In less than 20 years the mobile phone has become a vital part of personal and business life. They have transformed from rare and expensive items, to a low cost personal item.

They have become a key social item with people using them to store all their friends contact details. Many people who have broken their phone and are unable to access their phone numbers are devastated. Many people only communicate via SMS, with an abbreviated SMS language created to save keystrokes.

Phones have become entertainment devices.  They are used as MP3 players, to watch movies and to surf the internet.

They have become serious business tools, used for emails, document reading and even GPS navigation.

Phones are a fashion item with the release of coloured phones, in particular pink. People accessorise their phones with unique housings, diamantes, charms, and ringtones. The ringtone market worldwide has a turnover in the billions of dollars.

Phone etiquette is important especially in areas such as cinemas, libraries, churches, etc. People often speak at an increased volume, so it is even more irritating in quiet areas. Usage of phones is banned on planes as it interferes with the planes radio communications.

People use the camera and video functions to capture occasions. They have also been used to record accidents, disasters and anything newsworthy.

Many people have used their phone to call for help, and in extreme cases people have been located via the location of their phone.

Can you survive without your mobile phone? I think yes, but you would have to suffer the withdrawl symptoms!