The upside to the mobile phone is that it allows us to chat to people literally anywhere in the world. Long gone are the days when explorers would go into the jungle and lose touch with life back home. Now with the touch of a button, audacious travellers stuck in the middle of nowhere can call home, find out the latest news and even partake in a msn messenger chat. From a reassurance point of view this is good - letting loved ones know where you are. From a safety aspect, it allows users to make calls to the emergency services or help in times of danger.
3G technologies now allow users to see each other through video chat. Sometimes seeing a loved ones face while talking to them from a long distance makes the experience more fulfilling.