Do you consider mobile phones as a status symbol?

my cellphone is old model but still activated and working good for texting and calling. I don't like the idea of changing mobile even my phone still working. Infact, in the crisis today is hard to catch up things..we better buy food first or important matters than changing phone..I mean if you interested of saving for a rainy days..its better to prepared than wasting money for a phone and get nothing back! Investing money for buying lands or jewelry would be better because you can expect high value in a couple of years..well I talking about this because its reality. I knew rich people can afford this..but thinking ahead if you have enough money save it for future plan. God bless

Hello jascajiuat!!! Of course not!!! having a nice and latest unit of phone does not mean you are rich or you are one of the high class people, I have seen ordinary people who have their latest unit of phone, and I can say they are not rich... because they don't look like rich, even tricycle drivers can afford to buy latest phones, if they just want to. So I really don't think that having a nice and latest phone doesn't mean you are rich. Everyone can buy new phone.

I really don't think of cell phones as a status symbol. I'm sure that some people do though. There are people that judge other people by the things that they own. I think that this is stupid. I am not one of those people. I have a cell phone but I don't go out of my way to buy the coolest phone available. I use one that fits my needs and nothing else.

[i]Yes it has. I can even see young people boasting their high-end mobile phones in public like telling the world, "Hey, My Mom can afford this phone, See?" I never bought myself an expensive phone ever since. I got used to simplicity and convenience. Until my Mom bought me a Sony Ericsson Phone with 3G capability on my 26th birthday. I liked the phone so much, so sleek and posh. And yes, people thought I'm rich since I can afford such phone, they just didn't know it was a birthday gift. But when I got mugged 2 months before my phone's anniversary, I decided to buy a $50 phone and yes, I'm using it till now. Now my "status" has gone from the "rich professional" to a poor one, -- which is fine... I don't care if others see me as a poor individual, at least now, no one would be interested with my phone.[/i]

I really don't think so. Everbody own's one these days. It's just used for communcation. Perhaps it might have hold good before 2-3yrs. Absolutely not today. Since everyone qowns one

Hi jascajicuat! I could not help but notice this discussion. Status symbol? C'mon, I've checked out your profile and see that we live in the same country, where you and I had seen poor ones owning second-hand cellphones with colored screens and cameras. I am simply pointing out that mobile phones become part of one's status symbol if you aim for those latest ones with all the bling! Unfortunately those latest models get you into trouble.

Well, I can see how many people can consider a Cell Phone as a status symbol especially since now a days everyone has one, and people are constantly wanting the newest ones there are out there as well. Personally, I would Love to have a Blackberry and really wish I could get one, but until I do, I am Happy with what I have. The main issue I have with Cell Phones and Cell Phone services, are the price. Why is it so expensive when everything else continues to constantly be dropping?

I do not think that way.. I am using 2 mobile phones. One is 5 years old and the other one is one and 9 months old. I am planning to buy a new one and replace my 5 year old cellphone, but I did not pursue. I do not consider that mobile phones is a sign of ones status in life, since many have been using second hands or reconditioned mobile phones. As for me, am more concerned with the quality of the unit and not how much is the price it is. Who cares when they say my mobile phone is old? Well at least, am proud I bought it as new. ...lol

It used to be a status symbol but not anymore. It's common to have a cellphone now. Even primary school students have one. To me, it's a necessity. I am using an old Sony Ericson model. It's nothing to be embarrassed using old cellphone. I don't think I can keep up with the latest developments or designs as new models are emerging everyday.

I dont see mobile phones as status symbol as such because in Australia its not a big deal to get any phone on a plan. I dont get the latest phone simply because I need a phone to call people, not to use the net (thats why I have internet at home with huge screen instead of the 2 inch on the mobile) if I need camera I have 3 at home surely the quality on them is better than average mobile and they cost less then the average phone. But I know many of my friends belive that the more they pay for their mobile the cooler they are and people with like them more. My friend got a super expencive phone and she still does not know how to use it and it has almost everything that my free phone on 20$ a month plan.

If we look at other people we will definitely feel that way.We should use a mobile phone just for basic talking and messaging.The other features are a bonus just to do something when we fell bored.People go for 5 mp cameras.They spend a lot of money for the phone.But i don't think they use their camera always.For me phone is not a status symbol.Its just for talking and messaging.

No, but maybe that is because I never look at people owning things as a status thing. I look at what they have accomplished rather than what they possess. I have a basic phone and never was one, past teen years, to get into wanting what others had, just because they had them. I like what I like because I like it, or need it!! lol

Well, actually there was a time when mobile phones were more of a status symbol here in our country. However, with increasing competition in teh mobile phone market, cellular phone prices have dramatically decreased and this has given many the opportunity to purchase a mobile phone unit based on their budget. Not only that, mobile phones are the easiest and fastest way to communicate and go about our everyday business. This makes mobile phones not as status symbols but rather a necessity.... Well, that is as far as Filipinos are concerned.

To me, my phone is a neceessity, as I don't have a land line, so I need it everyday, and I do use it everyday for one thing aor another. My daughter and I wil text a lot, some days more than the other. I do access teh internet on it from time to time. I did bu it so I can access mylot, when I don't have access to my comuter. I haven't used it for that yet, but I most likely will. I like to watch youtube videos on it as well. I do use if ro talking too, and taking pictures as it does have a 3.2mp camera in it. I don't consider my phone a luxury when I need it, however, maybe the internet on it is, but I am not paying all tht much for it anyway, so why not? Take care, and happy mylotting.

Dear friend, We see that there people who use better cars both for comforts and status and this outlook differ from person to person. Hence I feel that it purely depends upon an individual's way of outlook on mobile. They may or may not be in the categories like they use it as a necessity, as a status or as both necessity and status or any other reasons. Hence I feel it purely on outlook on it.

My Dear Friend Yes I think with change in time mobile phones has become a status symbol. Because different model of cellphone cost differently , if someone is having a very costly mobile phone that shows that he or she has come from high status family . Because an average person cannot afford to buy a costly cellphone Thanks for raising such a good discussion !!! Happy Mylotting Take Care Ganesh

[i][/i]I don't think mobile phone is staus symbol anymore, it might have been 20 years before when mobile phone just started penetrating into common mass people. I rememebr in 90s the mobile phone used to be a big one like a walki talki, it was exepensive. Its signa used to cover very long diatance as ther was not many relay staion as it is now. Mobile phone is essential item like any other daily usebale items. It keeps connected with work, ralatives, friends and news. The person without a mobile phone mostly will be out of touch while travelling. An expensive mobile phone and trying to showing up is a different issue all together.

For some it is. I personally don't care one way or another what brand or model one's phone is. I know wealthy people who use phones that are practically obsolete. For that matter, before my husband passed on his phone to me, our house help had better phones than me. However, I can totally see how it can be a status symbol. There are people who would always be checking out if you have the latest (not just with phones too).

I don't consider it a "status symbol". I did however just up grade my phone to one with a Qwerty keyboard. That however, was more of a necessity. I text a ton and it makes it so much easier with a full keyboard at my finger tips. My dad's cell phone was about 6 or 7 years old and not all the buttons worked right. He just replaced it like a month ago because his battery finally gave out and wouldn't hold a charge anymore. He even looked into buying a new battery for it, but it was only a tiny bit more expensive to get a new phone!

You raise an interesting point. Although I think I slightly disagree. Way back when cell phones were the new pagers, they were a huge status symbol. Up until a few years ago, it was a big deal to have the newest cell phone technology because our options as consumers were limited. In todays market, some of the newest technology is very affordable. Phones we see celebrities using like the Blackberry, are not only easily accessible but extremely affordable.