Telecom Use on a Shoestring: Strategic Use of Telecom Services by the Financially Constrained in South Asia

Zainudeen, Ayesha; Samarajiva, Rohan; Abeysuriya, Ayoma

doi:10.2139/ssrn.1554747

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The qualitative research reinforced this finding, with many citing the importance of phones in maintaining relationship and feeling connected to loved ones and the outside world. Similarly high use of phones for social purposes has been seen in other studies in developing countries (Souter et al, 2005;Vodafone, 2005;Zainudeen, Samarajiva and Abeysuriya, 2006 as well as the developed countries (Keller, 1977;Noble, 1987 8 ). Instrumental calls made up only about a third of all calls.…”

supporting

confidence: 73%

Non-Owner Teleusers at the BOP: Removing the Barriers to Ownership

Zainudeen¹,

Silva²,

Samarajiva³

2008

SSRN Journal

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This paper looks at telecom use at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) in emerging Asia, where many of the 'next billions' of subscribers will come from. It explores the potential for new customers, and issues of affordability at the BOP. The findings reveal potential for as many as 140 new connections at the BOP in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Thailand alone, with almost two thirds being mobile; this will have large implications for the uptake of emerging mobile applications. The policy implications of the findings are briefly examined.

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supporting

confidence: 73%

Non-Owner Teleusers at the BOP: Removing the Barriers to Ownership

Zainudeen¹,

Silva²,

Samarajiva³

2008

SSRN Journal

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“…Researchers have observed the practice elsewhere in the developing world. Aminuzzaman (2005) and Chakraborty (2004) each describe the messages conveyed by “miss call culture” in Bangladesh, citing examples of coded beeps and those that simply mean “I’m thinking about you.” A large survey in India and Sri Lanka found frequencies of missed call use ranging from 10% of light users in Sri Lanka to 35% of heavy mobile users in India (Zainudeen, Samarajiva, & Abeysuriya, 2006). Pertierra and his colleagues (2002) report that some Filipinos “‘miscall’…to remind friends about unanswered texts.…”

Section: Beeping and Its Analoguesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No matter what kinds of messages are exchanged—callback, pre‐negotiated instrumental, or relational—the most important point of commonality is the desire to lower telecommunications expenses in the face of economic constraint (McKemey et al, 2003; Sey, 2007; Zainudeen et al, 2006). What Zainudeen et al (2006) call “telecom use on a shoestring” is more common than ever; much of the growth in the mobile phone market in recent years has come in developing countries, where users, many on quite modest incomes, are buying mobiles as their first telephone, rather than as a complement to landlines at home and/or at work (Hamilton, 2003). More likely to be operating under conditions of economic constraint, these new users are also more likely to beep.…”

Section: Beeping and Adaptive Structuration Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Rules of Beeping: Exchanging Messages Via Intentional “Missed Calls” on Mobile Phones

Donner

2007

Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication

244

143

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This article explores the practice of “beeping” or “missed calling” between mobile phone users, or calling a number and hanging up before the mobile’s owner can pick up the call. Most beeps are requests to call back immediately, but they can also send a pre‐negotiated instrumental message such as “pick me up now” or a relational sign, such as “I’m thinking of you.” The practice itself is old, with roots in landline behaviors, but it has grown tremendously, particularly in the developing world. Based on interviews with small business owners and university students in Rwanda, the article identifies three kinds of beeps (callback, pre‐negotiated instrumental, and relational) and the norms governing their use. It then assesses the significance of the practice using adaptive structuration theory. In concluding, the article contrasts beeping with SMS/text messaging, discusses its implications for increasing access to telecommunications services, and suggests paths for future research.

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“…See Zainudeen, Samarajiva, and Abeysuriya (2006) for a distinction between short-and long-term strategies in telecom use. Also see de Angoitia and Ramirez (2009).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A qualitative exploration of mobile phone use by non-owners in urban Bangladesh

Rashid

2011

Contemporary South Asia

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Despite a manifold increase in mobile penetration in Bangladesh, a significant number of people still do not own a mobile phone. However, the communication needs of non-owning users (NOUs) are being met by a large number of public mobile telephone kiosks and informal sharing amongst people. Available studies on mobile phones have generally tended to be owner-centric. Few studies have documented how NOUs access and use mobile phones and to what end. As such, very little is known about how mobile phones are formally or informally shared among people or if NOUs are more disadvantaged in terms of use and impact than owners. This study explores mobile phone use by NOUs in two locations in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Specifically, two dimensions of use are explored: strategic use of mobiles -the ability to reduce cost and maximize utility, and the ability to shape livelihood strategies. In-depth interviews of 15 NOUs and 12 owners were conducted. The findings show that NOUs adopt several innovative strategies for cost reduction. Findings also reveal that mobile use by NOUs has significant impact on facilitating their livelihood strategies. The effect is particularly strong for those who are migrant workers from rural areas.

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Telecom Use on a Shoestring: Strategic Use of Telecom Services by the Financially Constrained in South Asia

Cited by 17 publications

References 4 publications

Non-Owner Teleusers at the BOP: Removing the Barriers to Ownership

Non-Owner Teleusers at the BOP: Removing the Barriers to Ownership

The Rules of Beeping: Exchanging Messages Via Intentional “Missed Calls” on Mobile Phones

A qualitative exploration of mobile phone use by non-owners in urban Bangladesh

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