Cannes and mobile

I always really enjoy mobile spotting when I’m travelling.  When you’re travelling, you rarely take a belt full of devices with you — instead, you generally take what you need.  Thus I feel it’s a super time to explore what’s important to people.   Equally, when you’re in a foreign country, the mobile culture is generally somewhat different to that of your own. 

Without a doubt I can confidently assert that the UK appears, from my rather rough and unrepresentative survey, to have the best and most up to date range of devices when compared to France.

The range of mobiles on display by the locals is thoroughly disappointing.  Mega disappointing.  We’re talking Nokias that you will shortly be given away in Christmas Crackers.   The most modern handsets I’ve seen in use are Motorola RAZRs — the first generation, not the V3 or the like.  SLVRs are being regularly advertised.  There appears to be a dearth of nokia and Samsung usage.  Quite a bit of texting going on — but far less than one would find in London.  In fact, being away from London makes me recognise just how integrated into the UK culture the mobile device is. 

I was stood in a queue at the airport waiting for a taxi on Sunday evening next to a party of typical-Brits-abroad:  That is – sweaty, red faced, white socks half way up the knee, sandals and a heavy jumper.  😉  The chap had one of the modern but cheap MMS capable Nokias. 

I overheard him on the phone to someone back home:

"YEAHHHHH WE’VE JUST ARRIVED.  YEAH ITS HOT.."

[ more stuff about it being warm, sunny etc ]

"UH HUH SO DIDYA GET IT?  THE PICTURE MESSAGE?  UH HUH.  NEAT INNIT?  THATS THE AIRPORT!"

Had anyone been watching me closely, they’d have noticed a slight glint in my eye — a leap of excitement witnessing a ‘normal’ mobile user (a civilian) using picture messaging.  Not only this, but it was an INTERNATIONAL picture message!   Shock horror!   I was delighted.  It’s super to witness people actually using the technology, despite all the barriers thrown (mostly unintentionally) by the operators.

Myself? Well I’ve been using data like no tomorrow.  I’m confidently predicting an absolutely stupid set of phone bills.  I think I’ve gone over so many limits.  I’m doing as most people eventually do:  realise it’s a business cost and, like the mugs we are, accept the silly bill that is coming soon.

I’m at an investment focused event most of the days this week so it’s been quite interesting seeing what sort of technology they are sporting.  The audience hails from all around the world.  The Latvians I met had mobiles as stylish as the UK — whilst the Americans were nearly all sporting Blackberries and using them religiously, both as phones and for email.  I noticed quite a few mobile utility belts featuring PocketPCs and Trios.  Excellent!  But, disappointingly, I think I was the only one with an N90.    These people are of course busy dealing with the allocation of huge amounts of money and not fussing over what sort of mega-pixel-capable device they are using.   One thing is clear:  the local mobile operators here should hopefully be kept both busy and well funded by the constant and continual international usage.  Whereas many might think twice about making or receiving an international phone call, that’s not the case at this event.

Over the past days I have had to be extra-specially connected, taking phone calls at all hours from clients.  This is one of the reasons I’ve not bothered bill-watching.  It was critical to the business.  It’s one of the first times I have just ‘used’ the phone without thinking about being abroad.  It’s a total delight to make and receive calls from all around the world sat staring out at the Mediterranean.   

I reckon that’s at least £200 in calls today………………….