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Leader: 3G won't catch on 'because we can't lie'
"I'm still in the office, working hard..." won't work on video conferencing...

By silicon.com

Published: Wednesday 21 January 2004

It would seem the beauty of SMS text messaging is that it allows you to lie to your other half.

"Sorry love, in the office, working late. Boring! Won't be home until about 11 - put the kids to bed, and I'll get a take-away."

Sounds familiar... that's because it's probably a message you've sent from the pub while waiting to buy your fourth round of drinks.

Or at least 45 per cent of respondents to a recent survey admitted to using text messages to lie about their location. Perhaps the uses could include more sinister cover-ups even than lying about being down the pub, such as marital infidelity.

But this conveniently dishonest device may be about to be taken away from us with the onset of 3G phones - the horribly honest medium of video conferencing will easily betray you when you are not in the office (unless pubs can be encouraged to install an 'office wall', in front of which drinkers can stand to conference home).

Mike Grenville, CEO of mobile messaging association 160 Characters, said: "Does technology mean we lie more? Maybe it does.

"Maybe this is also a reason why 3G video conferencing won't catch on. After all, maybe there are some benefits to the other half not being able to see where you are."

Admittedly if you've already set a precedent for lying then you may be capable of squeezing out 'video conferencing not working but I still am... won't be home 'til late'. Just make sure you get yourself on a different network to the other half.