In an interview, which Joe Grioli, head of Vodafone, gave to the media recently, he explained the expansion that has taken place in the mobile phone industry. I have no doubt this will continue to expand further, but maybe not quite in the way Mr Grioli imagines.

One use which Mr Grioli mentioned - the use of mobile phones to buy petrol - is actually banned. According to the British Health and Safety Executive, mobile phones should not be used near filling stations and these should actually be switched off when entering one. The reason is that mobile phones can ignite fuels and that the more modern phones release enough energy to provide a spark that causes the ignition.

Shell have issued a warning about mobile phones and have reported three incidents in which recently mobile phones ignited fumes during fuel operations. In one case, a phone was placed on the car boot lid during refuelling: it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed both the car and the pump. In a second case, an individual suffered burns to the face when fumes ignited as he answered a call during fuelling.

In a third case, quoted by Shell, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, which was in his pocket, rang during fuelling.

Maltese mobile phone users should take these incidents seriously and Vodafone should not consider creating a facility for people to use mobile phones to pay for their petrol.

As it so happens, some mobile phone manuals are strict in warning users to keep their phones switched off when entering a petrol station.