Phones: Mobile Status Symbols
Its been around for probably longer than people realise but the mobile phone has evolved into one of the most popular status symbols since the sports car. Your position in society seems directly linked to the make, model, colour and style of your phone, while your choice in ringtones and attachments can give away your age and personality.
Having a customisable mobile phone is a fashion must-have. Nobody wants the boring old brick with the green screen and fixed covers. That doesnt say anything about the person who owns it other than theyre living in the past.
We want the latest slider phone with the ability to play our favourite songs while were sending, via Bluetooth, the videos taken with the 5.2 megapixel camera to a person on the other side of the room with the exact same phone in a different colour. We want to be able to surf the internet or play games while sitting on a train, and watch ourselves on the SatNav.
The UK cant do without their mobiles. You cant go anywhere on public transport without hearing at least one ringtone, or seeing gangs of schoolgirls comparing pictures from their handsets. Even the cheap mobile phones have enough features to keep one entertained for a short while, with a camera, games and internet as standard on almost all handsets.
We expect a lot from our mobile phones, and the makers are more than happy to deliver. It seems like every day theres yet another phone coming on the market with yet another feature than you never thought of, but now cant live without.
With mobile technology changing so frequently, more people are opting for a contract phone as opposed to a pay as you go one. Having a contract enables you to get the latest handset at a cheaper price, then trade it in for another small sum after as little as a year. This way you can be sure of always having the latest model and mobile technology.
