Mobile Broadband soon available in Welch ?
Companies have warned MPs that a new requirement obliging companies to offer their services in Welsh could cost millions, increasing the bills of every customer in the UK. An inquiry into whether this action should go ahead is to begin on Monday.
As the situation currently stands, WAG will be able to approve the new law that requires companies to offer their services in Welsh.
The Welsh Affairs State Committee has received many submissions, most of which back the idea, but the Mobile Broadband Group has stated in its submission that they would like to see certain SDSL broadband companies excluded from the new legislation.
The Mobile Broadband Group also warns in broadband news that the scarce resources should be focussed on issues that are more important to the vast majority of customers such as the increased coverage of broadband and that the costs of offering the services in Welsh is going to run into millions of pounds. They also point out that only one percent of UK customers even speak Welsh.
British Telecom Business phone system has stated in its submission that they do not wish to have any part in any future legislation.
Phone recycling saves gorillas
Although our mobile phones are an important part of our lives, they unfortunately mobile phones contain a dangerous mineral called coltan which is deadly to the gorilla, our close animal relative.
Most coltan is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has opened up the way to yet more deforestation and the poaching of gorillas, which are popular for their meat in the African bush trade.
The renowned conservationist, Jane Goodall wants un-used phones, has created a plan at Melbourne Zoo to recycle old phones and help to raise funds to employ additional park rangers to prevent poaching.
So far, this program has collected more than six-thousand old mobile phones and sponsored increased numbers of park rangers in Maiko national park.
The primate keeper of Melbourne Zoo, Andrea Edwards, has said that the numbers of gorillas has dropped enormously in the last five years, by as much as seventy percent in some areas.
To participate in the program, phones can be left at Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary or Werribee Zoo or a free postage label can be found on zoo.org.au or the 3 website
More encouragement needed for phone recycling
The Vice President of Recellular, Mike Newman, speaking for the company that repairs mobile phones, believes that steps should be taken to encourage more people to recycle mobile handsets. Over 120 million cell phones are thrown away every year in the United States, so the worldwide figure is a staggering one that has consequences for the environment.
With one billion handsets produced every year the problem of disposing of old cellular phones needs to be tackled. Nokia have stated that only 2 % of users are availing of the various collection programs, so the whole sector needs to think up new ways to get people to think more about the real problem from discarded cell phones.
A study carried out by the American Environmental Protection Agency recently showed that over 4 billion people on the planet have cell phone subscriptions, proving just how far it has changed people’s lives.
Recycling saves energy but also the handsets contain arsenic, cadmium and other lethal chemicals which leak out and affect the environment. Manufacturing a cellular phone involves the use of precious metals and these can be reused after dismantling.
Freds Go Into Recycling
In the worrying economic climate that is being faced in Britain today, any initiatives that can make a difference are always welcome, this includes many well know phone recyclers such as Mazumamobile, Envirofone, Fonebank,.
The debt recovery company, Freds.com Group are offering debtors a very different approach to lowering their debt, by encouraging the trading in of old mobile phones. In an innovative move, they have joined forces with ShP Limited who will receive the unused devices from the client and dispose of them.
This on line system works by people logging into the Freds web site, then providing details of the mobile they want to redeem and a figure is brokered inreturn for recycling. ShP Ltd will be notified of the agreed amount. They will send this on to Freds.com, once the device has been checked in by their staff. After which the clients Freds.com debt is then reduced accordingly.
Whilst the environmental benefits are clear, the provision for debtors to reduce outstanding arrears is a very positive step. With other debt recovery companies likely to follow this example, already the newly set up procedure seems to be making it’s mark.
Phones For The Recycler
Mobile phone recyclers have set new terms standards for recycling of mobile handsets. The companies should abide by the standards strictly. This would help in general awareness of the environment. It will help in better recycling of the handsets. Telecom Recyling Companies such as the Envirofone, Fonebank, etc. has extended their hands regarding the issue.
Mobile phone handsets, which are taken for the recycling process, contain many personal and confidential details of the former owner. This could be messages, contacts or any confidential details such as ATM PIN or credit card details.
This information can be easily procured and can be mishandled. . Recycling companies are taking the initiative to destroy such information to protect the identity of the owner and to prevent hoarding of old equipment because of fears over identity theft. Mazumamobile and Mopay are the two companies who gave the green signal to this proposal.
Certain quality standards should be maintained to protect the market while recycling is being done. The company should safeguard the privacy of the customer according to the industry norms and the big mobile Broadband Corporations such as 3 and O2. They should also offer quality products by reselling worthy recycled handsets. The handsets should recycle at the home market to prevent massive pollution.
