Good morning listeners. There are millions of people who use mobiles phones. Some of us even have more than one mobile phone that we use. They are very important to us nowadays and we can’t imagine life without them. Today we have a guest speaker who will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones. I would like to welcome Mr Alan Smith to our program. Welcome, Mr Smith.
Thank you very much.
Now, mobile phones have not been around for a long time but everyone is using them.
Oh, yes. We even have more mobile phones than people in Australia. They are part and parcel of our modern life. We just can’t live without them. Even very young children use them.
What are the advantages of using a mobile phone?
Well, there are many advantages of using a mobile phone. I can’t tell you all of them but I will mention some. I believe the biggest advantage is that you can carry a mobile phone with you anywhere. That is why we call them “mobile” phones. Also most of them come with cameras and that is what many people like about them.
And what do they do with their mobile cameras?
They take photos but this is not all they can do. They can also take videos and transfer them to their computers or watch them on TV at home.
Anything else you’d like to mention about the advantages of mobile phones?
Oh, yes. People use them now to play music or watch movies. If you travel by train, you will see many people around you listening to their favourit songs, playing games or watching movies. They kill the time until those people get off the train.
Are mobile phones good for doing business?
Of course they are. If you are a manager, you can make sure you don’t miss important phone calls because you are not in the office. You can contact your clients any time you like. In the business world they say that time is money. I believe that mobile phones can help you make more money.
Yes, but they are not cheap.
I agree with you. Some mobile phones are really expensive but if you have a close look around you, everyone is using them. Especially the most expensive ones.
Can people use mobile phones the same way as they use their computers?
Oh, the answer is yes. Some mobile phones are expensive because they have more features than the cheap ones. New mobile phones have large screens that you can touch to go online and check your email or do other things. Some people hardly use their computers anymore because they can do everything on their mobile phones.
When mobile phones first started, they were bulky.
Yes, I remember my first mobile phone. It was very big and I couldn’t carry it in my pocket. It was like a brick. It was only used to make and receive phone calls. I couldn’t do anything else with it. But now technology keeps changing and mobile phones are better and smaller.
Can students use them to learn?
Yes, students can use mobile phones to learn. As I told you, mobile phones can be used as computers. There are many programs that are good for students to use on their mobile phones. Also some teachers send SMS messages to their students if they miss classes. They can SMS them homework or other teaching materials.
Now let’s talk about the disadvantages of mobile phones. What do you think are some of the disadvantages of using a mobile phone?
Well, there are some disadvantages of using mobile phones. I think the biggest disadvantage of using a mobile phone is the price. Some of them cost a lot of money. You need to sign up a contract, mostly for 24 months, before you get a new mobile phone. If you use your mobile phone too much, you can be asked to pay a lot of money.
Is there anything we can do to pay less money?
Yes, we have to be careful before we sign a mobile phone contract. We need to ask many questions before we sign. We need to make sure the mobile phone plan is suitable for us.
What about internet download?
Yes, if you use your mobile phone to download files from the internet, it can cost you a lot of money. You can use your computer at home to download what you like and then transfer what you have downloaded to your mobile phone. This is what many people do nowadays.
Any other disadvantages of using mobile phones?
Yes, they can damage your ear. If you talk too much on your mobile phone, you can damage your ear after some time. Don’t say it will never happen to me. After some years, you will find that there is something wrong with your hearing.
And what can we do to protect our hearing?
Well, we can use our mobile phones less. Only for a short time every day. There will be no problem with that.
What about radiation?
Oh, yes. There are some people who say that radiation can cause problems to our brains and general health. Others say that using mobile phones is perfectly fine. We just need to be careful when we use them.
Anything else you’d like to tell our listeners?
Oh, yes. Mobile phones are very easy to lose. Ask anyone you know how many mobile phones have you lost and they will tell you they have already lost one or two. Maybe more.
Some of them get stolen too.
Yes. It is easy for mobile phones to get stolen. Thieves steal them because they cost a lot of money. We don’t keep an eye on our mobile phones all the time. We get distracted and forget them. We have to blame ourselves sometimes.
Do mobile phones distract students in class?
I think that only lazy students can get distracted in class. I know that some students can spend time in class playing games on their mobile phones or listening to their favourite music. That is why most schools ban the use of mobile phones during school time. Many students break these rules and keep using mobile phones while the teacher is inside the classroom. I think this is wrong.
Well, Mr Smith. We are running out of time now and have to finish our program. Thank you very much for the information you have provided our listers with and for coming to our studio today.
Not at all. It’s a pleasure to be here.
