Exploring the Use of the Mobile Phone

Abstract

The work reported here provides insight into the practice of mobile communication. Interviews with experienced mobile phone users were conducted on specific instances of communications they placed, and the corpus gathered was analysed from the following three perspectives: why was a mobile phone used rather than another communication device; what was the intent or the goal of the communication, and, when appropriate, why was text messaging chosen over voice communication. Results reveal the various punctual reasons that motivate the use of the mobile phone (such as its functionality, its cost, its ease of access), as well as the type of communications placed from a mobile phone. These reasons and communication types all concur to make this device the support of fluid and flexible social interactions and coordination. As to text messaging, it is considered as a medium in its own right, whose use is largely governed by emerging social conventions