Friday, November 17, 2006

Mobile Phones Developing New Business Uses

The "mobile wallet" idea is similar to what was being pushed in the 90s as "M-Commerce" -- using cell phones as mobile payment devices. But the current manifestation of the idea sees mobile wallets also carrying electronic versions of other things usually found in wallets -- membership cards, loyalty cards, and other forms of identification.

Advocates of the mobile wallet concept include credit card companies, hardware vendors, credit card terminal companies, and traditional wireless companies like Nokia and Cingular. Industry representatives project there may be as many as 25 million wireless subscribers in North America by 2011.

** Consumers Not Excited about Mobile Wallet Concept

But according to a recent study by In-Stat, U.S. consumers are lukewarm to the idea of using cell phones as mobile wallets.

The survey of consumers found that only about 33% of those surveyed were interested in the idea. 72% of respondents were concerned with the additional fees that would be attached to this service. A smaller, but still very significant, number of respondents were concerned about the potential loss of privacy and security.

** Mobile Wallet Idea Big in Japan

The mobile wallet concept was given a large push in 2005 when a number of major Japanese credit card and mobile phone companies formed the Mobile Wallet Alliance. The incentive for such a service is greater in Japan than in the U.S. and Canada because fewer Japanese consumers rely on credit card transactions. The mobile wallet is seen as a replacement for cash -- especially for "micro payments".

Japanese credit card companies and mobile phone companies both see this as a future growth area because it will increase cell phone usage as well as reliance on the credit card infrastructure.

Things are a bit different in North America because use of credit cards is already widespread. So converting customers to cell phone payments does not have the same appeal for North American credit card companies -- they already have the business.

However, other non-credit card payment processors such as PayPal actually do have a vested interest in seeing the mobile wallet payment system move ahead. Paypal, which has developed a massive online presence have an obvious interest in moving into more traditional payment processing areas. They see mobile payments as a way of offering an alternative to consumers and taking business directly away from credit card processing companies -- just as they have done online.

** Cell Phones and iPods being used for Tour Guides

Another expanding use for cell phones is being experimented with in places such as New York City where several companies are developing audio tours for places like museums, art galleries, and even street tours. WNBC reports that the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan offers audio tours on handheld guide devices, and also makes the tours available in MP3 format for free on their website, and even at iTunes.

These tours can be downloaded and then played on your iPod or MP3 enabled cell phone while you browse through the Museum. Just don't be surprised if you're asked to stop talking on your cell phone while in the Museum.

One similar service includes walking tours narrated by celebrities, developed by Talking Tours. These audio tours can be accessed by cell phone. The $5.95 charge will be added to your cell phone bill.

Another service is made available by Soundwalk. Tours are avaible on CD or as a download. You can then load them into your iPod, cell phone, or other MP3 device so you can listen to an "insider tour" while you "walk the walk".

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Monday, November 13, 2006

The 5 Best Cell Phones on the Market

There are literally hundreds of cell phones out there made by dozens of manufacturers. It is hard to determine which are the best of the group - or at least, which is best for you. The decision is a difficult one, and we hope the information below will help you make a wise choice. The five cell phones listed below are truely the best of the best in terms of quality design, dependability, and overall user satisfaction. Although there are a lot of great cell phones out there, we are sure that these are some of the very best.

Motorola i860 Video and Camera Mobile Phone

Manufacturers Description: The sleek Motorola i860 is packed with more than a dozen top-of-the-line features including 10-second video capture and playback and a 0.3-megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom. In addition, it allows users to easily exchange digital photos and contact information with others.

”The Motorola i860 handset is another example of how Motorola strives to meet our customers’ needs by offering one mobile device to streamline communications," said Rey More, senior vice president and general manager, Motorola’s iDEN® Subscriber Group. “Its multimedia services enable users to easily capture the moment when it happens and share it with others, wherever they may be.”

The phone’s 10-second video capture capability includes a short-range LED spotlight to provide additional light for close-up pictures. The camera allows users to take pictures in a variety of sizes suitable for sharing, in-camera viewing, wallpaper designs, and picture caller ID. Users can get themselves in the picture using the self-timer.

With the Motorola i860, users can share their pictures and audio recordings by sending and receiving multimedia messages.1 The phone’s integrated Media Center allows users to conveniently manage all pictures, voice recordings, ring tones, videos, and wallpaper designs from a single area.

Other features of the Motorola i860 that are new to iDEN handsets include:

Picture Caller ID - allows a previously-assigned picture of a caller to appear in the external display when a phone call is incoming from that contact

Larger external color screen - displays up to 3 lines of text and pictures

Larger internal color screen - displays up to 11 lines of text in vibrant color

Push-to-Send My Info2 - allows users to send their contact information via the “push-to-talk” (PTT) button. Users can limit the amount of information sent or send a virtual business card to network more efficiently.

Push-to-Send Contacts2 - allows users to easily share another user’s contact information via the PTT button

Media Downloader application – available for download from the Internet, this free application allows users to transfer photos and videos from their phone to their PC via a USB cable (not included)

25 MB of memory available to end users - for ring tones, voice recordings, videos, pictures, messages, wallpaper designs, and Java™ applications

MP3 ring tones - including music and voice

Openwave 7.0 Internet microbrowser - lets users browse graphic-rich xHTML sites

Push-to-open button - offers convenient, one-handed operation of the flip-style phone by mechanically opening the flip when pressed

The phone also has many of the features associated with Motorola’s iDEN technology, including location-based services, integrated speakerphone, voice recorder3, voice dialing, downloadable applications, and a two-way radio for instant communication at the touch of a button.

The Motorola i860 handset weighs 4.77 ounces and measures 3.45 x 1.96 x 1.01 inches with the included high performance battery.

Overall Value Rating: 9.7 / 10 - Excellent

Price: $250 - $400

Nokia 6230 Cell Phone (Cingular)

Manufacturers Description: Offering the best and latest technology and features, the Nokia 6230 meets the requirements of the most demanding mobile phone users. The tri-band (GSM, GPRS, EDGE 900/1800/1900, GSM, GPRS, EDGE 850/1800/1900) mobile phone offers multiple connectivity options via EDGE and Bluetooth wireless technology, a removable multimedia memory card as well as an integrated VGA camera to capture pictures and videos. Sleek and compact, the Nokia 6230 is expected to start shipping in Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and Americas in the first quarter of 2004.

"Traditionally, mobile professional are early adopters of mobile technology, demanding advanced functionality and higher data speeds to keep them informed, entertained and connected while on the move," said Kai Öistämö," Senior Vice President, Nokia Mobile Phones. "With EDGE, Bluetooth technology, an integrated camera, MMS functionality and even an integrated MP3 player, the Nokia 6230 addresses these needs with an impressive range of features to help balance a busy work schedule with after-work responsibilities."

One of the key benefits of the Nokia 6230 is a compelling multimedia experience. With an integrated VGA camera and a display with 65,000 colors, pictures and videos taken with the Nokia 6230 appear sharp and bright. The video player adds the ability to record, send and receive video clips with audio, as well as receive streaming video content in 3GPP video streaming format. High quality video and images, voice, presentations, files and music can be stored on a removable multimedia memory card. Users can also create, send and receive multpicture, multimedia messages with Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) technology. SMIL technology allows users to compose multi-image messages that display text, sound and images in a pre-determined order.

For flexible and efficient wireless connectivity, the Nokia 6230 phone offers Bluetooth wireless technology and infrared connectivity as well as HSCSD and GPRS support. Bluetooth enables a wide range of new exciting enhancements for seamless connections and comfortable wearability, like the Nokia 610 car kit phone and the stylish Wireless Boom Headset also announced today. The complete list of Bluetooth enhancements compatible with the Nokia 6230 can be viewed at www.nokia.com/products/Nokia6230.

Using the high-speed packet-based EDGE connectivity of the Nokia 6230, business professionals can enjoy faster browsing, messaging and downloading. With a downlink data speed of up to 236.6 kbps, downloading with the Nokia 6230 via EDGE enables downloads more than 4 times faster than with GPRS.

In addition, the Nokia 6230 has a mobile email client that lets users manage their email quickly over EDGE, GPRS and HSCSD networks. The advanced xHTML browser gives fast access to mobile services and information, and the integrated TCP/IP technology** enhances both the ease and speed of over-the-air file downloads. Data synchronization capability allows users of the Nokia 6230 to update personal data remotely over the network. Local synchronization of personal data can also be done via Bluetooth, IrDa, USB and the Nokia PC Suite.

With the presence-enhanced contacts service, users of the Nokia 6230 can share their availability, intentions and whereabouts with colleagues, family, friends and other contacts. For example, a business professional can change his phone profile to 'Meeting' and advise his colleagues to reach him by SMS or MMS. Exchanging instant text messages is another interesting possibility with the presence-enhanced Chat function, where users of the Nokia 6230 can create their own private chats and invite others to participate, or even join public chats of their interest.

The Nokia 6230 also includes a digital music player for AAC/MP3 music formats. In addition to enjoying high quality stereo music, music enthusiasts can set their favourite music as wake-up tones as well as alert and ring tones.

Key features include:

Active TFT color display - with up to 65.536 colours
Integrated digital VGA camera
High speed packet-based EDGE and GPRS connectivity
Bluetooth
Digital camcorder and video player
Video streaming including AMR audio
MMC Multimedia card support
Java MIDP 2.0
Presence-enhanced contacts and chat
MP3/AAC music player and built-in FM stereo radio
xHTML browser for enhanced mobile browsing experience
Advanced PIM functionality (calendar, phonebook, to-do list, notes)
OMA Digital Rights Management version 1.0
Mobile Wallet
Integrated hands-free speaker
Polyphonic ring tones (supporting up to 24 instruments)
Infrared, USB, PC Suite
76 cc, weighs 97 grams
Talk time of up to 5 hours and a standby time of up to 300 hours.

Overall Value Rating: 9.6 / 10 - Excellent

Price: $150 - $300

Motorola A630 Cell Phone (T-Mobile)

Manufacturers Description: Following in the footsteps of the game-changing Motorola StarTAC and the company’s revolutionary two-way pagers, the model A630 is yet another innovative new product from Motorola. Packaged in a unique, multi- functional design featuring a QWERTY keyboard hidden inside a sleek candy bar form, the Motorola A630 lets you call, text or email with style and ease.

From the outside, you see a fashionable, compact mobile handset. Once opened, the device reveals a full QWERTY keyboard that makes texting, email exchanges and Instant Messaging easy. The A630 does not stop there. For multi-media fun, the handset comes with an integrated camera with 4 x zoom, multi-media messaging for sending and sharing images, dedicated gaming keys and a vivid color display that offers portrait as well as landscape views. When its time to be productive, the A630 offers integrated Bluetooth® wireless technology, an office quality speakerphone and email support including POP3, SMTP and Imap4. The Motorola A630’s fusion of the mobile and messaging worlds without sacrificing weight, size or style makes it the ideal device for today's text-savvy trendsetting consumer.

With the debut of the model A630, Motorola delivers a uniquely designed handset that stands apart from the pack, promising simplified voice and messaging communications supported by the latest technology,” said James Burke, Sr. Director of Product Operations for Motorola, Inc. “With its clever combination of fun and function, the model A630 is sure to please style-conscious movers and shakers."

The Motorola A630 features include:

Full QWERTY keyboard with 5-way navigation for easy messaging, fun gaming and more

Integrated VGA camera with dedicated photo button for quick shoot and send power

220 x 176 pixel color landscape display capable of supporting up to 65,000 colors

Built-in Bluetooth wireless technology

Advanced messaging including Multi-Media Messaging Service (MMS), SMS, e-mail support (POP3, SMTP, Imap4) and multibranded IM (Instant Messaging)

GSM tri-band capabilities

J2ME™ downloading functionality

Integrated hands-free speakerphone

Polyphonic speaker for the ultimate sound and cool MP3 ringtones

Overall Value Rating: 9.3 / 10 - Very Good

Price: $150 - $350

Samsung p735 Cell Phone (T-Mobile)

Manufacturers Description: Featuring a package of design and multimedia features, the imaginative p735 is Samsung's first GSM megapixel camera phone in the U.S. With options that entertain, enrich and enhance a consumer's wireless experience, the p735 boasts an eye-catching twist and flip display and advanced multimedia technology, including a megapixel camera phone, video recorder, MP3 player and expandable memory.

The phone's distinct feature is a swivel form factor that allows the consumer to twist the display so that the vibrant 262,000-color screen rotates to a horizontal position, giving the phone a more camcorder-like feel and making picture taking and video recording easier. And with a megapixel camera, film-quality pictures can be stored and printed at sizes up to 4x6.

For moments such as upcoming holiday gatherings that require more than a quick snapshot, the video recorder is practical and convenient, and video and pictures can be shared wirelessly via T-Mobile's messaging services. While the phone's 64MB of internal memory provides space for pictures and video, the p735 comes with an RS MMC media slot and additional 32MB multimedia card so no moment is ever missed. In addition, the expandable memory slot offers space for easy and quick access to supplementary applications and games.

For those that still have the gamer in them but are too busy to play at home, the p735 acts as a gaming device with access to 3D games, including Metalion and Zio Golf. For music download addicts, the p735 comes equipped with a personal MP3 player, so downloading, playing and sorting music wirelessly becomes a convenience, not a hassle. Sounds come in clear with T-Mobile's HiFi Ringers and the device's pre-packaged headset provides a heightened auditory experience.

The p735 will change the way consumers view their wireless phone” said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president of Samsung's wireless division. Whether using the phone to download and listen to music, or snapping pictures and video clips to send back to the office while on a business trip, the p735 will enhance consumers' digital lifestyle.

This is a truly fun phone” said Todd Achilles, director of handset product management for T-Mobile USA. “From the bright screen, to cool swivel design, and MP3 player to the megapixel camera, there's a lot to keep you entertained”

Features:

Integrated MegaPixel Digital Camera - Take pictures on the go. Enjoy one megapixel pictures plus digital zoom, multishot, and more. RS MMC Media Slot - Add memory, applications, and store photos with a memory card.

MP3 Player - Download, play and sort your favorite tunes to listen to on your phone.

262 TFT Main Color Display - Makes everything come to life on your phone including photos, picture caller ID, and more. Video Messaging - Record up to 15 second clips with sound and send them to other compatible phones.

Overall Value Rating: 9.0 / 10 - Very Cool

Price: $400 - $550

LG VX4600 Cell Phone (Verizon Wireless)

Manufacturers Description: The attractive VX4600 is the perfect mobile phone for consumers who are looking to express themselves with high-end quality, style and essential functionality. Its ultra-cool clamshell design, high-resolution internal color display, and innovative external OEL (Organic Electro-Luminescent) screen make an undeniable statement of style.

Basic Information:

Talk time: 200 minutes Standby time: 165 hours Size: 3.43H x 1.81W x 0.98D inches Weight: 3.38 oz

Basic Features:

1.9 Ghz PCS, 800 MHz CDMA (All Digital)
Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) to send and receive text messages with graphics and sound
E911 Emergency Location-capable
2.5mm headset jack to accept universal hands-free headsets
65K TFD Main Color Display (120 x 160) 8 lines of Text
OEL Sub Display (96 x 38) 3 lines of Text
Blue Backlit Keypad
5-Way Navigation Key
CMX MIDI (musical instrument and games digital interface) for sounds and ringers
Large Phone Book: 499 contacts (each stores 5 numbers and 3 email addresses)
36 Embedded Ring Tones and download more
Vibrate and Silent Modes
Voice-Activated Dialing
Speed Dialing (99 Entries)
Bilingual (English and Spanish) capabilities
Personal Organizer: Calendar with Scheduler, Alarm Clock, Voice Memo, Notepad, EZ Tip Calculator, Calculator and World Clock
External USB Capable
1-Year limited warranty
Meets FCC SAR limit. Manufacturer's highest FCC reported SAR 1.22 at ear, .74 on body. Actual SAR may vary.

Overall Value Rating: 8.8 / 10

Price: $100 - $200

Cheap Cell Phones, Mobile Phone Deals

The Top 3 Ways Of Getting Cheap Cell Phones – Get Yourself Some Mobile Great Phone Deals Today!

Shopping for cheap cell phones is easy if you know where to look. Use the following tips and discover how easy it can be to get mobile phone deals.

Shop Online

You can easily find cheap cell phones all over the Internet. It’s quickly becoming one of the best places to buy mobile phones. Firstly, you get a large variety of phones to choose from and secondly, you pay less because you don’t have to go through a dealer. Not to mention, searching for cheap cell phones online is convenient, fast and you won’t have to deal with persistent sales people. Everything you need to know about any model that you’re interested in will be online and available to you.

Buy Used Cell Phones

Getting a used cell phone can also be one of your methods to a good mobile phone deal. Not all second hand cell phones are badly damaged. In fact, some of them may be in an almost-mint condition but are being sold because its previous owners were quick to switch to newer models. Because of that, you can sometimes find the latest models at very affordable prices at used cell phone stores.

Shop At A Carrier Store

If you already have an account with a particular cell phone carrier or you’ve already decided which carrier you want to sign up with, then why not shop with them? Once you have an account with them, their cell phones become very cheap and they even have fringe benefits to go along with it. This can also be done the other way around. Decide on the phone you like and go with the carrier that’s giving the best mobile phone deals.

Mobile Phone Contracts: Look Before You Leap!

Mobile phones are a great communication tool, but the contracts for mobile phone plans are binding and can be tricky to say the least. In order to get the best possible contract and to avoid consumer traps, it is best to prepare yourself before you sign on the dotted line. It is also good to know what you can do if you end up with a problematic contract.

Prevention is a lot better than cure, so before we look at what to do in case of a problem, let’s concentrate on how you can get a mobile phone contract that will give you the service you need at a price that you can afford.

The first thing to remember is that a mobile phone contract is binding. If you sign it then you are legally bound by its provisions for the term of the contract. It is up to you know what you are signing up for.

Before you select any mobile phone contract or plan, make an estimate of how many calls you will make and who you will make them to. Are you calling landlines, mobile phones, locally, interstate or internationally? The most important tip for getting the right mobile phone contract is to match your calling patterns with the rates that are offered by the mobile carriers and service providers.

Once you have an idea of how you will use your phone, take a look at the rates and conditions offered by the various companies.
In Particular, Pay Attention To The Following Factors:

1. Find out what the rates are for calling other mobiles, landlines and for long distance.

2. Find out how the charges are calculated. Will you be billed per second or by 30 second intervals?

3. Find out if there is a connection fee or “flag fall” cost in addition to the per second call rate.

4. Read the fine-print carefully, so that you will not be surprised later on by conditions that will not be favorable to you. If you are not sure what you are signing, then delay your decision. Don’t sign under pressure or threat.

5. Consult with your friends, colleagues and do research on the web to find out if your would-be service provider is reliable and ethical.

In addition to this there are some other tips that can help you to reduce your mobile phone expenditures:

1. Consider buying your own handset. If you buy an economical handset then it may be cheaper than the expensive models that are included in many contracts. Remember, if you get a phone as part of a contract it is not normally free. The cost of the phone is usually incorporated somehow in your bill.

2. Get text alerts that let you know how much you are spending. Many providers will let you opt-in to this service.

3. Join the network or service where most of your friends, relatives and business contacts are already members. It is usually cheaper to call to phones that are on the same network.

4. Ask your service provider if you can opt-out of making calls to expensive services. If you go this route, then your phone will be blocked from making these expensive calls.

If you follow all of these tips then you will probably get a phone contract that will not be a problem, however many people wonder what can be done in case of difficulties.

A Common Question Is: “Is It Possible To Get Out Of A Mobile Phone Contract?”

Normally you are obligated to remain in the contract for its duration. That’s why before you sign up find out if there is a penalty fee for breaking the contract and how much that will be. Also you should check to see if your provider offers any insurance in case the phone that comes with the contract is lost or damaged.

Another common problem is a rate rise while you are under contract. Look at the fine print of your contact before signing up to see if your provider is allowed to make any rate rises while you are under contract. If you rates go up, check your contract or ask your provider to show which part of the contract has allowed them to make the rate rise. If they can’t justify the rate rise, then they are violating the terms of the contract.

Finally, if you think that you have signed up for a contract due to false or misleading advertising then you can take action to have your contract terminated, using the consumer protection services of your country. In Australia the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman may be used to resolve contract disputes, but you first have to try to work out the problem with your service provider.

If you prepare yourself with proper information and select your mobile phone contract carefully, you will not run into many problems later on down the line. So, when you are getting ready to enter into any mobile phone contracts available on the market, just remember to “look before you leap.”

A Guide To Cellular Phone Features

While seemingly an overwhelming chore, selecting a cellular phone can be a painless procedure if you know what you are actually searching for. With such a wide variation of options to choose from, you must be supplied with the knowledge of what your cellular phone will be used for, and how it will fit into your lifestyle. With communication taking a back seat to entertainment and recreation, realize that you will be confronted with features such as camera phones, video gaming and multimedia messaging. Face it: This is not your motherÕs cell phone.

A majority of the newer cellular phones are primarily intended for entertainment and recreation. These phones play music files and internet radio, downloaded video clips, and the most current phones play movies. An innovative type of cellular phone technology, multimedia texting, gives users the ability to attach audio files, video, and images to an outgoing text message. And then there is the text message. Text messaging has become a basic feature on most, if not nearly all, cellular phones. Can you imagine that once texting was a rare option on the cell phone? Text messaging enables you to send small portions of text to other cellular phones. Some wireless providers charge a monthly fee for use of their text and multimedia messaging services, so you may want to inquire before using these features.

Do you like driving while chatting on the phone? Then you need to entertain the thought of these next two cellular phone options. These practical selections were created to make driving while on the phone not only less difficult, but also much safer. Voice Dialing lets you say a name that you has been entered into your address book into the cell phone speaker, and the phone will automatically locate the number and dial it. Bluetooth is another choice that has become a standardized option in most cellular phones. A wireless system for electronic devices to communicate, this advanced form of technology also offers a headset that affixes to the cell phone.

A phone equipped with a camera? Imagine that! Some of the top cellular phone providers such as Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola have had a drastic increase in profit since the camera phone has arrived. When you are thinking of purchasing a camera phone, you need to consider the kinds of photos you will be taking. Most camera phones only have one megapixel or less.

What does this mean for you? Very low-quality pictures. The more advanced (and more expensive) cameras offer a wider variety of features and also have a higher resolution. Several of the newest camera phones have built in zoom and a movie option. Maybe it is worth it to pay a little extra!

Still shaken up by the spectacular cellular phone search? Your best bet may be to head to your nearest wireless provider and check out the selection for yourself. Make sure to ask plenty of questions and address any concerns you may have. Hopefully, you will finally find the cellular phone that is right for you. And maybe you can buy a new one for Mom.

Cellphone Etiquettes

We all have been either annoyed, disturbed or irritated with them. You know? Those crazy cellphone users who trounce around talking into their cellphone thinking that the world is their private conference room. Whether it be at a restaurant, movie theatre, or in a library, no place is safe from their babbling. If there is a cellphone signal you can expect to find them. The frightening thing is that most don't even realize how annoying they actually are. Thus, this article will cover some basic cellphone etiquettes that every cellphone user should know.

Talk At A Normal Tone

Many cellphone users think that it is some how better to shout into a cellphone. Apparently they perceive higher voice levels with a better cellphone signal strength. Rather than shouting, when you can't hear the other person, why not go outside or in a area with a better signal strength?

Choose The Vibrate Mode Over Ringer

I can not see any situation, apart from broadcasting your latest downloaded ringtone, that would compel you to choose the ringer over the vibration mode. The vibration mode does the same thing that the ringer was originally intended for, it alerts you when you have an incoming call, however unlike the ringer this mode is less annoying.

Remove The Earpiece

Another annoyance is the number of cellphone users who insist on talking with you while having their ear piece on. You are consistently being placed on hold in mid conservation only to hear the ramblings of another semi-private conversation. If you have to take the call, at the very least notify the other party, that way there is no awkwardness. There is nothing worse than trying not to make eye contact with someone across from you who is not talking to you.

Avoid Talking With Someone When On The Cell

Avoid talking on the cellphone when you know you are going to be talking with someone, such as at a restaurant. Nodding and hand signalling to the waiter while on the phone is extremely rude, it suggests that you are too busy to even be bothered with acknowledging their the presence. In doing so you open yourself to retaliation...food poisoning?

Text Message More

If you have to communicate with another person while at a public area, than try to use one of the many instant messaging clients available on today's cellphones. Not only is text messaging less rude, it saves all off us from hearing your conversation, it is also very efficient. You are more inclined to get straight to the point via text messaging than talking.

Use Voice Mail Feature More

There is nothing wrong in turning off a cellphone or missing a call. If a call is really important then the caller is more inclined to leave back a voice message. Many sensible people understand that not all people can be reached 24/7, after all you are not a receptionist or customer service rep.

Cell Phone - A Little Power Packed Device

Cell phones were path breaking inventions that revolutionized the way people used to communicate with each other. It not only eliminated the limitation of a fixed telephone line in terms of its mobility but also offered additional features a normal telephone does not have. The present day cell phone, for example, is a power packed little box with a myriad of features that varies from facilitating normal phone calls to GPS, web connectivity, image recording and blue tooth communication. It won’t be an overstatement if to mention that cell phones took the world to one’s fingertips.

In fact, the first generation of cell phones was not so great a design except for its basic utility of being ‘cellular’. It was heavy, produced more heating, and had less battery life. Its range and roaming facility was not satisfactory either. If to take into account its economic viability, it was much costlier than a conventional phone. No wonder, cell phone in those days were limited to the elite and the rich in the society.

But, over the years, as the world of communication has undergone a sea change, and cell phones also evolved accordingly. From a simple hand held device that performed the function of a fixed line telephone, the cell phone has been redesigned to be more compact, light weight, better performance and a store house of various other utilities. For example, most low budget cell phone available in the market today comes with a variety of features such as sms, alarm and reminder, phone book, caller id, and call directory. More sophisticated phones come equipped with a camera with video recording capabilities, download features, mms, web browsing capabilities, GPS (Global Positioning System that helps track a cell phone by the aid of a communication satellite), and some with storage capabilities that can easily hold a number of power point presentation or a one hour video.

Even though sophisticated cell phones are still costly, on a larger scale, cell phones have shed its elite tag and became more of a common commodity these days. Prices have come down from its early times and more and more people can afford to own a cell phone now. But it is advisable to use a cell phone judiciously. Too many unwanted calls made through a cell phone can eventually drain one’s pocket like an open tap. Hence always keep a check on its usage