Buyer’s Right and Product Information: A Study on Displaying Sar Value of Budget Smart Phones

Abstract

Being always “connected” by spending vast amount of time on Smartphone is a common perception of this age and the generation. The reports of the PIB and the Time i.e. India has the second-largest mobile phone users and world’s second largest smart phone market with over 900 million users in the world (PIB,2012 and Time, 2014). The reports show vast
mobile phone penetration in India and if, anyhow, the health risk is associated with the usage of mobile phones will affect the whole country and the users particularly. All mobile phones emit electromagnetic field (EMF), normally non-ionized to connect the mobile phone to the base stations. This exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy is the main concern of many countries as it may cause many health issues. Hence, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC, US) has fixed the limit of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for mobile phones. But many manufactures avoid this limit and even, perhaps, buyers are unaware about this safety indicator. Over exposure to radio frequency, even if it is non-ionized, is one of the causes of numerous health risks such as Alzheimer, Genotoxic Effects, Ocular Effects, Psychological Effects and Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity. This may also lead to Cancer. Thus, even a small impact on health by mobile usage could have major public health consequences. This paper reviews the presentation approach of online shopping websites
regarding SAR value of budget smart phones and also analyses the priorities of publicizing other alluring features of smart phones. This paper aims to answer; do the online shopping websites display the SAR value of budget smart phones sold on it and whether the information of SAR value is conveyed in a proper way? Content analysis of top two online shopping websites in India will be done to come back with.