1. Paying for ICTs Allocating for a Changing Communications Repertoire in Middle Class Indian Homes

2. Communication repertoire The family mobile phone Changing family contexts Three Thematic Discussions

3. Methodology Ethnographic probes Repeated family visits, depth interviews and participant observation 79 Hhlds in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai

4. What interests me.. ………The status of the mobile phone in the family

5. Framing Middle Class India Have distinct cultural values Internally variegated and complex Changing and adopting new values

6. Framing Middle Class India … ….Have distinct cultural values Hierarchy of spending Kin group priorities Social networks of support

7. Framing Middle Class India … …. Internally variegated and complex

8. Framing Middle Class India … …Changing and adopting new values

9. Children… Children beneficiaries and drivers of Globalizing India Initiate change in family life Technology innovators for the home?

10. A rite of passage for children to adopt a Mobile phone

11. Parents hold mixed views of mobile phones as they transform to a multi-media device

12. Managing communication repertoire at home Who pays for telecom What is appropriate Mixed media environment

13. Careful attention to selecting and using the new range of tele-com options in the most cost-effective way Family adjusted financial priorities to purchase more expensive, feature-rich handsets Managing communication repertoire

14. Family contexts reflect allocation, sharing, and mutual responsibility in handling mobile phones The Family Mobile

15. Mobile phones do not shift the primary focus on family Far from being a personal device it has entered the balancing act of the family relational dynamic around finances

16. Income range 2000-5000 $US per anum per hhld Television 177- 555 $US 1-3 Mobile hand sets 11- 135$US Washing Machine 200--530$US VCD player 66- 155$US Two Wheeler 330-1100 $US Refrigerator 150$US-500$US Home PC 130-555$US

17. Two portraits of the family mobile phone……

18. Dalvi’s Live in Delhi Maharashtrian Brahmin Income 4500$US PA Father Junior Level Executive Mother School teacher Daughter,24, Design Graduate and Son,21, Management school Son- has a ‘poor man’s cell phone’ a basic Nokia costing Rs3,550 (about USD $77), a gift from his sister ‘…Then I ask my dad to top-up. It is logical thinking.”

19. Dalvi’s Father- There is a landline in the house—that is for my wife. She receives calls from her natal family. If I need to call someone from home, I can use the landline. Mine is a prepaid connection and I receive incoming calls. If I need to call someone from home, I can use the landline. …the only big expenditure is that of the instrument. The landline will turn out to be more expensive when calling to mobiles. … I like a simple phone but I chose this one with a colour screen.

20. Solonki’s Raksha’s mobile Gujarati Catholic Income 3500$US PA Father House Help Mother House Help Daughter,22, Naukri.com Sister, 19, Brother 16 Daughter’s mobile was the first phone and only radio of the house. Saved money to buy it. Now saving for a camera phone I cannot carry the same Nokia 3500 – I …it’s for beginners. Also, it does not go with me anymore.”

21. Solonki’s Now there is a second mobile in the house some kind of a pattern has evolved around the 5 member family sharing phones Phone is almost central to her personality, but sharing with family not incongruent

22. Thank You! http://research.microsoft.com/india nimmir@microsoft.com