Wireless Culture: American vs. European
“In the US, a cellphone is a tool. In Europe, a mobile phone is a lifestyle”
- Michael Mace, Mobile Opportunity
When visiting a foreign country, it’s always good to know a bit about the local culture and customs. We seem to think of this most often when it comes to things like greetings, dining habits/etiquette, and languages. However, we should also remember that, in a time where nearly everyone has a mobile device in their pocket, there are a number of cultural differences when it comes to wireless technology as well.
Michael Mace has written a very intriguing article on the differences in wireless culture between Americans and Europeans. Of course it would be wrong to assume that all Americans or all Europeans can be categorized equally; however there are some clear and significant differences in these two parts of the world when it comes to wireless technology. I think many Americans would be surprised to find that their Motorola RAZR on a CDMA network from Verizon (which is quite popular here) is vastly different than what you would find in the pockets of most people in the UK.
Michael touches on a lot of different sub-points within this article such as vocabulary, network infrastructure, design and usage. It’s a very interesting read for anyone who deals with foreign cultures on a regular basis (in the wireless arena or otherwise).