composed of such companies as Intel, Microsoft, NEC, HP and Samsung, is tasked with creating a wireless standard based on the exceptionally popular USB standard with the same type of interoperability and simplicity of use. Should the forum succeed in their goal, Wireless USB could easily become the wireless de facto standard for UWB (ultra wideband) connectivity. The completion of the standard was announced in May of 2005 and the first Wireless USB products are slated to begin appearing in early 2006, with a strong ramp in 2007.

There is no doubt that the Wireless USB Promoters Group has examined Bluetooth and done its best to address the issues that have been problematic, such as interoperability and security. While there have been delays due to testing and certification, Wireless USB looks to be superior in both security and ease of connectivity. Where Bluetooth had compatibility issues between different developers’ products, Wireless USB’s adherence to the previous USB standards should serve to prevent similar problems. As far as security is concerned, Bluetooth depends on a four-digit pin number to ensure that the correct device is being connected to, while Wireless USB is looking at using a USB cable to make the initial connection, after which point the device can be used wirelessly.

If Wireless USB can deliver everything it promises, especially with the popularity of the other USB standards that it is based on and connected with, it will easily become the primary connectivity standard in the PC, consumer electronic, and mobile communication industries. Bluetooth users should not give up hope, however. Freescale Semiconducter, a UWB developer, has been able to use Bluetooth stacks to interpret UWB signals, demonstrating that a merging of the two technologies is possible. Until the Wireless USB standard officially releases and products appear on shelves, all we can do is speculate, but for all intents and purposes, Wireless USB appears to be the next major step in the evolution of connectivity technology, and it may alter the way we use technology forever.

Nathan Kartchner works in Product Development for Sewell Direct, an online retailer specializing in connectivity products. Sewell Direct will be providing Wireless USB updates and devices as soon as they become available.

Do You Need Bluetooth?

When buying any digital electronic device, whether a cellphone, PDA, or notebook computer, it is important to check the specifications to ensure that it will serve your purposes. Bluetooth is becoming an increasingly popular offering in personal electronics, but do you need it?

What Is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) transmission protocol standard. In layman’s terms, Bluetooth is a technology that enables a device to communicate and share data with other Bluetooth capable devices – cellphones, headsets, PDAs, notebook computers, desktop PCs, computer peripherals, printers, cameras, and others – through radio wave transmission (so there is no need for wires) at a range of around 1, 10, or 100 meters, depending on the class of your Bluetooth device (Class 1 has the longest range and Class 3 the shortest).

If a device has a Bluetooth chip, it can communicate with other devices that have a Bluetooth chip. Users can share pictures, movies, datasheets, documents, and all sorts of information among them as long as their devices are in range (they do not need to be in direct line of sight). For instance, a Bluetooth-capable digital camera can communicate with a Bluetooth-capable printer for direct printing. Likewise, a Bluetooth-capable cellphone can be connected to a Bluetooth-equipped headset so that a person can take and make hands-free telephone calls.

Bluetooth can be used for internet connectivity as long as a Bluetooth-enabled computer is in range of a Bluetooth modem. Bluetooth devices can also form a small wireless network (called a piconet) of up to 8 devices. For security, devices can be paired and transmissions encrypted. So that it causes only minimal interference, Bluetooth periodically changes frequency channels.

Bluetooth uses the same radio frequency that 802.11 Wireless Networking does, but it is much simpler than 802.11 technology, negating the need for complex network configurations. Bluetooth also has lower power consumption, making it more economical, though its range is shorter.

You Need Bluetooth

If you wish to have an extremely basic home network, Bluetooth is for you. There are no wires to trip you and there are no complex configurations like network permissions or addresses to deal with. Piconets are temporary, so a new device can immediately join or leave a Bluetooth network with nothing more than a simple device discovery. It is important to note, however, that piconets are no substitution for a traditional home network (whether through Ethernet or 802.11 Wireless), which are much more reliable and offer much more full-bodied security options.

If you have a notebook computer, there is a good chance you will want to have Bluetooth connectivity so that you can take advantage of the many Bluetooth-equipped peripherals, thereby eliminating the need for bulky wires. You can also easily synchronize data between your handheld devices and your notebook computer. Moreover, if you are fond of sharing data with other handheld device users, you definitely need to have Bluetooth for easy and convenient data sharing.

You Don’t Need Bluetooth

It is important to note that Bluetooth can present a security risk if you store sensitive information on your Bluetooth-enabled device. If you are traveling with sensitive information on your computer, cell-phone, or PDA, it is wise to disable Bluetooth temporarily to prevent data theft or exploitation. Please also note that some corporations and government entities disapprove of Bluetooth and similar convenience-based additions, so please check with your employer if you intend to use your Bluetooth-enabled notebook for business.

This article may be republished freely as long as this copyright notice and box of resource links are included at the bottom.

Copyright © 2007 MALIBAL, lLc MALIBAL is the Home of the World's Fastest Laptop! Headquartered in Las Vegas, this groundbreaking company has transmuted the world of mobile computing with its nonpareil laptops and unrivaled 24-hour USA-based support. Please, check out these recommendations for the best notebook computers.

Ways to Make More International Calls Without Splurging on Phone Cards

Absence makes the heart grow fonder -- Cliche? Yes. True? It depends.

Missing a person could be one hell of an ordeal. The stress it may bring is almost tantamount to mental torture. Distance is often the most fearsome test for relationships to withstand. What if a person has been away for too long? The tendency is that the person desserted or even both parties cope through looking for other activities with the attempt to make preoccupation forget the loneliness or homesickness a person feels.

But you know what? The rigors and melancholy that these trying times could bring may be alleviated. How? It's as easy as getting the phone, dialing the phone number of that person and talking to that person. Calling your loved one more often and a lot longer is a surefire way to surmount that "abandoned" feeling.

Now the real problem is what if you need to be tight on your budget? Phonecards used for international calls often come with a hefty price tag. How do you deal with that when there's some tuition, utilities and other bills waiting for you to act on.

Don't fret. There are some ways for you to save on international calls. Just read on.

One way for you to not pinch much from your wallet while making that awaited international call is to know what kind of phone will receive your call. Overseas calls to mobile devices such as pagers and cellphones can cost you much more than when you call to a land line phone. This is because of the system called "calling party pays" employed by several overseas carriers. Ask your honey if she can just look for a landline instead of calling her through her latest Nokia.

How about getting some help from your good old smooth operator? NOT. Unless your call is for an emergency, don't let the operator sweet talk you. You'll see that what you can pay for only a few cents per minute could cost you some precious dollars after asking an operator to assist you with your call.

Go PPC. No, it's not about your pubo-coccygeal muscles or those Internet marketing hype known as pay-per-click! It's about using prepaid phone cards. Enjoy the convenience of not having to think of your bills after making that international call through the use of prepaid phone cards. Just make sure that you don't fall for the mistake of buying expired cards or those that have high connection and maintenance fee.

Opt for pre-paid plans. If you're not a prepaid card person despising all the fuss on knowing first all the hidden charges, prepaid plans could be of great help for you to save your hard-earned bucks. Websites that especially cater to those who'd really like to save on their international calls abound.

Choose what will not burn much of your time and what you're most comfortable with. With these tips on how to save on your international calls, you don't have to look for other activities to just resist the temptation of making that international call. Just call!

http://www.MrLongdistance.com owner Bernard Pragides has been in the telecommunication business since 1997. Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries on phone cards or international call rates. You may email us at HelpMeSave@MrLongDistance.com

Profiling the South African Mobile Phone User

A South African research company has profiled mobile phone subscribers and divided into six categories - the Grassroots, Lizards, Playas, Magpies, Sophisticates and Elephants. The Mobility 2006 research project aimed to determine the usage habits of South African mobile phone users to develop clear market segments, says Peter Searll, head of Dashboard Fast Forward Research. A sample of 1152 cellphone users from eight provinces excluding the Northern Cape from all income groups and races ensured that the population was representative, he says. "The size of the sample and he extent to which it was representative of all South Africans enable us for the first time to produce a clear distinction between different categories of user," Searll says.

Grassroots users

The most obvious difference between all the categories is in the amount of money they spend on their mobile phones every month, says World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck.

The difference also lies in the likelihood that they have monthly contracts with a cellular service provider he says.The company conducted the research in partnership with Dashboard Fast Forward Research. Searlle says while the Grassroots mobile phone users account for 45% of the market in size, they only spend R109 per month and account for 24% of the total market spend.

The group is strong in rural areas, earn low income and have low levels of education. The majority of grassroots spend is on voice and SMS, with no data use, he says. “There is a clear need to develop voice application for grassroots users to deepen their cellphone usage,” Searle says.

The Lizards The Lizards almost fit the same profile as grassroots users, except for the fact that they are bargain hunters with no loyalty to their service provider, he says.

They are therefore likely to switch networks within the next couple of months, and are likely to buy a cellphone starter pack for the airtime, he says.

Playas

The research characterizes Playas as youthful, tech savvy and more urbanized than Grassroots and Lizards.

These users also download content at a high rate, with 11% of them joining a subscription service, Searll says.

This group would rather get a free gift than a free cellphone, and would love to get TV on their cellphones, he adds. The Magpies The Magpies, who are young and love anything that shines with bells and whistled on, spend the same as Playas, the report says.

At R158 spend they spend slightly less than Playas. However, a higher proportion of Magpies are on contract, and they love to use the gadgets on their phones such as camera and watching TV, Searll says.

The Sophisticats

Sophisticats, who are slightly older than Playas, are the highest Internet users, with 90% of them having Internet access at home or at work.

They also command a high demand for TV on the cellphone, he says.

The Elephants

The Elephants make up 9% of the cellphone population and account for 33% of market spend, Searll says. They have no patience to learn new applications and no interest in watching TV on their mobile phones, he says. He adds that 99% of Elephants have contracts, with 25% of these contracts likely to be paid for by the employer. Elephants have not made purchases on the cellphone, he notes. Please Note: $1 =about R7.00 at the time of publication.

Damaria Senne is a journalist and author based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She writes about the telecommunications industry in South Africa and Africa, including cellular, mobile and wireless technologies and messaging news and trends. She regularly interviews executives of multinational companies expanding their business into Africa, as well as government officials and regulators in the African communications market. Read her business related articles at itweb.co.za