As I sit in my classroom, I look out among my students, and realize how many mobile phones are among the youth in the United States. In the blog Mob Rules by Mark Pesce he begins by discussing how mobile phones are helping underdeveloped countries to enhance their markets through the use of mobile phones. But in the US, children at the elementary level have mobile phones just because it is “the-in-thing”! I was also astonished that in a decade’s time, we have gone from 1/2 of the world had never made a phone call to over 1/2 of the world owning a phone and this is all because of mobile technology. It is my opinion that living in the US and never traveling out of the country, one really never knows how spoiled those in the US truely are.
I recently visted Cancun, Mexico and as I was flying across the country side one could really begin to see how underdeveloped the rural parts of Mexico really is. It was apparent that many of the individuals that live out past the city of Cancun are were lucky to have a roof over their heads. Luxuries such as phones, roads, electricity and water would have been a blessing. Also as I walked through the streets of Cancun (which would be considred an economically stable city because of the tourist) I didn’t see citizens with mobile phones as compared to how one would see them in the US. And even though I had a cell phone, I really wasn’t able to utilize it because of the cost associated with International calling. Throughout the four days and three nights that I stayed in Cancun, I really felt disconnected from the global world because of the lack of technology that I could afford. The technology such as cell phones and Internet were available but the costs that were associated with each were so astronomically priced that one really couldn’t stay connected as one would have liked. So yes, many of the points that were made throughout Mark Pesce’s blog were correct in how the world has come such a long way regarding connection I believe that it still has a long way to go. Connectivity shouldn’t just exist within a country, it should also exist across the countries at a reasonable price tag!
February 15, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Yeah, I agree. International rates vary and usually are very high. I wonder what provider supplied those Nokia phones and what kind of rates those farmers are receiving. The price to stay connected may not be worth, depending on how much profit they’re bringing in. Even though they may want to be apart of the network, they might not be able to afford it.
February 16, 2008 at 1:58 am
Um. I kinda hesitate to point out that they’re not calling international. They’d be the residents …
February 16, 2008 at 2:08 am
Well as I was about to point out about the price of international calling, I noticed Dr. Lowell’s post. LOL. Good point. I have not been out of the country since I was six years old (no cell phones then), but I was a victim of identity theft a few years ago when someone used my paypal account information to buy SEVERAL international phone cards. Luckily the bank knew that we didn’t know anyone out of the country. I am aware of the expense involved with making international calls though.
February 16, 2008 at 4:12 am
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