The mobile revolution's hidden cost

[Commentary] Late last year, the mobile phone industry passed a remarkable milestone, one that not so many years ago it didn't even expect to reach: 3 billion mobile phones. There is little doubt that mobile phones are proving incredibly empowering. Mobile technology has indeed revolutionized many aspects of life in the developing world, where the number of mobile connections almost universally overtook the number of fixed lines in the blink of an eye (which is why they're regularly referred to as a "leapfrogging technology"). If further evidence were needed, increasing bodies of research are pointing to mobile penetration as having a strong positive impact on GDP, and for many people, their first telephone call will be on a mobile. Despite the many incredible things happening around the world, one thing that continues to trouble Banks is the environmental impact of the number of mobile phones being manufactured, consumed, and in some cases, dumped.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/06/19/The_mobile_revolutions_hidden_...