The spread of mobile communication, most obtrusively as cell phones but increasingly in other wireless devices, is affecting people's lives and relationships to a previously unthought-of extent. Mobile phones, which are fast becoming ubiquitous, affect either directly or indirectly every aspect of our personal and professional lives. They have transformed social practices and changed the way we do business, yet surprisingly little serious academic work has been done on them. This 2002 book, with contributions from the foremost researchers in the field, studies the impact of the mobile phone on contemporary society from a social scientific perspective. Providing a comprehensive overview of mobile phones and social interaction, it comprises an introduction covering the key issues, a series of unique national studies and a final section examining specific issues.
1. Introduction J. E. Katz and M. Aakhus; Part I. Mobile Communication - National and Comparative Perspectives: 2. Finland: a mobile phone culture J. P. Puro; 3. Israel: chutzpah and chatter in the Holy Land A. Cohen and A. Schejter; 4. Italy: stereotypes, true and false L. Fortunati; 5. Korea: personal meanings S. D. Kim; 6. United States: popular, pragmatic and problematic K. Robbins and M. Turner; 7. France: preserving the image J. Heurtin and C. Licoppe; 8. The Netherlands and the US compared E. Mante-Meijer; 9. Bulgaria: mobile phones as post-Communist cultural icons V. D. Varbanov; Part II. Private Talk - Interpersonal Relations and Micro-Behaviour: 10. Hyper-coordination via mobile phone in Norway R. Ling and B. Yttri; 11. Mobile culture of children and teenagers in Finland E. Kasesniemi and P. Rautiainen; 12. Pretense of intimacy in France C. DeGourney; 13. Mobile phone consumption and concepts of personhood D. Nafus and K. Tracy; Part III. Public Performance - Social Groups and Structures: 14. The chattage of absent presence K. Gergen; 15. From mass society to perpetual contact J. Rule; 16. Mobiles and the Norwegian teen: identity, gender and class B. Skog; 17. The telephone comes to the Filipino village G. Strom; 18. Beginnings in the telephone E. Schegloff; Part IV. Conclusion: making meaning of mobiles J. E. Katz and M. Aakhus.
