CFP: The Global and Globalizing Dimensions of Mobile Communication: Developing or Developed?

[ Call for Papers ] 

The Global and Globalizing Dimensions of Mobile Communication: Developing or Developed?

International Communication Association Pre-conference Workshop 

This pre-conference has the intention of examining the global dimensions of mobile communication. Mobile communication (both via traditional mobile telephony and via other wireless systems) is being felt on a global basis. There are, for example, currently more mobile telephones in the developing world than in the traditional industrialized countries. Thus while mobile communication has become a relatively normal part of daily life in industrialized countries, it is also becoming increasingly common in the developing world. 

This means that mobile communication is truly a global phenomenon. The use of mobile communication in both developing and in the industrialized countries has had dramatic impact on how we communicate and how we access to basic information. Through use of mobile communication we coordinate our everyday affairs; we used the technology to enhance entrepreneurial opportunities and we have gained a way to organize assistance when it is needed. In the industrialized world, many countries have more subscriptions than they have population and in the developing world, mobile communication is morphing into an efficient way to organize remittances between guest workers and their families back home. 

The "first wave" of mobile communication research has included case studies from dozens of countries around the world. However, there has been a relative paucity of studies which use comparative methods, or try to assess and describe local/regional phenomena in light of broader international/universal themes. Because of this, we wish to welcome abstracts that focus on issues such as: 

• Global/universal patterns vs. local improvisation 
• Mobile communication and social and/or economic development and change 
• Mobile communication and globalization 
• Comparative studies of mobile communication (use patterns, political economies, media and communication systems, etc) 
• Cross-cultural approaches to mobile communication 
• Easy and inexpensive network access and inexpensive/used mobile phones has meant that mobile communication has become the primary way in which many persons in the developing world first experience the use of telephony. 

In order to examine this question as well as other dimensions mobile communication we are issuing a call for papers for a pre-conference at the 2008 meeting of the International Communication Association. Abstracts are due by 15 October. Please send them to Richard.ling@telenor.com The papers that are accepted will be notified by 30 October 2007. Final papers are due by May 1, 2008. The program will accommodate up to 6 panel sessions. 

The pre-conference is a joint effort by the University of Michigan, Temple University & Telenor. It will be held at Le Centre Sheraton in Montreal (the conference hotel for the general ICA meeting), starting with a plenary session on Tues the 20th of May along with sessions on on the 20th and the 21st. 

Cost: ICA Members: $50.00 USD 

ICA Student members: $20.00 USD 

Non-member price: $75.00 

(Includes refreshments, lunch and reception) 

Organized by Dr. Rich Ling, Telenor Research Richard-seyler.ling@telenor.com 

Prof. Scott Campbell, University of Michigan swcamp@umich.edu 

Prof. Concetta Steweart, Temple University Concetta.Stewart@temple.edu