The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar
This article examines use of mobile phones by trishaw (rickshaw) operators in the newly emerging techno-landscape of Myanmar. Trishaw operators transport people and goods in a physically demanding job that often earns them as little as US$2 per day. Spanning the period before and after the widesprea...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2019
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80922 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/48162 https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/3882/1505 |
| _version_ | 1824456506056114176 |
|---|---|
| author | Ling, Rich Aricat, Rajiv George Oreglia, Elisa Panchapakesan, Chitra Lwin, May Oo |
| author2 | Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information |
| author_facet | Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Ling, Rich Aricat, Rajiv George Oreglia, Elisa Panchapakesan, Chitra Lwin, May Oo |
| author_sort | Ling, Rich |
| collection | NTU |
| description | This article examines use of mobile phones by trishaw (rickshaw) operators in the newly emerging techno-landscape of Myanmar. Trishaw operators transport people and goods in a physically demanding job that often earns them as little as US$2 per day. Spanning the period before and after the widespread commercialization of mobile phones in the country, this research draws from interviews with trishaw operators in several locations. With commercialization, the price of a mobile subscription fell from over US$1,500 to US$1.50, making it affordable to groups that heretofore have not had access. We find that the trishaw sector is changing because of this. The mobile phone strengthens ties with important clients, meaning a more stable income, but also an enhanced importance/power for these customers. Operators who have not adopted mobile phones, usually because of poverty, age, or a lack of interest, will likely have fewer business opportunities. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-19T03:55:11Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/80922 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-19T03:55:11Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/809222019-12-06T14:17:29Z The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar Ling, Rich Aricat, Rajiv George Oreglia, Elisa Panchapakesan, Chitra Lwin, May Oo Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Mobile Phones Myanmar DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication This article examines use of mobile phones by trishaw (rickshaw) operators in the newly emerging techno-landscape of Myanmar. Trishaw operators transport people and goods in a physically demanding job that often earns them as little as US$2 per day. Spanning the period before and after the widespread commercialization of mobile phones in the country, this research draws from interviews with trishaw operators in several locations. With commercialization, the price of a mobile subscription fell from over US$1,500 to US$1.50, making it affordable to groups that heretofore have not had access. We find that the trishaw sector is changing because of this. The mobile phone strengthens ties with important clients, meaning a more stable income, but also an enhanced importance/power for these customers. Operators who have not adopted mobile phones, usually because of poverty, age, or a lack of interest, will likely have fewer business opportunities. Published version 2019-05-10T08:48:45Z 2019-12-06T14:17:29Z 2019-05-10T08:48:45Z 2019-12-06T14:17:29Z 2015 Journal Article Ling, R., Oreglia, E., Aricat, R. G., Panchapakesan, C., & Lwin, M. O. (2015). The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar. International Journal of Communication, 9(1), 3583-3600. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80922 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/48162 https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/3882/1505 en International Journal of Communication © 2015 (Rich Ling, Elisa Oreglia, Rajiv George Aricat, Chitra Panchapakesan, & May O. Lwin). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd). Available at http://ijoc.org. 18 p. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | Mobile Phones Myanmar DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication Ling, Rich Aricat, Rajiv George Oreglia, Elisa Panchapakesan, Chitra Lwin, May Oo The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar |
| title | The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar |
| title_full | The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar |
| title_fullStr | The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar |
| title_short | The use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in Myanmar |
| title_sort | use of mobile phones among trishaw operators in myanmar |
| topic | Mobile Phones Myanmar DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80922 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/48162 https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/3882/1505 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lingrich theuseofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT aricatrajivgeorge theuseofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT oregliaelisa theuseofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT panchapakesanchitra theuseofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT lwinmayoo theuseofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT lingrich useofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT aricatrajivgeorge useofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT oregliaelisa useofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT panchapakesanchitra useofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar AT lwinmayoo useofmobilephonesamongtrishawoperatorsinmyanmar |