Mobile phones: Man's new best friend?21 April 2006
Mobile phones have certainly come a long way from the bulky grey boxes made famous by 1980s "yuppies". Now small and lightweight, the majority of us have become used to being always "on-call", with our link to the rest of our lives permanently tucked into a pocket or handbag.
Being constantly contactable has its downsides, however. The most obvious disadvantage is that we may not always want to be reached, but another is that it is easy to become reliant upon our cellular friend. Voice, text, email, television, music - the range of functions available on mobile devices these days means that if we forget to pick it up on the way out of the house or let the battery run out, feelings of loneliness and isolation are likely to follow!
Cash and communications
Feeling slightly lost without such an all-round best friend gadget is perfectly normal, of course, like forgetting your wallet it is likely to affect your day significantly. But absent-mindedness in these areas could soon be a thing of the past, according to a new report from In-Stat. Analysts from the firm believe that millions of mobile subscribers could be using 'mobile wallets' by 2011, combining the two items essential to a smooth-running day out of the house. But, it's double the trouble should you still forget or lose the device.
Handset hothead
Dependence on a mobile device landed one man in hot water, or cold beer, recently after a prank put his precious PDA at risk. Warwick Bergin lost his cool when a pal dunked his mobile in a pint of lager. Looking at his £700 personal organiser and life's organisation through amber-tinted glasses made Warwick see red and he launched himself on the prankster, inflicting cuts and bruises. A three-month suspended sentence and £250 compensation later and Mr Bergin reportedly still won't apologise for the outburst.
Till death do us part
Even if no one else understands your attachment to your mobile during your lifetime, phone fanatics can now rest assured that they do not have to be without their handsets in heaven. Apparently, increasing numbers of people are asking that they be cremated or buried with their mobile devices - well, you could miss a lot of calls in the space of eternity!
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