What do you want your mobile phone to do ?

There are so many sleek and impressive looking mobile phones on the market these days that it's hard to resist the temptation to buy one. There is perhaps very little in the world of modern technology that now rivals the prevalence of the mobile phone. Just imagine -- it can help you communicate with practically anyone at practically any time. Plus, you look good doing it, too.
Today's mobile phones are so much more than means to communicate. You can use your mobile phone as a personal planner, check on breaking news on the internet, send email, take photos, take videos, play games, send text messages and even dial numbers by through mere sound of your voice. Of course, having a phone with all this is not cheap, so it's important to determine just exactly what we need our mobile phones to do.

The first choice is almost always dependent on our preference for a wireless service provider. The key items here are the kind of coverage it offers and the type of monthly service plan it has in your location. Once done, you will then have to select from the wide array of phones that your service provider has to offer.

Next, you have to think of the phone's features. If you're a world traveler, then you need a phone with global wireless standard. You will probably need a dual-mode phone that can communicate in both digital and analog. These are much more dependable for globetrotters than single-mode models, especially if you will be going to isolated places or rural areas where digital service may be nonexistent.

The next decision you will make is probably the most fun one: design. Do you want one of those phones that are designed like a clamshell and just flip open? Or are you more inclined towards those that look like candybars and don't flip open? For convenience, flip phones are tougher to use, especially if the base is lighter than the cover. Would you like a phone with a dual screen, the one with a small LCD on the cover as well as an internal display? The main considerations are that the phone should be easy to use, comfortable to your ear and made of a design that reflects your personal tastes.

Finally, you will want to decide on special features. What do you want your mobile phone to do? Oftentimes, this consideration is tied in to how much we are prepared to spend, so it's not that difficult a decision after all.

Young people and mobile phones

Youngsters of today are as very much comfortable with their mobiles and the varied uses to which they can be put. They are aware of the different functions of a mobile phone handset, from being used as a communication device to its role as a medium for downloading a wide array of entertaining options in mobile content such as mobile phone games, real ringtones, mp3 ringtones, polyphonic ringtones, Nokia ringtones, etc. Youngsters feel incomplete without their mobile phones, which connects them to their peers and friends, day in and day out. They can use them for writing down addresses, looking at the time, listening to music, as photo albums or as alarm clocks.Functionality is a big issue for these people, when it comes to choosing a specific mobile phone handset. Today, teenagers and even school-going children demand the best of mobile phone handsets that are capable of supporting the different categories of mobile Java games as well as downloadable ringtones.

Most young people have an attitude and more often than not, want to flaunt it among peers. They believe in possessing the best of handsets and demand ringtones and logos that would help them to introduce a high level of personalization to the same. Consequently, most of them spend a substantial part of their pocket money on downloading cheap ringtones, real ringtones, mp3 ringtones, funny ringtones, mobile phone logos as well as mobile games.

Actually, the use of mobile phones has pervaded our society and mindsets to a significant extent. And the young minds have been the most affected by this trend of enhanced use of mobile phones. Many of them believe that the real ringtones or mp3 ringtones that emanate from their phones would make them "cool" and "happening" among their friends, family members and acquaintances. For a large number of college going kids, downloading different types of ringtones have become one of the ways, using which they can gain acceptance among certain groups in their immediate social circle.

Thus, for young people, mobile phones are emerging as "virtual playgrounds," wherein they are able to indulge in exciting mobile phone games, sending each other text messages and listening to the sounds of different types of ringtones such as real ringtones, true ringtones and mp3 ringtones.

Mobile Phone Shopping

Before the advent of mobile phones, communications may not have been as convenient, but life was definitely less complex. Since their introduction into society, the design, features and package plans have evolved to the degree that we now have to do research on cost comparisons and option customization, as well as peruse technical manuals in order to learn how to operate these gizmos before we can ever hit that "send" button. Simply put, we need to find the best mobile phone for meeting our needs, and it's going to take a good deal of time to do so...or maybe not.

In the interest of cutting through a lot of the red tape when it comes to isolating the different types of mobile phones that are available to consumers today, let's take a look at some of the more popular brands on the current market:

Motorola ? While each particular model offers its own set of standard features and options, some of the perks that you can expect to find include two-way text messaging, wireless internet readiness, speed dialing, one-touch emergency access, vibrating option, dozen of ringer options, 500-entry phone book and SMS messaging. more info

Nokia ? On most models, you'll find standard features such as color display, various timer types, SMS messaging, two-way text messaging, vibrating option, internet wireless readiness and about a dozen more ringer options than that of the Motorola line. In addition, special features may include an alarm, voice dialing, memo recorder, built-in stopwatch/calculator/scheduler, games and custom graphics for screen savers and wallpaper. more info


Samsung ? This company offers a rather advanced line of mobile phones, some of which include options such as Microsoft Windows technology, audio/video color clips, an expansion slot, voice notes, voice recognition, full-color screen, downloadable games, speaker phone, built-in digital camera and the ability to work on documents, spreadsheets and other types of Microsoft applications ? all of these are in addition to the standard features that most other companies offer, such as SMS messaging, wireless internet readiness, two-way text messaging, etc. more info

Sony Ericsson ? Some of the highlights that you can expect from this manufacturer include a x4 zoom digital auto focus camera, video camera, PC synchronization, instant messaging, wireless multi-player gaming, modem capability, e-mail, picture caller ID, hands-free dialing, multiple language capability, voice memo, to-do list, mobile web browsing, streaming multimedia viewing capability, customizable faceplates, graphics, themes and a great deal more. more info

Blackberry ? This specialized line of mobile phones offers a comprehensive package for those who need something more than just a phone. In addition to the basic mobile phone functions, this line also offers features which include e-mail that offers up to 10 separate personal or business accounts, Bluetooth wireless technology, high-speed downloads, Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF), backlit QWERY keyboard, icon menu, attachment viewing capability, full PC synchronization, wireless modem, customizable graphics/themes, mobile web browsing and lots more. more info




Next Generation Phones ? With their sleek design and attractive packaging, the phones in this line offer a lot in the way of mobile phone convenience, including features such as touch screen, organizer, comprehensive multimedia functionality, full line of state-of-the-art entertainment options, virtual assistant, Bluetooth portable car set with wireless telephony technology, music and video downloads, rugged packaging for outdoor use and built-in translators (accommodating languages such as English, Portuguese, Italian, German, Spanish and French), push-and-talk capability (similar to the "walkie-talkie" concept), as well as stunning new designer packaging that targets the business community, young adults, women and much more.

Finding the best mobile phone may be a bit complex, but most manufacturers offer enough in the way of available options to provide something for everyone ? no matter what their needs are. Whether you're looking for a cheap mobile phone, designer mobile phone, rugged mobile phone or one that performs most of your daily on-the-job functions, these can be found through local communications merchants, as well as through online major search engines. In addition to mobile phone comparisons, you'll also find cellular phone plans, wireless phone plans and mobile phone ratings through online research, allowing you to find that "best" mobile phone ? whatever it happens to be.

Interesting Facts About Mobile Phones

Mobile Phone is a wireless, portable, long-range, electronic telephone, which during travel can seamlessly change antenna connections, from one radio reception cell to another radio reception cell, without dropping or losing the ongoing call.

Besides the standard voice function of a telephone, latest mobile phones have features such as SMS for text messages, MMS for multimedia messages, radio, games, internet connectivity for email, browsing, blogging, music (MP3) playback, memo recording, built-in cameras and camcorders, ringtones, personal organizers, Push-to-Talk (PTT), Bluetooth and infrared connectivity, call registers, streaming video, downloading video, video call, and also serve as wireless modems for PCs that can be connected to the Internet.

The power in a mobile phone is obtained from rechargeable batteries, which can be recharged from the mains, a USB port or a cigarette lighter port in an automobile. Nickel Metal Hydride were the most common types of batteries, which due to the "memory effect" (the user can recharge only when the entire battery is drained off) were replaced by Lithium-Ion batteries, which did not suffer from any memory effect.

Mobile phones came into existence because of the invention of hexagonal cells in 1947, for the base stations by Bell Labs engineers at AT&T. This was further developed during the 1960s by Bell Labs. During a call, the channel frequency could not be changed automatically from one cell (base station coverage area) to another cell (base station coverage area) as the person traveled from the area of one cell to the area of another cell. Amos Joel of Bell Labs invented a breakthrough invention and called it as the `call handoff` by which the channel frequency could be changed automatically from one cell to another cell, during the same call, as the mobile user traveled from one cell to another cell. Due to their heavy construction, these phones were used mainly in automobiles.

The first practical mobile phone in a non-vehicle setting, and which could be handheld, was invented by Martin Cooper, the General Manager (Communications Division) of Motorola, who made the world`s first handheld mobile phone call on April 3, 1973.

The technology by which the mobile phone works depends on the mobile phone operator; however, all of them use electromagnetic radio waves, which are in touch with a cell site (base station). The base station is composed of several antennas which are mounted on a pole, tower, or building. Cell sites are spread at a distance of 5 to 8 miles (approx. 8 to 13 km) from each other. The low power transceiver from the mobile phone transmits the voice and data to the nearest cell site. During movement, the mobile phone will "handoff" the information to other cell site. Mobile phone operators use many technologies to maintain the smooth stream of digitized data from the mobile phone to the cell site and vice versa.

The wireless telephone technologies are grouped under heads known as generations, starting from zero generation or 0G. The current generation going on is 4G; however, there are old mobile phones that still operate on 1G, 2G, and 3G technologies. The wireless telephone technologies used in each generation are as given below:

0G: PTT, MTS, IMTS, AMTS, OLT, MTD, Autotel/PALM, ARP
1G: NMT, AMPS/TACS/ETACS, Hicap, CDPD, Mobitex, DataTac
2G: GSM, iDEN, D-AMPS, IS-95/cdmaOne, PDC, CSD, PHS, GPRS, HSCSD, WiDEN, CDMA2000 1xRTT/IS-2000, EDGE (EGPRS)
3G: W-CDMA, UMTS (3GSM), FOMA, TD-CDMA/UMTS-TDD, 1xEV-DO/IS-856, TD-SCDMA, GAN (UMA), HSPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, HSOPA
4G : UMB, UMTS Revision 8 (LTE), WiMAX

Frequency bands: SMR, Cellular, PCS


The impact of mobile phone usage on human health has been of considerable worldwide concern. Research studies in Copenhagen, from the Danish Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, the National Cancer Institute, and the Institute of Cancer Research, do not establish any link between cancer and mobile phone usage. However, an intergovernmental agency IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) forming part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations, undertook a study of 4,500 users and found a statistically significant link between mobile phone usage and tumor frequency. Further research is going on.

Mobile phone usage and driving is a common worldwide phenomenon. Some jurisdictions have banned usage of hand-held phones during driving, but allowed the hands-free fashion of mobile phone usage while driving. However, studies have found out that the distraction is caused by the conversation itself; hence, both hand-held and hands-free mobile phones contribute towards road traffic accidents. Further studies on mobile phone usage and driving are going on.

Nokia Corporation is currently the world`s largest manufacturer of mobile phones. Other notable mobile phone manufacturers, in alphabetical order, are 3G, Audiovox (now UT Starcom), Benefon, BenQ-Siemens, Fujitsu, High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC), Kyocera, LG Mobile, Motorola, NEC, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric), Pantech Curitel, Philips, Research In Motion, Sagem, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Siemens, Sierra Wireless, SK Teletech, Sony Ericsson, T&A Alcatel, Toshiba, and Verizon.

What You Should Look For When Choosing An MP3 Mobile Phone

Mobile phones focus on what they are created for, communication, and usually not much else. Some brands offer additional features but they are not as robust as they could be if that is not the main focus of the design of the phone.
Mobile phones can hold only so much hardware, and the majority of the hardware is usually used for the communication features. If you are looking to buy one that can also play MP3 files, then you should do a lot of research before investing in an MP3 mobile phone.

Although you may hear the music, the quality is not going to be as good as the quality you would get from a Hi-Fi stereo system. But don't let this dissuade you from purchasing an MP3 phone, you can find a mobile phone with high audio quality if you know what to look for.

The first thing you should check is the audio quality itself. Visit a few mobile phone stores and ask to listen to their MP3 phones before purchasing. If the sound quality is bad, look for another phone. Remember, it matters what you, the owner of the phone, think of the sound quality.

You should also know what restrictions are in place from the service you are using. Mobile phones usually come with restrictions that you won't find with typical MP3 players. Also, some mobile phones will not play MP3 format, so your songs would need to be converted to another format. When purchasing music for your mobile phone, you will sometimes find that the music store used by the service can be expensive. Some services will not allow you to add music any other way than through their music store.

Mobile MP3 phones also do not provide as much storage space as most MP3 players. If you wish to add just a few songs, then you will not find the several hundred megabytes limit a problem. If you wish to add hundreds of songs then you will have a hard time finding a inserted storage memory card that will hold that much data.

The battery life is another thing you should consider when purchasing an MP3 mobile phone. You should get the specifications that state how long you can expect the battery to last when listening to music files continuously. If the battery is not expected to last much longer than a few hours, then you may want to consider another brand. You're sure to find a good mobile phone with acceptable qualities for your audio needs, just be sure to look for these key things before deciding on what to purchase. Listen to the phone to ensure that you approve of the sound quality, get a list of any and all restrictions, find out the cost for music in the service provider's music store, and find out the storage capability for the device and also the expected battery life when listening to your music non-stop.