See or speak?

Every day companies announce partnerships designed to put movies and TV shows on new media such as cell phones. But a recent survey shows that only 1 percent of the nation's 215 million cell phone users have watched video on them. So the Business Journal asks:

Do you do anything on your cell phone besides talk?

Bill Heeley

Executive Recruiter Solution Marketing LLC 

I don't watch videos or listen to music on my cell phone. I do use text messaging, calendar, and most of the other functions, but not the video or music function. I find it is frustrating enough using the phone now without all of those features. But I think that it's a profitable new trend, I just have to catch up to it. I plan on trying these features in the future, but it would not be something I would use on a regular basis, especially' not while driving down the street.

Karen Knowles Zuniga

Film Editor

Rival Editorial

I use my cell phone for talking as well as taking photos, recording video and audio. I used to carry a camera and a cell phone around, so it's wonderful to be able to combine all of these features into one device. The next step is to use the cell phone not only for recording video and audio, but also for streaming those items. That would be fantastic. I can see myself using these features on a personal level to watch television shows and listen to music and on a professional level as a film editor. The idea is so exciting to have a phone stream a rough cut of a video I've been working on, or music of one of our musicians.

Robert Thomas 

General Manager

Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey 

I have a BlackBerry that I use for e-mail, calendar, address book, and phone. I do not use it for any multimedia type presentations. But I think having an MP3 player on a phone is a great idea. The fewer devices we can use for recreation or business, the better. As for television shows, I don't see myself watching TV on a 2 inch screen. Especially now that we're used to 40- to 50-inch plasma TVs; this development seems to be going in a counter direction.

Carlos Needham

Partner

Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP 

I don't use any of these features on my cell phone, but I suspect that there is a significant market for them. At some point I will buy a cell phone to watch videos or stream television. I can foresee wanting to get news reports or watching news clips at an airport or in a doctor's office--places where you are part of a captive audience and it might be handy to have access to breaking news. I would prefer to watch videos on an iPod or laptop, but there are many times when I only have a cell phone at hand.

Samuel Ramirez

Senior Project Executive

Turner Construction Co.

My cell phone is a BlackBerry and I use it for e-mail, scheduling, and actual phone use. In my profession, I don't have a lot of time to watch television or play games, so these new features are not something that I see myself using. My cell phone does have a camera and I understand how that could come in handy at times, but not video or music. I do think this is something the younger generation could enjoy.

Kellee Gibson

Default Operations Manager 

Asset Foreclosure Services Inc.

I do not use any multimedia features on my cell phone. The only feature I think is a good idea is watching TV. I wouldn't watch TV while driving, but in a stationary position it would be great to have access to facts or news that I would be missing otherwise.