Mobile & Cell Phone Information

Selecting a Cell Phone


More Than Just a Phone

Selecting a cell phone is no longer just about mobile communication - it is now a lifestyle choice. If you don't select the phone that fits your personality, you won't be happy with it. New cell phones are beginning to have little in common with earlier cell phones. The new models feature color screens, digital cameras, high-speed internet connections, multimedia games, and music playback. In case you were wondering, you can also use them to make phone calls. It's only a matter of time before everyone has these features on their cell phones.

Text messaging or "texting" is now available standard on most cell phones. It is similar to instant messaging except that messages are sent and received by cell phones instead of computers. Multimedia messaging allows you to send audio, video, and pictures as an attachment to a text message. Multimedia messaging was once seen as entertainment, but is rapidly becoming valuable to the business world. Real estate agents take photos of houses with their cell phones and employment agencies may use camera phones to photograph job applicants - all away from their office.

Dial In On the Options

Cellular providers in the United States use either GSM or CDMA technology. When you buy a cell phone, it is tied to either GSM or CDMA cellular network, but can't be converted from one to the other. If you ever switch cellular providers, you may also need to switch phones. Most cellular providers now have high-speed data networks. These data networks work with high-end cell phones and special network cards you can purchase for laptops. Data networks usually transmit data slightly faster than a dialup internet connection. These networks are still being developed and are yet to be available everywhere. Look for higher speed networks to be much more common by 2006.

If you want to purchase a camera phone, consider what quality of photos you need to take. Most camera phones have less than a one megapixel resolution, which produces low-quality images. If you need to take clear photos, look into a camera phone with 3 or more megapixels.

Voice Dialing and Bluetooth are becoming standard in many phones to make it easier and safer for people to use their phones while driving. Voice Dialing allows you to speak a person's name into your phone, which will automatically find the person in your address book and dial the number for you. Bluetooth lets you connect a headset to your phone without wires. Some luxury cars are beginning to offer Bluetooth connectivity so that you can take calls in your car through the built-in speaker system.

Some newer cell phones are being designed with an emphasis on entertainment. They can be used to play music MP3 files, stored video and even movies, and video games. In general, the newer phones are all getting smarter and more specialized.

After you're done choosing the features that you want, don't neglect the practical aspects. Look at how often you will need to change the battery, whether the screen and keypad are too big and too small. Also, caveat emptor: most cellular providers lock you into a one or two year contract when you purchase a phone from them. If you cancel your service, they will charge you an early termination fee.

About The Author

Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive educational background in computer information systems, Deryck currently manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support directly to small businesses as he has since 2000. His areas of expertise include networking, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh systems and he is the author of The Guide to Technology for Small Business. For more information on Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

Boise Company Working on Mobile Cell Phone Charger
Fox 12 Boise, ID - Oct 8, 2008
Boise, Idaho-- M2E Power is developing a mobile cell phone charger that actually captures energy as you walk. "So you can be moving around have it clipped ...


NewsOXY

Google Android Debuts on T-Mobile Cell Phone
NewsOXY, FL - Sep 17, 2008
Google Android is a mobile cell phone platform based on the Linux operating system. The first smartphone is made by HTC for use on the T-Mobile network. ...


Pollsters Despair of Finding Mobile Voters
Miller-McCune.com, CA - 12 hours ago
A cell-only sampling is not practical for statewide polls because of the trend of highly mobile cell-phone users to keep their phone number when they move ...


Proposed cell tower meets resistance
Las Vegas Sun, NV - 22 hours ago
The tower will be able to enhance signals for T-Mobile cell phone users within a half-mile radius of the site. "If necessary, we would agree to do a ...


Chester trio charged in armed robbery
Delaware County Daily Times, PA - Oct 9, 2008
... a black Smith and Wesson US service revolver loaded with six rounds, the victim's Black Boost Mobile Cell phone, a pair of blue jeans and other items, ...


Mobiles boil eggs!
The Statesman, India - Oct 8, 2008
Researchers at Panjab University studying the impact of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile cell phone devices on living matter, have found that ...


ABC News

T-Mobile Makes Google Android Official
NewsOXY, FL - Sep 23, 2008
T-Mobile USA Inc unveiled its first mobile cell phone to run on Android. Google Inc released the mobile operating system to run on smart phones. ...
Video: Android: Google Enters the Cellphone Business. AssociatedPress
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Proposed T-Mobile tower moved 50 feet
SnoValley Star, Wa - Oct 8, 2008
A 150-foot T-Mobile cell phone tower, which neighbors complained would mar their view of Mount Si, will now be built 50 feet to the southeast. ...


Emergency notification system test set for Oct. 17
Princeton University, NJ - Oct 8, 2008
A notable change from last year is that individuals, except for T-Mobile cell phone subscribers, no longer have to opt in to receive text messages. ...


Mobile-phone users now texting more than calling
Akron Beacon Journal, OH - Oct 2, 2008
... while placing or receiving 204 calls, according to research by Nielsen Mobile. Cell-phone users ages 13 to 17 sent or received an average of 1742 text ...

Mobile-Cell-Phone - Google News

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