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Chiedza Matenga
Since the invention of mobile phones and, more importantly, the switch at the end of the last century from a system of large clunkers owned by a tiny minority to the mass markets, and then the introduction into that mass
market of the “smartphone”, life has undergone many revolutions for most of the world’s population.
Banking, shopping, easier communication, are some of the things done using smart mobile phones. Back in the days, mum and dad would give duties on who would go and stand in the queue to pay water, electricity bills, departmental shops accounts, telephone bills, just to mention a few.

These responsibilities have since vanished with the use of smartphones. We can easily pay these off within a few minutes from the comfort of our homes, offices, actually from anywhere you are.

The good part, too, is that we receive notice of our due dates for our accounts. It also helps us to keep them in use and always paid on time. No interest on overdue accounts.

In Zimbabwe we have EcoCash, an easier way to pay, send or receive money. As long as one has a cellphone, they can send and receive money through their mobile at any EcoCash registered agent. This can never be but the easiest way to go around with money, because someone in the village can still receive money or use it to pay for their transport too. And instead of us being sent to pay our DStv monthly subscriptions, they can easily pay using EcoCash.

Again, EcoCash has introduced EcoFarmer for both the new and the established farmer. Now farmers can receive information on where to sell their products. It also informs them on weather conditions. This helps them with regards to handling their crop produce. Farmers are also given advice on how to farm and about insurance cover.

Cellphones make business easier because people can make conference call and discuss their priorities from different parts of the world. This is an added advantage as no travel is necessary with such facilities.

With applications such as Skype it is easy to make conference calls to long distance places. A projector widens the screen and gives more significance to the images and videos provided for the conference call.

It is just like a one-on-one conversation that is being held in person. However, due to network problemss, conference calls can be disrupted and the meeting can slack back.

Students use their mobiles to search for information using applications such as Opera Mini or the infamous Wikipedia. Why infamous?
Because ANYONE can write ANYTHING pertaining to anything. This means that not all the information you found on this web page is accurate.

Even students themselves can add on to information that they are not so sure of.
Most students are turning to their mobiles for information on anything, even on how to eat.

One can purchase airtime, check their bank balances and even receive bank statements on mobiles.
We create eye catching pictures using our cellphones. Photo Grid, Photo Editor, Collage Creator, PicMix, Instapic, Mixel are found on most of our phones. Pictures create memories and making them look beautiful by adding texts and stickers.

For Android, Symbian and iOS software, these applications can be suitable for the mobile. Instant photos that can view up to eight pictures taken in one shot are proof how phones have taken much of the world into its software.

Music videos are being created using cell- phones. One may not even notice or know of the process used to do that. Even music itself is being recorded on phones and aired on radios. A beat can be played in the background, a cell- phone is placed on record and people start singing.
Really it is not a problem anymore when you have the world in your hands and can connect from anywhere with anyone at the click of a button, or rather now at the touch of a screen.

Portable as can be are the cellphones of nowadays having 32-GIG memory. This means memory cards could really be useless. With Wi-fi helping out, one can save airtime provided you are in a place that has the facility.

The introduction of cellphones has seen people communicating on a daily basis, with pictures, videos and audio messages being sent through the phone. This too breaks the distance barrier as communication among family members becomes real and closer.

If a family chats on WhatsApp during the day, then at night there is a possibility that the proper greeting is made common.
Unlike the days of landlines where calls were made rarely giving value to the caller, cellphones have lost that lustre. There is no more bragging about our loved ones calling us. The language has even changed.

Let us use our cellphones wisely with regards to how they do need proper care, too.