CELLPHONES have had such a large impact on our habits and lifestyle, that I've always been curious about the brands of cellphones people use.

In fact, people must think I’m being a bit "kaypoh", because I'm always trying to look at the cellphones in their hands.

But this is an eyeball survey that helps me ascertain the popular cellphone brands even before the market research reports land in my inbox.
 
My observations have turned up a few interesting tidbits.

Like how people make appointments but they don't agree on a venue immediately. How often have you heard of or done this yourself: "Let's have lunch at Takashimaya. When you get there, call me, we'll decide where to eat."

Or general impatience. Even before the appointed time for my meeting with friends, some would have arrived early by 10 minutes. I'll get an SMS that they're already waiting. Hopefully, I think, they're early to get a seat the restaurant.

Have you also noticed how people whip out their cellphones the minute lunch or dinner ends? Even before the waiter has cleared the plates, the cellphones are out.

Ostensibly, people are checking for SMS. In reality, I think, conversation has run out or it's time to move on from the meal.

The other night at the cinema, small pockets of light dotted the theatre; the screens of cellphones.

In-between eating the popcorn and nibbling at the nachos, people were checking SMSes, sending e-mail or even playing games before the commercials and movie came on.

These habits made me think about the days before we had cellphones.

Venues for appointments were always fixed and people were always on time. Companies did not collapse and no one lost their job because they didn't have a Blackberry to check that urgent e-mail from the boss.

Often, I think that the fiddling with a cellphone is for the lack of something to do with your hands.

Even during conversations, I’ve noticed people can't leave their cellphones alone, even if it's just flipping through photos stored on their phones.

I love my cellphone because my life is in it. No, my bank passwords are not in the contact list masquerading as a person. But all my appointments and contacts including e-mail addresses of newsmakers and friends are in it.

So are the To Do notes to remind me of urgent tasks. While waiting for people, I read the New York Times and Techcrunch blogs on my phone.

An e-book reader on my phone lets me read soft copies of bestsellers bought from online book store, Amazon.

I can access both the office and personal e-mail on my cellphone. I play my favourite puzzle game, Sudoku, on it.

I guess, I'm as guilty as some people who whip out their phones after meals to check for messages.

Cellphones have allowed me do more, but it's increasingly difficult not to let it be the centre of all my activities.