Towards a Sociological Theory of the Mobile Phone

1. The innovative potential of cell phone technology in an evolutionary perspective .. 2 2. The Expansion of cell phone usage as a multidimensional challenge for sociological theory and research ................................................................................ 4 3. Implications for human individuals.......................................................................... 7 4. Implications on the level of interpersonal interaction ............................................ 17 5. Implications for face-to-face gatherings................................................................ 22 6. Consequences for the meso-level of groups, organizations and markets............. 25 7. Implications on the macro-level of interorganizational systems and societal institutions................................................................................................................. 31 8. Some preliminary conclusions .............................................................................. 39 References ............................................................................................................... 42