Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Finland Gives Opportunity To Frustrated Cell Phone Users

Aired August 24, 2003 - 16:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: If you've ever wondered what to do with your outdated cell phone, here's an idea. Pitch it. Just as far as you can. That is the idea behind Finland's fourth annual phone toss contest. Reporter Fergal Ryan has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FERGAL RYAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not as easy as it looks, but the rules are simple enough. Just pick up the phone and pitch. This Finnish competition was a chance for cell phone owners to take out some of their frustrations at the fourth annual mobile phone throwing championship.

JOE SUNDERLAND, AUSTRALIAN CONTESTANT: The processes are going up for text messages, take charges, it's just ridiculous. Something has to be done, and I think this is just our way of getting rid of our frustration and, you know, telling the phone companies that it's just not on. It's time to lower call costs and give everyone a better deal, I think.

RYAN: Contestants gathered in the historical town of Savinlina, close to the Finnish-Russian border in eastern Finland. Their aim, to throw a heavy, outdated phone as far as possible. First prize went to a Finn who tossed his 1990 Nokia phone, a record 99.62 meters. That's just over 108 yards. Impressive. But he did have the advantage of being a former baseball player. Still, he says coming to terms with his new sport has proved a bit of a challenge.

SAMI SANTALA, MOBIL PHONE THROWING CHAMPION (through translator): To throw a telephone is much more difficult than to throw a ball. It's difficult to get a good grip.

RYAN: And his prize for throwing his phone the farthest was, you guessed it, a new cell phone.

Fergal Ryan for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired August 24, 2003 - 16:25   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: If you've ever wondered what to do with your outdated cell phone, here's an idea. Pitch it. Just as far as you can. That is the idea behind Finland's fourth annual phone toss contest. Reporter Fergal Ryan has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FERGAL RYAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not as easy as it looks, but the rules are simple enough. Just pick up the phone and pitch. This Finnish competition was a chance for cell phone owners to take out some of their frustrations at the fourth annual mobile phone throwing championship.

JOE SUNDERLAND, AUSTRALIAN CONTESTANT: The processes are going up for text messages, take charges, it's just ridiculous. Something has to be done, and I think this is just our way of getting rid of our frustration and, you know, telling the phone companies that it's just not on. It's time to lower call costs and give everyone a better deal, I think.

RYAN: Contestants gathered in the historical town of Savinlina, close to the Finnish-Russian border in eastern Finland. Their aim, to throw a heavy, outdated phone as far as possible. First prize went to a Finn who tossed his 1990 Nokia phone, a record 99.62 meters. That's just over 108 yards. Impressive. But he did have the advantage of being a former baseball player. Still, he says coming to terms with his new sport has proved a bit of a challenge.

SAMI SANTALA, MOBIL PHONE THROWING CHAMPION (through translator): To throw a telephone is much more difficult than to throw a ball. It's difficult to get a good grip.

RYAN: And his prize for throwing his phone the farthest was, you guessed it, a new cell phone.

Fergal Ryan for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com