Mobile Communications: The Effect on Industry and Society | The Communication Blog

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Mobile Communications: The Effect on Industry and Society

By Rebecca Elliott


What would you do without your cell phone? Most of us don't know how to respond to that as our lives are completely inundated with cell phones and mobile communications. We have become so reliant on mobile communications.

Mobile communications typically refers to cell phones, or any electronic device that communicates with another device or computer. They are able to communicate with one another via a network and satellite. These are also known as "cell sites". The first cell phone was designed by Dr. Martin Cooper for Motorola in 1973. His design didn't hit the market or become available to the public until 1983, and even then it was a luxurious, rare item.

Cell phones have evolved over the years from the original boxy two-way radio to the tiny hand-held device it is today. Cell phones also have also evolved in their capabilities and support many additional services such as Internet access, text messaging, gaming, Bluetooth and camera functions. Cell phones manufactured and sold in stores come standard with these functions today.

Mobile communications have even further evolved with Smartphones. Smartphones include specifically the Blackberry and iPhone. These Smartphones have all capabilities and functions in one hand held device. They have Internet access, email, calendar and camera functions, text messaging and instant messaging, and GPS capabilities. What else could you ask for in a phone?

Applications are a very helpful and popular Smartphone function. "Apps" are downloadable programs that come in all different sizes and features for different hobbies, interests, and purposes. Apps are available for Facebook, sports, books, food and recipes, education, and even movies. Some Apps are free and others cost a small amount of money. The costs range from $0.99 to several dollars.

The telephony industry and mobile communications are one of the top industries today. In 1990 only approximately 12.4 million people were cell phones subscribers compared to 2009 when 4.6 billion were cell phone subscribers. In just a little under twenty years, the amount of people subscribing to cellular plans and purchasing cell phones grew exponentially. Now we have become a society that cannot live without them.

As much as cell phones and Smartphones have helped us, they have also hurt us. Ask any auto body or auto repair technician. He or she will tell you that business has doubled since the rapid growth in cell phones. Too many people take their lives into their hands by talking or texting while driving. While doing this, our alert and reaction time decreases, which subjects us to more accidents and fatalities. Cell phones are a great tool that are meant to help us rather than be a danger to us.

All in all, mobile communications has dominated our industries and society. It's hard to image what mobile communications will have in store for us in the future when we already have a Smartphone that does it all. What more could we ask for?




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