But despite the promise, problems remain. Imagine
two mobile phone users. One lives in the land of plenty,
and owns an iPhone. He or she can access the Internet
via free wireless connections dotted around the city,
download and play games, keep in contact with friends
and family via instant messenger (IM), watch streaming
video and live TV, and use as much data, SMS or voice,
as they like with a cheap all-inclusive price plan. The other
lives in the land of less. He or she uses a shared phone,
lives in an area not covered by a data network of any
kind, has a sporadic signal, a phone incapable of playing
games or video, and has to think twice before sending an
SMS or making a voice call because of constant concerns
over airtime credit, not to mention worries over how the
phone will be recharged if the main electricity doesn’t
come back for days.