A couple of quick items on the impact of mobility on lives -
"[mobile phones] are transforming culture, even as they spawn new markets. In
Nairobi, a student paper caters to kids from across the city's high
schools; submissions are sent in by text message, with articles written
in textesewords broken into their smallest possible lucid components.
Every few months or so, rumors circulate, breaking some code or other
and giving free airtime or texts. Some people have learned to
communicate for free with their regular clients or family by coding
their ringing: one ring, I am on my way; two rings, I have picked up
the kids; three rings, I love you." [Binyavanga Wainaina, in Bidoun]
"It's time that we recognize that for the majority of the world's population, and for the foreseeable future, the cell phone is the computer,
and it will be the portal to the internet, and the communications tool,
and the schoolbook, and the vaccination record, and the family album,
and many other things, just as soon as someone, somewhere, sits down
and writes the software that allows these functions to be performed." The BBC reports. [textually]
Iran: Excerpts from a very interesting and thorough article published on Middle East Online on how in Iran, SMS has become a way for people to circumvent authority. "Young Iranians are texting each other with humorous, subversive or
plain saucy messages while the religious conservatives who run their
country are slumbering. [textually]
Japan: Last month in Japan, the year-end bestseller tally showed that mobile phone novels, republished in book form, have not only infiltrated the mainstream but have come to dominate it. The New York Times reports. "Of last year's 10 best-selling novels, five were originally mobile
phone novels, mostly love stories written in the short sentences
characteristic of text messaging but containing little of the plotting
or character development found in traditional novels. What is more, the top three spots were occupied by first-time mobile phone novelists" [textually]
Kenya: According to a report in the New York Times
on the continuing crisis in Kenya, "fuel, food and cellphone credit are
in short supply". Who would have thought, even just a couple of short
years ago, that in a time of humanitarian crisis cellphone credit would
be uttered in the same sentence as 'essential' fuel and food items? [via Kiwanja.net]
and of course from FrontlineSMS [a W+K Client]:
"FrontlineSMS is being used in
41 different countries, and in some cases by more than one NGO in that country.
From helping blood donor clinics
and human rights workers to promoting government accountability, keeping medical
students informed about education options, providing security alerts to field
workers, the capture and exchange of vegetable (and coffee) price information,
the distribution of weather forecasts, the co-ordination of healthcare workers,
the organising of political demonstrations, the carrying out of surveys and the
reporting and monitoring of disease outbreaks, and election monitoring."
can't wait to read the novels that recontextualize this beautiful mess as incredibly logical developments. Dirt is getting kicked up. Society is being reengineered. Usage scenarios are evolving like bacteria.
Forget the viral propagation of trends - we are looking at a receptive host getting hit by mobile vectors from every side. And in the midst of the cultural re-engineering, yes, there are profits to be made - from m-pesa and banking transactions all the way to gaming.
This from e-marketer, cited by, yep, the ever-brilliant Emily Turrettini @ textually:
The mobile video games market is growing faster than the markets for consoles and handheld video games, according to Understanding & Solutions. Only online games are growing at a faster clip.
“Global revenues from mobile gaming are pegged at $3.6 billion
this year,” said David Rouse, analyst at Understanding & Solutions.
"We predict this figure to rise to $6 billion by 2011."
The company also said that subscription-based and ad-funded
mobile games were growing. Mr. Rouse said that an increasing number of
games let players buy additional levels or virtual goods using
microtransactions.
Pay per download is still the main money maker for mobile game publishers and distributors.
Get going or get left behind.
London shoppers will soon be able to leave their cash at home and use their mobile phones to get on the bus and tube,
pay for coffee and put big-ticket items on credit. The mobiles will
contain the same security as chip and Pin cards, combined with the
contactless communication system used in Transport for London's Oyster
travel card. 
