Communication repertoire
The family mobile phone
Changing family contexts
Three Thematic Discussions
MethodologyEthnographic probes
Repeated family visits, depth interviews and participant observation
79 Hhlds in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai
Framing Middle Class India
•Have distinct cultural values•Internally variegated and complex•Changing and adopting new values
Framing Middle Class India … ….Have distinct cultural values
•Hierarchy of spending•Kin group priorities
•Social networks of support
Children…
Children beneficiaries and drivers of Globalizing India Initiate change in family life Technology innovators for the home?
Managing communication repertoire at home
• Who pays for telecom• What is appropriate
•Mixed media environment
Careful attention to selecting and using the new range of tele-com options in the most cost-effective way
Family adjusted financial priorities to purchase more expensive, feature-rich handsets
Managing communication repertoire
Family contexts reflect allocation, sharing, and mutual responsibilityin handling mobile phones
The Family Mobile
The Family Mobile
Mobile phones do not shift the primary focus on family
Far from being a personal device it has entered the balancing act of the
family relational dynamic around finances
Income range 2000-5000 $US per anum per hhld
Television 177- 555 $US1-3 Mobile hand sets 11- 135$US Washing Machine 200--530$US VCD player 66- 155$US Two Wheeler 330-1100 $US Refrigerator 150$US-500$USHome PC 130-555$US
Dalvi’s
•Live in Delhi•Maharashtrian Brahmin•Income 4500$US PA•Father Junior Level Executive•Mother School teacher•Daughter,24, Design Graduateand Son,21, Management school
Son- has a ‘poor man’s cell phone’ a basic Nokia costing Rs3,550 (about USD $77), a gift from his sister
‘…Then I ask my dad to top-up. It is logical thinking.”
Dalvi’s
Father- There is a landline in the house—that is for my wife. She receives calls from her natal family.
If I need to call someone from home, I can use the landline.
Mine is a prepaid connection and I receive incoming calls. If I need to call someone from home, I can use the landline.
…the only big expenditure is that of the instrument. The landline will turn out to be more expensive when calling to mobiles
.
… I like a simple phone but I chose this one with a colour screen.
Solonki’sRaksha’s mobile
Gujarati Catholic•Income 3500$US PA•Father House Help•Mother House Help•Daughter,22, Naukri.com Sister, 19, Brother 16
Daughter’s mobile was the first phone and only radio of the house. Saved money to buy it.
Now saving for a camera phone
I cannot carry the same Nokia 3500 – I…it’s for beginners.
Also, it does not go with me anymore.”
Solonki’s
Now there is a second mobile in the house some kind of a pattern has evolved around the 5 member family
sharing phones
Phone is almost central to her personality, but sharing with family not incongruent
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