Mobile phones now a symbol of social standing
Status symbol: Thinking of getting a new phone, most people are currently upgrading their handphones as Hari Raya celebration is coming nearer. Picture: BT/Saifulizam
Monday, September 22, 2008
MOBILE phones have moved on from being a necessity to a symbol of social standing. In Brunei, an individual's constant substitution of mobile phones simply for superficial purposes has become the trend that citizens all over the country keep up to follow.
In light of this, The Brunei Times yesterday interviewed both young and old locals to gain insight into the Bruneian habit of upgrading mobile phones every so often and explored the reasons behind the constant need to purchase a new one.
"Some people change their phone regularly because of trends and the need to update themselves when mingling with their social circles," said a 23-year-old self-employed local, Khairol Izam.
This is what is practised in Brunei and some just want to be included as part of the social circle, he said, adding that his father also changes his phone every now and then.
Khairol further added that he has acquired the habit as well and revealed to have changed his mobile phone 12 times since he started using them.
Khairol went on to explain that buying a new mobile was something he could show to his friend and that there was nothing better than to have a phone that has the latest features, such as an up-to-date camera, mp3 player, Internet and even a video camera.
A 33-year-old female who declined to be named stated that mobile phones are a symbol of status. "It's not just a device, it can be a platform for success. The more expensive the phone, the higher your salary is."
However, she added that another possible reason why people constantly change their phones could be because some shops offer loans to purchase a mobile phone.
A civil servant who only wants to be known as Jo, 36, stated that he changes his phone regularly because he likes the new upgrade features.
He also revealed to have developed a close relationship with his regular phone vendor who gives him really good discounts.
The seduction of low discounts makes it tempting and easier for him to purchase a new phone. He explained that he gets enticed by all the advertisements on television and the Internet and admits that his eyes are closed when he pays for a new phone.
"You just have to have it. There's something about getting a new phone that is so - for the lack of a better term- cool," he said.
Jo admitted that mobile phones give him a sense of accomplishment when he sees how impressed his friends are upon seeing his phone.
The civil servant admits to having had over 10 phones throughout the years and currently owns a five-megapixel camera phone which he said he will not change unless there was a new phone that has better resolutions.
Nisa Abas, 26, is the owner of two mobile phones. She admits to buying a mobile phone every year and has had less than 10 phones in the past few years.
"I can't help it. The recent ones always look so good," she said.
A financial manager, 26, has just recently bought a mobile phone because his previous one was broken.
"I make sure that the phone I pick has functions that are up-to-date and will not go obsolete in the near future," he said, adding that there are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing a new phone.
He said that he does not regularly change phones because he disagrees with the whole concept of buying new phones just to show off to friends.
"I don't care what anyone thinks as long as the phone functions perfectly," he said.
Vivian, a saleslady from one of the mobile phone shops in Brunei, stated that customers who come to the shop don't change their phones much but mostly come in to upgrade it.
Fiona from Incomm said that in one day the shop can get up to 50 customers coming in to buy phones.
She stated that some of the customers they receive are the same ones who had recently purchased a phone a few months back. In just a short time, these customers come back to purchase another one that has better functions.
Fiona revealed that some of the customers buy more than one phone in a year in the span of only a few months.
"Bruneians are crazy about changing their phones because they love to see the different functions of the phone. Even if they have the latest functions in their current phone, they will buy another one some months later," she said, adding that these customers are usually in their 30s.
In Brunei, over half of the population uses mobile phones. According to the latest statistics from the Economic Planning and Development Department, the number of mobile phones has skyrocketed from 209,913 in March 2005 to 281,854 from January to October 2006.
The Brunei Times
In light of this, The Brunei Times yesterday interviewed both young and old locals to gain insight into the Bruneian habit of upgrading mobile phones every so often and explored the reasons behind the constant need to purchase a new one.
"Some people change their phone regularly because of trends and the need to update themselves when mingling with their social circles," said a 23-year-old self-employed local, Khairol Izam.
This is what is practised in Brunei and some just want to be included as part of the social circle, he said, adding that his father also changes his phone every now and then.
Khairol further added that he has acquired the habit as well and revealed to have changed his mobile phone 12 times since he started using them.
Khairol went on to explain that buying a new mobile was something he could show to his friend and that there was nothing better than to have a phone that has the latest features, such as an up-to-date camera, mp3 player, Internet and even a video camera.
A 33-year-old female who declined to be named stated that mobile phones are a symbol of status. "It's not just a device, it can be a platform for success. The more expensive the phone, the higher your salary is."
However, she added that another possible reason why people constantly change their phones could be because some shops offer loans to purchase a mobile phone.
A civil servant who only wants to be known as Jo, 36, stated that he changes his phone regularly because he likes the new upgrade features.
He also revealed to have developed a close relationship with his regular phone vendor who gives him really good discounts.
The seduction of low discounts makes it tempting and easier for him to purchase a new phone. He explained that he gets enticed by all the advertisements on television and the Internet and admits that his eyes are closed when he pays for a new phone.
"You just have to have it. There's something about getting a new phone that is so - for the lack of a better term- cool," he said.
Jo admitted that mobile phones give him a sense of accomplishment when he sees how impressed his friends are upon seeing his phone.
The civil servant admits to having had over 10 phones throughout the years and currently owns a five-megapixel camera phone which he said he will not change unless there was a new phone that has better resolutions.
Nisa Abas, 26, is the owner of two mobile phones. She admits to buying a mobile phone every year and has had less than 10 phones in the past few years.
"I can't help it. The recent ones always look so good," she said.
A financial manager, 26, has just recently bought a mobile phone because his previous one was broken.
"I make sure that the phone I pick has functions that are up-to-date and will not go obsolete in the near future," he said, adding that there are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing a new phone.
He said that he does not regularly change phones because he disagrees with the whole concept of buying new phones just to show off to friends.
"I don't care what anyone thinks as long as the phone functions perfectly," he said.
Vivian, a saleslady from one of the mobile phone shops in Brunei, stated that customers who come to the shop don't change their phones much but mostly come in to upgrade it.
Fiona from Incomm said that in one day the shop can get up to 50 customers coming in to buy phones.
She stated that some of the customers they receive are the same ones who had recently purchased a phone a few months back. In just a short time, these customers come back to purchase another one that has better functions.
Fiona revealed that some of the customers buy more than one phone in a year in the span of only a few months.
"Bruneians are crazy about changing their phones because they love to see the different functions of the phone. Even if they have the latest functions in their current phone, they will buy another one some months later," she said, adding that these customers are usually in their 30s.
In Brunei, over half of the population uses mobile phones. According to the latest statistics from the Economic Planning and Development Department, the number of mobile phones has skyrocketed from 209,913 in March 2005 to 281,854 from January to October 2006.
The Brunei Times
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