Mobile Communication and Society: A Global Perspective (Information Revolution and Global Politics) (Hardcover)

by Manuel Castells (Author), Mireia Fernandez-Ardevol (Author), Jack Linchuan Qiu (Author), Araba Sey (Author) "Wireless communication has diffused faster than any other communication technology in history..." (more)
Key Phrases: mobile youth culture, payphone system, mobile network society, United States, Little Smart, South Korea (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The book should be required reading for researchers in all aspects of communication and information and students in sociology, media studies, geography, and politics."
— Scott Lash, Times Higher Education Supplement

Product Description
Wireless networks are the fastest growing communications technology in history. Are mobile phones expressions of identity, fashionable gadgets, tools for life—or all of the above? Mobile Communication and Society looks at how the possibility of multimodal communication from anywhere to anywhere at any time affects everyday life at home, at work, and at school, and raises broader concerns about politics and culture both global and local.

Drawing on data gathered from around the world, the authors explore who has access to wireless technology, and why, and analyze the patterns of social differentiation seen in unequal access. They explore the social effects of wireless communication—what it means for family life, for example, when everyone is constantly in touch, or for the idea of an office when workers can work anywhere. Is the technological ability to multitask further compressing time in our already hurried existence?

The authors consider the rise of a mobile youth culture based on peer-to-peer networks, with its own language of texting, and its own values. They examine the phenomenon of flash mobs, and the possible political implications. And they look at the relationship between communication and development and the possibility that developing countries could "leapfrog" directly to wireless and satellite technology. This sweeping book—moving easily in its analysis from the United States to China, from Europe to Latin America and Africa—answers the key questions about our transformation into a mobile network society.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 345 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press; 1 edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262033550
• ISBN-13: 978-0262033558
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,704 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good starting point, September 26, 2007

By	Ricardo Lage (India) - See all my reviews

The book provides a global view of mobile communication technologies penetration, adoption and use. It is global because of the widespread deployment of such technologies worldwide, as the authors claim. For that, both qualitative (especially case studies) and quantitative studies are used as a framework to elaborate and reinforce the authors presented arguments.

However, there are many limitations to this view as the study lacks some cross-referenced data to allow comparisons in different contexts in different countries. Further, it sometimes provides a slightly shallow view on a topic, especially when addressing developing countries (allegedly the main focus of the book) where many current trends still have only incipient researches. A reader interested in a deep understanding of economic implications of mobile communication technologies diffusion, for example, would need to dig the book's references and investigate the topic him or herself.

Another issue worth noting is the apparent lack of understanding of some technical fundamental aspects of mobile communications by the authors. In this context, new trends such as the role of technology convergence (through the use of IP networks) are missing and others such as the diffusion of viruses are completely biased (viruses as of this day is still not a threat for mobile devices).

Despite those issues, the authors raise categories (both economical - GDP, pricing systems, technology infrastructure, etc. - and social - age groups, gender, ethnicity, culture, etc.) and trends (collective sharing of mobile phones, prepaid services in poorer communities, the active role of young people, etc.), putting them together in a qualitative perspective that leads to what the authors called the "Mobile Network Society".

Overall, the book allows a fairly broad understanding of the topic and it is a good starting point for any researcher interested in overcome or build on top of the current understanding of this phenomenon.

6 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars mobile fluff all the way - from start to end, January 26, 2007

By	R. Perry (Vienna) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was very dissapointed by the lack of understanding by the authors of the underlying mobile technology, the market dynamics, and the impact/correlation of the user behavior.
The authors fail to question the data obtained in their research and fail miserably to understand what they are actually stating as the thesis. Example, p117, 3rd paragraph: "At the same time, with the diffusion of smart phones euqipped with 3G or bluetooth technology, mobile-data services have begun to be vulnerable to computer worms and viruses." Unfortunately, the authors have fallen for the sensational news that hit the wires in 2005 that phones are be the next target of viruses; displaying a lack of thorough research in this matter alone. So far, worms and viruses are not a problem as the execution/installation of files is quite protected, ie Symbian OS, etc. I even question the description "3G equipped smart phones" as there also 3G phones that are not considered smart phones, eg non-camera phones.
Additonally, the conclusion, though it is a proven fact that mobile communication proliferation has had and continues to have a large impact on how we communicate, how social interaction as a whole is starting to change, forming not, as incorrectly stated, a subculture, but a connected society as a whole; far exceeding the impact the web has had in the past 10 years.
My recommendation is to leave this publication in the shelf (Mr. Castells' other works on the networked society, though, are a must read!!), save the money and time and conduct a quick google news search on mobile usage. You will get the same value within 30mins.