Globalization of Cell Phones

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The first cell phone was introduced to the public in 1980.   At that time, there were only 11.2 million cell phones, or about two per each one thousand people.   Today, there are about 2.4-billion cell phone users worldwide, with one thousand new customers are added to the cellular world every minute.   In Europe, there are more cell phone accounts than people in Italy, United Kingdom, Norway, and Sweden.

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With fifty-nine percent of users in developing countries, cell phones are the first communication technology in history to have more users there than in the developed world.  In India, mobile phone rates are about one cent a minute, which is the lowest in the world.  Companies have figured out how to stay profitable even selling telecom services at a penny a minute, opening the market to a base of consumers who are not frequently part of the formal economic system.

As of 2006, the United states ranked forty-two on the global level in the percentage of people with cell phones.  It took fourteen years for cell phones to reach fifty percent of the U.S., where it took fifty-six years for the telephone to reach America.  Text messaging has taken the world by storm.  Text messages generated 49.4 billion dollars in 2003, but rose to 76.5 billion dollars by 2010.

Do you think that the spread of cell phones i beneficial to the world’s communication? How can cell phones hurt culture? What do you think the future will look like if the spread of technology spreads?

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11 Responses to Globalization of Cell Phones

  1. Richard Sumaoang says:

    Cell phones play an important role in globalization. Another way, cell phones contribute to globalization is through social media like Facebook, Snap chat, Instagram, Twitter and more. and I think that cell phone is very useful to our society because through this, we can communicate our loves in different country, we can call them and send a message. By cell phone, we can easily do our research topic and etc. If their are emergency that we need to inform our relatives in a different country, we use our cell phone to call them. Cell phone is the important thing in our daily lives. Cell phones are very important for allowing us to obtain instant access to information and increase knowledge worldwide. Without cell phones, many of us would not be able to go about our daily lives the same way we currently do. we can use this anytime we want, but know our limit especially if we our a student or on duty at work hours. we are not allowed to use our phones during class time or work time because we need to focus on these first. cell phones help us a lot especially in important ways. but in this situation, cell phones affect our globalization culturally, Why? “because It seems now with texting and cellphones in general people don’t talk to people in the room because they are playing on their phones or talking to other people. That can take away from learning from family members about your culture or meeting new people because you are fixed on your phone.” and Cell phones may hurt culture in the sense that people do a lot of things through a cell phone that would be better done in purpose that would be considered inappropriate to do over the phone. Also cell phones can be very distracting especially for people around our generation. Adding to it, cell phones can addicted if you are focusing here everyday, especially to a kids that playing games. they will forget their responsibilities in life, I’m saying this because i experience before, cell phones can affect our physical abilities, for example of our eyes, if we focus on the cell phone screen at all times there is a possibility that it can be blur our sight because of the radiation always focused on it. So as I said to maintain these, we need to know our limits and that’s for all.

  2. 21Buzzards says:

    Hugely enjoyed this post :), keep up the great authorship
    and I’ll keep coming back for more. Will be sharing this with my
    twitter followers and I’m sure they’ll love it as well!

  3. lapierren says:

    I agree with most of the other people that commented on this as well. I think that cell phones are extremely beneficial in regards to the world bettering their means of communication. It would be extremely hard to imagine the world with out cellphones considering all of the things that they do for us. Especially considering things like smartphones, which you can send e-mails, save documents, play games, and many other things that provide entertainment and are very convenient. Cell phones may hurt culture in the sense that people do a lot of things through a cell phone that would be better done in purpose that would be considered inappropriate to do over the phone. Also cell phones can be very distracting especially for people around our generation. We are constantly on our cell phones even if we have absolutely no reason to be looking at it. Overall I think that cell phones are extremely useful. In time I can only imagine that the whole world will become more and more dependent on their phones and upgrading to the latest technology.

  4. julianoa says:

    Without cell phones, many of us would not be able to go about our daily lives the same way we currently do. They include everything we need at our finger tips, and help us to keep on track of things personally and worldwide. I believe the advancement of cell phones is very beneficial to society and the future will only bring even better opportunities for us. They help keep the world connected and more integrated. As far as the younger generations of people obtaining cell phones, it is the way of the world, so we just have to go with it. Besides emergency communication, they have also made it easier to stay in touch with family and friends. Not only do they provide a simple way to make phone calls on the go, you can also send emails, text messages and even make video calls with some phones.

  5. urbanekc says:

    I do feel as though the spread of cell phones and their usage are extremely beneficial to the world. Cell phones provide people with readily accessible means of communication, that, in many cases, is affordable. Those that aren’t fortunate enough to have homes with individual landlines are able to use these devices for communicating with family and friends, as well as safety purposes. However, there is no question that cell phones are dangerous to maintaining the cultures of countries. We all can say from experience that we have seen a decline in valuable human face-to-face interaction. Time with friends is rarely passed without the unmistakable vibrations of text messages, and “awkward’ situations are avoided by browsing social media networks on one’s phone. Cell phones, especially smart phones, have undoubtedly altered the dynamics of social situations. In my opinion, however, the good effects outweigh the bad. Technology with continue to spread with time, especially as new devices are introduced. Communication on a global scale will be improved, and globalization will occur through these devices. People will be able to learn about cultures other than their own easily, which is perhaps one of the greatest effects of communication through cell phones and other technology.

  6. mlang9494 says:

    I think that the spread of cell phones has both negative and positive effects on our society. On one hand, it can help people communicate faster and more efficiently. On the other hand, this advance of technology takes away from actual in-person communication skills. This has serious potential to harm future generations socially. They will not have the social skills previous generations did, holding them back with things such as meetings, interviews, etc. Even young children these days can operate an iPhone better than they can recite any scholastic fact. Although we should definitely continue to advance technologically, we must not forget what is really important for future generations- the ability to communicate with people face to face instead of phone to phone.

  7. angelod27 says:

    I agree with Gavin in that cell phones are very important for allowing us to obtain instant access to information and increase knowledge worldwide. Without cell phones, many of us would not be able to go about our daily lives the same way we currently do. They include everything we need at our finger tips, and help us to keep on track of things personally and worldwide. I believe the advancement of cell phones is very beneficial to society and the future will only bring even better opportunities for us. While many of us are constantly on our cellphone, I do not agree with the notion that they could be hurting society by causing people to be unable to speak with one another in person. They only help communication, not hurt it. As far as the younger generations of people obtaining cell phones, it is the way of the world, so we just have to go with it.

  8. Gavin says:

    Cell phones play an important role in globalization. From instant communication to the access of information, cell phones help people all over the world connect. There are several reasons that cell phones are beneficial from a global perspective. One is that they can keep an individual up to date on news and current events from anywhere. Before cell phones, it could take several hours or even a day or two to find out about natural disasters, foreign developments, and major occurrences whereas now, many people all over the world are aware within minutes if an event like this takes place. Another way cell phones contribute to globalization is through social media. With apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others, people know what all their friends have been doing near or far, and can join in discussions with friends, politicians, celebrities, businesses and more. Ultimately cell phones are key in the current state of globalization, expediting communication and increasing knowledge worldwide.

  9. bourques says:

    I believe that cellphones are beneficial for some forms of communication. For talking to friends, family, or for business it makes it quicker and texting makes talking more consistent. You can interact with people far away from you way better. You could have a friend all the way in China and still talk to them like they are across the street, but it does create problems for culture and face to interactions. It seems now with texting and just cellphones in general people don’t talk to people in the room because they are playing on their phone or talking to other people. That can take away from learning from family members about your culture or meeting new people because you are fixed on your phone. I have a feeling if people continue to use technology like they do today and with new technological advances culture will decrease even more and face to face conversation will get worse. It does not look hopefully for the next generation.

  10. dellaquilamp says:

    I do think that cell phones have plenty of benefits because it is much easier to communicate within the country or on a global level. I also think that is has many many downfalls. Many people in todays society have become completely reliable on their cell phone for everything from emails to homework assignments. As I walk down the street it disgusts me how like seven year olds have iPhones. It makes me wonder what times are going to be like when we are parents. I do believe that cell phones are important but they are not a necessity.

  11. reganka says:

    I think that the spread of cell phones is beneficial to the world’s communication. Many companies advertise that you can talk on their cell phones internationally. Because of this, immediate communication can occur and across the globe. I think that this is a very beneficial advancement from globalization. When looking into the future, it is hard to predict what the spread of technology will provide. At this day and age ten year olds have cell phones and that was not the case even when we were ten. I am interested to see how this continues to change and what new types of technology the future holds.

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