U.S. movie theater chain Regal Entertainment Group said altercations related to cell-phone use during movies was one factor that prompted it to begin testing new devices that will summon ushers to deal with such disruptions. The pager-sized devices have four functions, including alerting theater management about disruptions, problems with the movie projection and temperature problems and an all-inclusive other function. Regal’s chief executive officer, Michael Campbell, recently told attendees at the Reuters Media Summit that its theater employees were increasingly having to deal with physical altercations that started among patrons over disputes about cell phone use during movies. “Cell phones drive us crazy,” he said.
Cell-phone users in China and Europe soon may be able to get a taste of Brazilian culture on their phones. Xavante Indians that live on the southern edge of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest have plans to sell ringtones of traditional chants to users in those markets. The ringtones already are available to cell-phone subscribers in Brazil. An aide group called Cidade Movel is behind the effort. The group helps riverside communities in the Amazon find alternative sources of income.
Electronic dating services are going mobile. Dating services are moving beyond the online data phenomenon by initiating location-based services that send text alerts to members when a potential match is nearby. The “mobile romance” trend has already hit China and similar services are making their way to the United States.
