Love in the Time of Cell Phones

Even in this era of global communication and travel, differences between localities persist. In a recent study of mobile-phone use in three European cities, researcher Amparo Lasen of Surrey University found distinct styles. Londoners look for anonymity in impromptu crowds of cell-phone chatters, while Parisians seek private spots for their conversations. In Madrid, many consider voicemail impolite, so they always answer, and they include companions in their mobile-phone banter. But denizens of all three cities share one thing: They can't imagine life without their cell phones. "People have a physical relationship with their phone, and more and more people are keeping their phones in their hand when they aren't using them," Lasen said. "People are cuddling their phones."
-- Debra Jones