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Editorial: Wireless Overboard
All the sessions were great, and the show floor was crowded. As for the first day of keynotes, nothing more could be expected than a lot of cheerleading and hype about how much the industry cares so much about its customers, and how much everyone loves their cell phone.
OK, who doesn’t depend on their cell phone these days? At the address, there were plenty of video clips of good-looking 20-somethings saying how much they loved talking to their friends, texting and downloading songs—the normal reasons why people like their cell phone.
However, a girl in one of the clips made the standing room only audience just about cringe. Her clip went something like this: “I like to think of my cell phone as my friend. I want it to talk to me. When I go out for the night, I usually go by myself. [I think there is a reason behind this.] So, I want it to make decisions for me, I want it to tell me what to do. … I want it to be my friend. When I go to the store, I want it to tell me what to buy.”
Yes, I guess that this would be quite the boon for the wireless industry, if there were more people like her, incapable of a normal social life or basic life skills, but still—you have to wonder why a clip like this was highlighted, with someone so obviously out of touch. I am not convinced that anyone in artificial intelligence, business intelligence, data mining or mobile advertising was sold on this particular display of neediness. Instead of CTIA highlighting her feelings about her cell phone, they should have offered her counseling.
Comments and feedback welcome, please email Jill Morgan at jmorgan@billingworld.com.
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