Specialized Print Reference

Kuper, A. J. (2004). The Social Science Encyclopedia. Routledge Reference Resources.

This book gives a thorough introduction to sociological concepts and introduces key theorists in the study. Related fields are also covered in the book, and the in depth philosophy of the social sciences is also addressed. This resource may be of interest to a researcher or journalist who wants a basic background of sociological concepts so they may be able to apply that study to the way cell phones have transformed our social landscape.

Government Documents

Federal Trade Commission. (2005). The Truth about Cell Phones and the National Do Not Call Registry. Retrieved June 11, 2008 from http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/04/dnc.shtm.

This memo released by the FTC alerts consumers to an e-mail being circulated about the potential telemarketing calls they may receive through their cell phones. The memo claims that this is not the case, and that telemarketing calls to cell phone numbers have always been illegal, and will continue to be so. It gives examples of a couple emails that had been circulating and then claims that the FCC prohibits telemarketers to make automated phone calls to cell phones without the consent of the user. They suggest that cell phone users put their names on the National Do Not Call Registry in order to ensure they do not receive telemarketing calls. This site may be useful to a researcher or journalist who wants to know more about privacy issues associated with cell phones and what the government may be doing to intervene in potentially unsecure circumstances.

Betsy Gotbaum, Public Advocate for the City of New York. (2006). Releases & Statements.

Retrieved June 11, 2008 from http://www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/news/CellPhonePolicy.html

This website contains a statement made by Betsy Gotbaum at a City Council hearing for the Department of Education Cell Phone policy. She explains her policy choice to ban cell phone use in the classroom and explains that New York City is not the only city that has done so. She claims that it is already policy in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, San Diego, Dallas and Miami. The rest of the page goes on to list a few cities and some classroom policies on using cell phones. This site may be of interest to a researcher or journalist who wants to know more about localized policies on cell phones and what actions schools are taking to prohibit them in the classroom.

Government Sources

Food and Drug Administration (2008). FDA: Cell Phone Facts. Retrieved June 11, 2008 from www.fda.gov/cellphones.

This FDA website provides information to the general public about safety and health issues related to cell phones and also explains how calls are made from one cell phone to another. It says that the FCC and the FDA both regulate wireless telephones, making sure that they comply with safety guidelines that limit radiofrequency energy, and that they also monitor the health effects of wireless telephones. This site may be of interest to a researcher or journalist who wants to know how the federal government interprets cell phone risks, and what rules they put in place to monitor and prevent hazards.

Federal Communications Commision. (2008). FCC Consumer Advisory: Cell Phone Fraud. Retrieved June 11 from www.fcc.gov/consumerfacts/cellphonefraud.html

This website created by the FCC provides information on cell phone fraud and what the public may do to prevent it. It explains subscriber fraud as occurring when someone signs up for a service with fraudulently obtained customer information. They also explain that resolving the fraud may be a long term and difficult process, and may initially take time for the victim to discover that the fraud has even occurred. This site may be of interest to a researcher or journalist who wants to know what steps the federal government is taking to prevent fraud, and what role they play in the process of resolving the issue.

Scholarly articles

Raloff, J. (2000). Two Studies Offer Some Cell-Phone Caution. Science News, Vol. 157, (No. 21), pp 326

This article offers information on two studies by an expert panel in Britain that consisted of 12 scientists, physicians, and lay members that found that to date, the balance of evidence indicates that mobile phones don’t harm health. They did however discover that there are indications that cell phone emissions can induce biological changes whose health significance is open to interpretation. Since these particular health risks are unknown, researchers say they can’t proclaim for sure that there may not be potential adverse health effects. This article may be of interest to a researcher or journalist who is interested in knowing about cell phones and how they relate to health and biology.

Daliot-Bul, M. (2007). Japan’s Mobile Technoculture: The Production of a Cellular Playscape and its cultural implications. Media Culture & Society, Vol.29, pp 954-971.

This article focuses on the reception of mobile communication by Japan’s youth in the late 1990s and how it has shaped the mobile communication market in the United States. It discusses how the mobile phone was transformed into an intensely personal part of the user’s lives, and is not just a trivial object use to release stress, but that it instead reflects and perpetuates social change. It also focuses on the youth market, and how the youth represents the new ‘avant-garde’ form of urban lifestyles. This article may be of use to a researcher or journalist who wants to know more about youth culture and cell phones, and how mobile technology may be affecting them differently than the older generation.

Keeter, K. (2007). What's missing from national landline RDD surveys?: The impact of the growing cell-only population. Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 71 (5), pp 772-792.

This article discusses how the number of cell phone only houses is continuing to increase, and how there may be a potential bias in landline telephone surveys created by the absence of cell-only households. There is a significant difference between landline households and cell-only households on many important variables surveying cell only or landline only users would create substantial bias. This article may be of interest to a researcher or journalist who is interested in knowing about the effects of switching over from landline to mobile communication, and what the implications of this crossover area.

Not for profit sources

CTIA. (2008). World of Wireless. Retrieved June 9, 2008 from www.ctia.org

CTIA, or “the wireless association” is an international non-profit organization based on membership that represents all sectors of wireless communication. They represent service providers, manufacturers, and other contributors to the wireless universe. CTIA advocates on their behalf before the Executive Branch, Congress, and the state regulatory and legislative bodies. The CTIA would be useful to a researcher or journalist who wants to see how mobile technology and legislation are connected.

Ling, R. (2008). Mobile Communication: The Social Implications of Mobile Communication. Retrieved May 24, 2008 from http://mobilesociety.ning.com/.

Mobile Communication is a social networking site focused on the academic analysis of mobile communication in society. Created by Rich Ling, an author and editor of the Mobile Communications Research Annual, the site aims to create dialogue about the social implications of mobile technology from a variety of users through blog posts, forum discussions, and shared links. With a diverse network of contributors, Mobile Communications uses contemporary technology as a way to provide information to the public sphere about the evolving technology of the cell phone. This site would be particularly useful for researchers and journalists alike who are interested in public opinion regarding mobile communication, and who could use links to other sources of information.

For Profit Sources

Macintosh. (2008). iTunes: Ringtone Store. Retrieved June 9, 2008 from http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/ringtones.html.

This website offers iPhone users the opportunity to create their own personalized ringtones with their iTunes playlist. Users can stop and start whichever song they choose from their playlist and apply it as their ringtone. Apple advertises “Infinite Possibilities,” saying that you can personalize your ringtones for each of your callers, or use them as an alarm. This site may be of interest to a journalist or researcher that wanted to know more about Apple products, or who were interested in the merging of technologies, i.e. the Mp3 player and the cell phone.

Wirefly. (2008). Wirefly: The Cell Phone Superstore. Retrieved June 9, 2008

www.wirefly.com

Wirefly is a privately owned company based in the US that is dedicated to offering its customers the cheapest wireless plans. The company has been the Internet’s top authorized seller of cell phones from every major carrier in the states since 2003. They have created partnerships with AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, Nextel, and Alltel so that the shoppers are tied to legitimate wireless networks. This website would be of interest to a researcher or journalist who wants to know more about what companies are selling what products at what prices and what the top rated cell phones and cell phone accessories are.

Multimedia Sources

Julie Ask. (6 October, 2006). “Kennedy” On His Cell Phone: A photograph. http://weblogs.jupiterresearch.com/analysts/ask/archives/AMB%2 0Single%20Masai%20on%20Cell%20Phone.jpg

This image is particularly interesting because it shows a man from the Masai African tribe using a cell phone, an image most people would find quite contradictory. Many people assume that tribal and indigenous cultures are isolated from technology, but the rate at which mobile technology is developing is quite alarming. A journalist may use this image in conjunct with an article about the global market for mobile technology. It presents a startling contrast that would visually appeal to readers.

CBC (Producer), (June 2008). Cell Phones: The Ring Heard Round the World. [Documentary]. Canada, CBC.

This CBC documentary explores the possibilities of cell phone usage through interviews with celebrities, and visits rural villages where young children learn to speak English through mobile games. The ‘village phone lady’ from Rwanda explains how she is helping local villagers to cross the digital divide and climb out of poverty. Cell Phones explores territory both in and outside of North America and predicts by the year 2010, nearly 90% of the world will own a cell phone. This documentary would be useful for a researcher or a journalist interested in finding out about the ‘cell phone revolution’ so to speak, and its rapidly developing popularity.

WGN (Network). October 2007) WGN Cyberguy: Cell Phone Etiquitte. http://youtube.com/watch?v=1TRDNdDWYDU. United States, WGN.

This news clip reviews cell phone etiquitte from an ettiquite coach who lends advice on tableside manners when it comes to texting and answering phone calls. The coach suggests that texting table side is demeaning and devaluing to the present company who should always come first. It asks the question “Is technology making our manners even worse?” and leaves it up to the viewers to decide. This clip would be good for a journalist or researcher who wants to know how traditional etiquette rules coincide with today’s mediated technology.

Newspaper Sources

Holson, L. (10 May, 2008). Spam Moves to Cellphones and Gets More Invasive. The New York Times Online.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/10/technology/10spam.html

This article in the Times discusses how spam is now being sent to cell phones via text messaging. Holson writes how spam through the cell phone is much more invasive, and the user is alerted with a beep while also having to pay the price of a received text message. She explains that most cell phone users have a dedicated e-mail address, like AT&T users whose e-mail is their cell phone number followed by @text.att.net. It also comments that people may be getting spam messages confused with legitimate text messages and it will add confusion to SMS communication. This article may be of interest to a researcher or journalist who is wants to know more about privacy related issues with mobile technology.

Richards, J. (16 May, 2008). Shops Track Customers Via Mobile Phone. The New York Times Online.

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3945496.ece

Richards discusses new technology that shopping centers have introduced that track their customers throughout the store to detect their shopping patterns. The technology can tell when customers enter a shopping center, how long they stay in each store and what route they take when they walk around. He notes that shopping centers may be able to make a case to stay open for longer hours depending on their customers shopping habits, and several centers have already used client’s information to adjust policy.

Associated Press. (4 June, 2008). Teens Are Sending Nude Photos Via Cell Phone. International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi

This article written by the Associated Press discusses the growing trend of teenagers trading nude pictures of themselves via their cell phones. It suggests that many of these pictures are ending up in the wrong hands after having been sent to entire address books as opposed to the individual they were intended to be sent to. It also discusses the implications of modern cell phone technology and how much easier it is to spread information, intended or unintended. This information may be useful to a researcher or a journalist who is interested in learning about youth culture and cell phones and how they are adapting to the technology.

Statistical Sources

GSM Association. (2008) GSM World News. Retrieved June 7, 2008 from http://www.gsmworld.com/news/statistics/index.shtml

This website offers downloadable PDFs of quarterly statistics and information on the global mobile market. It gives the subscriber statistics for the entire globe, and then lists each continent with their corresponding number of GSM subscribers. It goes on to list the top 10 countries of GSM subscribers, and then the ranking of total connections by country. Given the past years quarterly statistics, this site would be useful to a journalist or researcher who wants to compile statistical information and make inferences on international mobile trends.

Davis, A. (2008). Let’s Talk. Retrieved June 10, 2008 from

http://www.letstalk.com/company/release_031406.htm

Let’s Talk created a press release with statistics regarding the places that people deem appropriate and inappropriate to talk on their cell phones from the years 2000 to 2006. The information was compiled from a survey of users who were asked how many of them use their cell phones in the bathroom, at the movies, in the car, at the grocery store, on public transportation and in a restaurant. This information may be useful to a researcher of journalist who is interested in learning about the social acceptability of cell phone usage in public places and how it has evolved over time.

Experts

Professor Ted Welser, Sociology and Anthropology department, Ohio University. Welser@ohio.edu

Ted Welser is an assistant professor of sociology and anthropology at Ohio University who earned his PhD at the University of Washington in 2006. He specializes in the areas of computer-mediated interaction, methods, social networks, social psychology and theory. He has written for various journals including the Journal of Social Structure and the Journal of Computer Mediated Communication. Similar to communication through the cell phone, computer-mediated communication studies centers on rapidly developing social behavior that is being shaped by a recent technological development. After having studied mediated communication extensively, Professor Ted Welser is well informed on the way communication has evolved since the introduction of the cell phone, and for this reason he is an asset to a journalist or researcher looking to gain information on communication theory.

Professor Jing Wang, Head of Foreign Language and Literatures, Chinese Cultural Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jing@mit.edu

Jing Wang received her PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is the founder and organizer of MIT critical policy studies in China, and a participating member of the MIT Laboratory for Branding Cultures. She has published several books such as High Culture Fever, Popular Culture and the Chinese State, and Brand New China: Advertising, Media, and Commercial Culture. She participated in a forum at MIT on cell phone culture in November of 2005 on cell phone branding and youth culture in China alongside James Katz. Wang is a critical source of knowledge for journalists and researchers who are seeking information on cell phone technology and its development in China.

Professor Paul Levinson, Communication and Media Studies, Fordham University. Levinson.Paul@gmail.com

Levinson received his MA in media studies from New School for Social Research, and his PhD in media ecology from New York University. He is published in both fiction and non-fiction, and some of his non-fiction works include Cellphone: The Story of the World’s Most Mobile Medium and How It has Transformed Everything!, Mind at Large: Knowing in the Technological Age, and Electronic Chronicles: Coluns of the Changes in our Time. Levinson, is a commentator on media, popular culture, and science fiction, and has been interviewed over 500 times on local, national, and international television and radio shows. He co-founded Connected Education, and is presently Chair of the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University. A journalist or researcher would benefit from speaking with Levinson, who has spent practically his entire career speaking to the public about media and popular culture.

Sadie Plant, Director of the Cybermetic Culture Research Unit at University of Warwick/UK.

Plant received her PhD in Philosophy from the University of Manchester in 1989, and later taught at the University of Birmingham’s department of Cultural Studies. She then went on to found the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit at Warwick University. She has written reports including “On the Mobile: The Effects of Mobile Telephones on Social and Individual Life,” which includes research on the rituals associated with mobile phones, the way in which men and women display particular habits through mediated technology, and cross cultural observations. She has also written a book titled Zeros and Ones: Digital Women and the New Technoculture. Plant offers a European perspective on mobile technology and has studied intellectual trends from French philosophers such as Jean Baudrillard and Jean-François Lyotard. Plant would be a useful source of information to journalists and researchers because not only does she offer a European perspective on the advancements in mobile technology, but she also offers a feminist perspective which is relatively hard to come by in research field mostly dominated by males.

Rich Ling, Professor of communication studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Sociologist at Telenor’s research institute located near Oslo, Norway. www.richardling.com

Ling received his PhD in sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder, and soon after taught at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He has been a partner in a consulting firm which focused on the studies of energy, technology and society. He has worked at Telanor R&D and has been active in researching issues associated with information technology and society, particularly focusing on mobile telephony. He has written several books, including The Mobile Connection: The Cell Phone’s Impact on Society, and the not yet published New Tech, New Ties: How Mobile Communication is Reshaping Social Cohesion. He is also the associate editor of “The Information Society”, and has been interviewed on The Discovery Channel, NPR, and The New York Times. Ling is a good source of information for journalists and researchers who are looking for a cross cultural perspective, and since he has been interviewed for several credited media outlets, is experienced in public communication.

Blogs

Turrettini, E. (2008). Textually: All About Texting, SMS, and MMS.

Retrieved May 23, 2008 from www.textually.org

Textually is a blog devoted to cell phone and mobile content, which focuses on text messaging and cell phone usage around the world and tracks the latest news and social impact of these technologies. There are a variety of different categories of information the blog is separated into such as “Cell Phone Designs and Concepts,” “SMS as Evidence in Court,” “SMS and Dating,” and so on. This site would be particularly useful to researchers and journalists who are looking for daily updates and current trends of mobile technology.

Mobile Tracker. (2008). Mobile Tracker: Cell Phone News and Reviews.

Retrieved May 25, 2008 from www.mobiletracker.net

Mobile Tracker is a blog that provides up to date reviews of cell phones and other mobile technology in the market. It provides reviews and information of products that have not yet entered the market, and reviews brands, wireless networks and various features of cell phone technology. It also shares information on current activity and market trends within wireless network companies. This site would be useful to researchers or journalists who want a basic knowledge of products and mobile development.

Books

Katz, J., Aakhus, M. (2005). Perpetual Contact: Mobile Communication, Private Talk, Public Performance. New York, NY: Cambridge University.

Katz, a professor of communications and director at the Center for Mobile Communication Studies, and Aakhus, professor of Communications at Rutgers University, offer a comprehensive background on rapidly advancing mobile technology across the globe. Much of the book is a composite of papers from a 1999 communication workshop at Rutgers University addressing the social aspects of mobile communication. Katz and Aakhus include an international perspective on cell phone technology with studies from ten cultures around the world with a wide range of demographic levels. They discuss how cell phone technology has changed the way we do business from a social and scientific perspective, with contributions from some of the most notable researchers in the field. Building upon a strong foundation of research on telecommunications, Perpetual Contact is a great starting point for researchers and journalists who are interested in a global perspective of mobile communication.

Horst, H., Miller, D. (2006). The Cell Phone: An Anthropology of Communication. New York,

NY: Berg Publishing.

Horst who earned her PhD in Anthropology with an emphasis on material culture from the University of London, and Miller, cofounder of Opus Research who helped define the Conversational Access Technologies marketplace, create a detailed ethnography on the impact of cell phones on our everyday lives and discuss the role they play in our communication. They discuss how cell phones establish and maintain relationships in areas from religion to love and how it has become a tool used for social networking. Horst and Miller also focus on the role the cell phone plays in lower income societies and how they have become a critical tool of communication in these societies as well. This information would be critical to a researcher or journalists who want to know more about how our daily, personal lives are influenced by the technology of the cell phone.

Goggin, G. (2006). Cell Phone Culture: Mobile Technology in Everyday Life. New York, NY:

Gerard Goggin.

In his book, Cell Phone Culture: Mobile Technology in Everyday Life, Goggin, an Australian Research fellow and Professor of Digital Communication at the University of South Wales, writes on the premise that he has created the first comprehensive introduction to cell phone history and theory. He discusses the cultural implications of the cell phone from a historical and global perspective, and touches on the importance and relevance of ‘cell phone theory’ in modern day times. Goggin also focuses on the link between the media and cell phones and how cell phone consumption is affecting media and cultural studies today. The book offers a clear overview of a common cultural object and its modern implications, which would be useful to journalists and researchers looking to tie the information to contemporary issues of communication.