Today’s youths use cell phones not just to call, but also to chat with friends, surf the net, or listen to music thereby giving rise to a new social contract. [break]Cell phones now come with innovative features such as cameras, music players, FM radio and multiple connectivity options like GPRS and Bluetooth embedded in it.
Hence, today’s mobile phones are more than just communication devices. Due to a multitude of functions ranging from text transmission and information downloading to entertainment, they have become indispensable tools for everyday use.
“I really feel secure when I am carrying my mobile phone with me. Every time I go out, I make sure I never leave behind my cell phone,” says Kriti Niraula, 19.
These phones have made possible instant channels of communication between people because of their portability. Whether it is for informing your parents that you are staying back at your college due to an unexpected event, or letting your friend know that you are late for your scheduled meeting due to a traffic jam, mobile phones can come in handy. When someone doesn’t pick up the phone or answers the call, a mere SMS can help serve the purpose.
Mobile phones offer a wide range of entertainment applications. They have games in them and even the cheap ones come with FM radios. With the rise in price, they have more and more novel features to offer such as music players, camera and Wi-Fi – all of which are incorporated into one sleek device sporting a big touch screen and easy-to-use keypads.
Phones also serve as powerful tools of fashion. Mobile phones, most of which had traditionally been offered only in monotone colors, are now available in a variety of designs and eye-catching colors.
Says Roshni Bhandari, 22, her mobile phone is an important fashion accessory. “An attractive cell phone enhances your personality and makes you look stylish,” she says. Her silver Sony Ericsson mobile phone is adorned with pretty charms, stickers, and beautiful faceplates making the drab exterior look flashy enough.
Cell phones are so designed to attract youths. Popular mobile phones brands are often laden with elegant shapes and impressive designs with expressive software interface and attractive exteriors which easily entice the youth.
Gone are the monopolies of computers and laptops which had once enjoyed the exclusive features of logging into messengers; they are increasingly been made available in mobile phones with the GPRS installation, from which they have an easy access to the internet. Mig 33 and e-buddy are offering innovative ways of chatting from the phone itself.
Reena Shakya, 17, shares she had to fight for the computer with her siblings when at home and she could not go to cybercafés every time she needed to use the internet. “I was spared the entire ordeal when I got the internet connected to my cell phone. Now, I can have access to the net even while I am walking,” she says smilingly.
The ever-changing technology has also markedly changed the features and functions of such phones. These new-age handsets are packed with some of the most efficient applications which help users to carry out various tasks at great ease.
Rajan Khatiwoda, 26, a computer engineer, says these handsets cater to the needs of everybody and are also designed to meet the needs of the ‘techno-savvy’ users. QWERTY keyboards have been embedded into handsets which facilitate hassles-free text and numeric input. “Mobile phones are more portable and cheaper than iPads and the MacBooks and have plenty of functions so they are invariably popular among the youths,” he further adds.
Though the primary function of these phones remains the same -- talking to anyone from almost anywhere – they have transcended their functionality and cut across fashion, music, photos and games, among others, befitting the changing lifestyle of the modern generation.
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