August 8, 2005
Out of Necessity and in Style, Iraqis Connect to Cellular Age
Banned under Saddam Hussein, mobile phones have already become an indispensable part of life in a land torn by war yet fixated on fashion. The LA Times reports.
"Iraqis give them nicknames and spend inordinate amounts of money on the latest models, accessories and ring tones.
Cellphones have become an indispensable part of everyday life, crucial for families negotiating commutes to school and work amid bombings and bloodshed. They also have a status function. In Iraq, they are a fashion symbol nonpareil.
... Customers have nicknamed the newest, most expensive phone in his store (a $675 Nokia) the Sahaf after Hussein's notorious information minister, Mohammed Said Sahaf. Among its features, of course, is a built-in camera.
... The technology is costing Iraqis a lot of money. Of 400 people surveyed in a recent Baghdad University study, the vast majority said they spent a quarter to half their income on cellular gadgets and phone bills.
A land-line phone costs a family less than $5 a month on average, but it's not always reliable or practical. For example, it can't be used to make an international call."
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