Benefits and Problems of Mobile Phones

The advent of mobile phones has squeezed this large world and brought it into the palm of human being. However mobile phones have always been instigating debates among the people about their merits and demerits. Apart from the instant access they give us, mobile phones have multipurpose uses ranging from business work, means for entertainment and ensuring security. On the other hand, they have some disadvantages like initiating violation of privacy, unnecessary wastage of money, talking on mobile phones while driving and emission of radiation from the handsets which is allegedly harmful for health. I would like to argue for the advantages of mobile phones which outweigh their disadvantages.

The main feature of mobile phones is ‘instant access’ which makes them the most exclusive devices for communication. Now people can make voice or VDO call or send text messages to anyone anytime from almost anywhere at a cheap rate using mobile phones. Besides this, with the aid of the latest WAP technology users can surf the internet, send emails and chat with other people at a low cost (http://www.webuser.co.uk, 24th October, 2007). According to a research released on 13th February, 2007 from the Mobile Entertainment Forum and Ovum, 20% of UK subscribers search internet via mobile phones (http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/Feb2007/4267.htm, retrieved 24th October, 2007). It is obvious that the communication has become a lot easier now compared to the pre-mobile phones period.

Mobile phones are lessening the pressure of the business and office work too. These days, the latest mobile phones are powered with Microsoft Office application for viewing and editing various types of files including Word, PDF, and Excel etc easing the office and business work (Markley, http://EzineArticles.com, retrieved 30th October, 2007). Moreover, in this modern world of advanced communication loads of business deals are made through mobile phone conferences.

Apart from these, mobile phones are widely used for entertainment replacing number of miniature gadgets by comprising all their features. Now most of the mobile phones include games, mp3 and mp4 players, high resolution digital camera, radio etc which are the main attraction of the young generation. (Gonsalves, 2006, http://www.techweb.com, retrieved 25th October, 2007).

Mobiles phones are also giving their users security to some extent. People can call each other instantly for help whenever they are in any danger or crisis. Even using GPS navigation technology in one’s mobile phone one can find out his/her way if he/she is lost in the street (about.com, retrieved 26th October, 2007). Thus people tend to feel safe when they are carrying their mobile phone.

On the contrary, mobile phones have some demerits e.g. they violate privacy of people. Some people misuse their camera phones or voice recording option of phones to take secret pictures or record conversations which infringe other people’s private life.

Another disadvantage of mobile phones is that they instigate wastage of money. Most of the teenagers now own mobile phones and a lot of them spend hours after hours talking unnecessarily on phone. This results in the payment of high bills which is a sheer waste of money.

Besides these, mobile phones may cause serious accident if somebody is talking on phone while driving and unmindful for even a fraction of a second. For instance, in the year 2005, a driver in Sheffield ran over an 80-year-old pedestrian while talking on mobile phone and was jailed for 2 years (telegraph.co.uk, retrieved 29th October, 2007).

Recently mobile phones are also accused of emitting radiation which is harmful for health causing cancer, brain tumours, headaches, sleeping disorders etc (Highfield, 2004, telegraph.co.uk). Researches are still being undertaken to come to a definite conclusion if there is any possible impairment by the radiation.

“Research by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland found that microwaves from cell phone handsets damaged the blood-brain barrier, which prevents materials from the blood entering the brain. It warned that this might have implications for human health” (Uhlig, 2002, telegraph.co.uk).

But it does not insinuate that the biological effect may necessarily pose health risk. As Dr Michael Clarke argues:

"But