The first access to the mobile web was commercially offered in Finland in 1996 on the Nokia Communicator 9000 phone on the Sonera and Radiolinja networks. This was access to the real internet. The first commercial launch of a mobile-specific browser based mobile web service was in 1999 in Japan when i-Mode was launched by NTT DoCoMo.
Evolution of mobile web standards
The Mobile Web primarily utilises lightweight pages written in Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML) or Wireless Markup Language (WML) to deliver content to mobile devices. Many new mobile browsers are moving beyond these limitations by supporting a wider range of Web formats, including variants of HTML commonly found on the desktop Web.
Standards
The development of standards is one approach being implemented to improve the interoperability, usability, and accessibility issues surrounding mobile web usage.
The W3C Mobile Web Initiative is a new initiative set up by the W3C to develop best practices and technologies relevant to the Mobile Web. The goal of the initiative is to make browsing the Web from mobile devices more reliable and accessible. The main aim is to evolve standards of data formats from Internet providers that are tailored to the specifications of particular mobile devices. The W3C has published guidelines (Best Practices, Best Practices Checker Software Tool) for mobile content, and is actively addressing the problem of device diversity by establishing a technology to support a repository of Device Descriptions.
W3C is also developing a validating scheme to assess the readiness of content for the mobile web, through its mobileOK Scheme, which will help content developers to quickly determine if their content is web-ready. The W3C guidelines and mobile OK approach have not been immune from criticism. This puts the emphasis on Adaptation, which is now seen as the key process in achieving the Ubiquitous Web, when combined with a Device Description Repository.
mTLD, the registry for .mobi, has released a free testing tool called the MobiReady Report to analyze the mobile readiness of website. It does a free page analysis and gives a Mobi Ready score. This report tests the mobile-readiness of the site using industry best practices & standards.
Other standards for the mobile web are being documented and explored for particular applications by interested industry groups, such as the use of the mobile web for the purpose of education and training e.g. Standards for M-Learning Project
The W3C Mobile Web Initiative is a new initiative set up by the W3C to develop best practices and technologies relevant to the Mobile Web. The goal of the initiative is to make browsing the Web from mobile devices more reliable and accessible. The main aim is to evolve standards of data formats from Internet providers that are tailored to the specifications of particular mobile devices. The W3C has published guidelines (Best Practices, Best Practices Checker Software Tool) for mobile content, and is actively addressing the problem of device diversity by establishing a technology to support a repository of Device Descriptions.
W3C is also developing a validating scheme to assess the readiness of content for the mobile web, through its mobileOK Scheme, which will help content developers to quickly determine if their content is web-ready. The W3C guidelines and mobile OK approach have not been immune from criticism. This puts the emphasis on Adaptation, which is now seen as the key process in achieving the Ubiquitous Web, when combined with a Device Description Repository.
mTLD, the registry for .mobi, has released a free testing tool called the MobiReady Report to analyze the mobile readiness of website. It does a free page analysis and gives a Mobi Ready score. This report tests the mobile-readiness of the site using industry best practices & standards.
Other standards for the mobile web are being documented and explored for particular applications by interested industry groups, such as the use of the mobile web for the purpose of education and training e.g. Standards for M-Learning Project
Mobile Web
The Mobile Web refers to brower-based web services such as the World Wide Web, WAP and i-Mode (Japan) using a mobile device such as a cell phone, PDA, or other portable gadget connected to a public network. Such access does not require a desktop computer, nor a fixed landline connection.[1] The total number of mobile web users grew past the total number of PC based internet users for the first time in 2008 (source: Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2009).
However, Mobile Web access today still suffers from interoperability and usability problems. This is partly due to the incompatibility of the format of much of the information available on the Internet with mobile devices and partly due to the small physical size of the screens of mobile devices and other device limitations.
However, Mobile Web access today still suffers from interoperability and usability problems. This is partly due to the incompatibility of the format of much of the information available on the Internet with mobile devices and partly due to the small physical size of the screens of mobile devices and other device limitations.
Usage
1. If your mobile phone can access the Internet using one key, press MO.
2. If your mobile phone does not have this function, please choose the Internet option on your phone’s menu.
3. If you order this service on-line, then it will be available on the “My Monternet” page on the CMCC WAP website.
4. You may access “My Monternet” to use or cancel the service.
2. If your mobile phone does not have this function, please choose the Internet option on your phone’s menu.
3. If you order this service on-line, then it will be available on the “My Monternet” page on the CMCC WAP website.
4. You may access “My Monternet” to use or cancel the service.
Mobile Internet
You can enjoy reading the news, downloading pictures and ring tones, chatting and making friends, and sending and receiving email on your mobile phone by accessing the Internet.
Mobile Surfing Anywhere and Anytime using “MO” Mobile Phone
Mobile Surfing Anywhere and Anytime using “MO” Mobile Phone
Note
MMS service from CMCC users to non-CMCC users is not available at present.
You need to make sure your mobile phone has the MMS function and you have enabled the “Mobile Internet” GPRS service before using (to check you may dial 10086 or visit a Service Hall.)
You need to make sure your mobile phone has the MMS function and you have enabled the “Mobile Internet” GPRS service before using (to check you may dial 10086 or visit a Service Hall.)
Supporting Mobiles
Mobile phones have to have the MMS function to send and receive MMS.
If the receiver does not use a mobile phone with the MMS function, the system will automatically transfer the MMS to the receiver’s MMS album, and the receiver can log on Monternet to receive the MMS.
If the receiver does not use a mobile phone with the MMS function, the system will automatically transfer the MMS to the receiver’s MMS album, and the receiver can log on Monternet to receive the MMS.
Opening and Canceling the Service
Any mobile phone with MMS function can use this facility.
For this service, please make sure your mobile phone has enabled the “Mobile On-Line” GPRS service.
For this service, please make sure your mobile phone has enabled the “Mobile On-Line” GPRS service.
Standard rates
1. Please refer to your local CMCC company for details.
2. If you use the service via an Internet website (such as downloading animations), you will pay an extra information fee as well as the communication fee. Please refer to details on this fee on the partner website of Monternet.
2. If you use the service via an Internet website (such as downloading animations), you will pay an extra information fee as well as the communication fee. Please refer to details on this fee on the partner website of Monternet.
Product Features 2
MMS is a multimedia message service (MMS) launched by CMCC, supporting multimedia functions which include text, images, audio, video, and other multimedia data format information. Compared with the original SMS system, MMS is equipped with a wealth of color photographs, audio, animation, vibration and other multimedia content, in addition to basic textual information.
1) Both pictures and text: sports news with live photos, funny cartoons, photos, astrology, stars, dating, and multicolored animation games ... these are all available by MMS.
2) Instant: as long as you have a MMS camera phone, you can take pictures wherever and whenever, and save the picture to your mobile phone, or as a standby picture or Screen Saving image, or send it via GPRS to share the moment with families and friends.
1) Both pictures and text: sports news with live photos, funny cartoons, photos, astrology, stars, dating, and multicolored animation games ... these are all available by MMS.
2) Instant: as long as you have a MMS camera phone, you can take pictures wherever and whenever, and save the picture to your mobile phone, or as a standby picture or Screen Saving image, or send it via GPRS to share the moment with families and friends.
Usage
MMS: mobile newspaper products have fixed sending frequencies and time. When users when successfully receive the products with their mobiles through the MMS function, they can open and read the newspaper.
WAP: all mobile newspaper products are available on WAP websites for free.
SMS: users can acquire instant mobile newspaper products by sending SMS.
WAP: all mobile newspaper products are available on WAP websites for free.
SMS: users can acquire instant mobile newspaper products by sending SMS.
Canceling the Service
You can also use the above methods to cancel the service, e.g. send a SMS code QXXWZWB to 7000, dial 10086, visiting the service hall, or log onto the CMCC website to cancel the service.
Accessing the Service
There are five ways to open the Mobile Newspaper service:
SMS: send SMS instructions to the appropriate number (e.g. send SMS XWZWB to 7000, then open “mobile newspaper- morning and evening posts”)
WAP: order different MMS products of mobile newspapers through WAP websites. Access will provided for all mobile newspaper subscribers through newspaper website on Monternet WAP.
10086 (or 12580): send SMS or dial 10086 (or 12580) to order mobile newspaper from the Customer Service hotline.
Service Hall: service halls in your local area can help you subscribe to mobile newspapers through their operating system.
WWW: users can log into the CMCC website (Chinese version) to open the mobile newspaper service.
SMS: send SMS instructions to the appropriate number (e.g. send SMS XWZWB to 7000, then open “mobile newspaper- morning and evening posts”)
WAP: order different MMS products of mobile newspapers through WAP websites. Access will provided for all mobile newspaper subscribers through newspaper website on Monternet WAP.
10086 (or 12580): send SMS or dial 10086 (or 12580) to order mobile newspaper from the Customer Service hotline.
Service Hall: service halls in your local area can help you subscribe to mobile newspapers through their operating system.
WWW: users can log into the CMCC website (Chinese version) to open the mobile newspaper service.
Product Features
Abundant information delivered timely and conveniently.
Features: In cooperation with domestic main media units, CMCC provides you with timely information services (including news, sports, entertainment, culture, and lifestyle) through MMS, WAP or SMS.
Features: In cooperation with domestic main media units, CMCC provides you with timely information services (including news, sports, entertainment, culture, and lifestyle) through MMS, WAP or SMS.
China Mobile becomes first mainland company to be selected to Dow Jones Sustainability Index
10th Sep, 2008
China Mobile Limited has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), becoming the first company from mainland China to be selected to the prestigious index.
The DJSI captures the top 10% of the biggest 2500 companies worldwide based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.
China Mobile’s selection in the index’s September 2008 review was based on a variety of criteria including climate change strategies, energy consumption, human resources development, knowledge management, stakeholder relations and corporate governance.
Established in 1999, the DJSI is considered a prime reference standard for socially responsible investing.
The DJSI is made up of 320 of the world’s leading companies from 19 different ‘super’ sectors. Ten of the companies are in the telecommunications industry. Along with China Mobile, BT group and Vodafone are in this exclusive club.
Currently, there two Chinese companies on the DJSI, including Hong Kong’s mass-transit rail company MTR. China Mobile is the only company from mainland China to have ever been selected to the index.
A variety of criteria are used to assess companies that are selected to the DJSI including the company’s impact on the economy, society and environment.
China Mobile has persisted in balancing its development and growth with its social responsibility. In 2007, China Mobile published its first comprehensive social responsibility report. It detailed China Mobile’s guiding principles which are based on sincerity, honesty, humanity and respect for nature and life.
Over the last year China Mobile has instituted a socially responsible and professional management system that covers the entire company.
In China Mobile’s 2006 three-year plan the company adopted the DJSI’s appraisal system for sustainability and social responsibility to measure its own performance. At that time China Mobile set a goal of being selected to the index by 2009.
China Mobile’s selection in the 2008 review of the DJSI is an acknowledgment that the company has become a world leader in sustainable development and social responsibility. Selection to the index will be a strong motivating force for China Mobile as it continues its work in building an even greater socially responsible enterprise.
China Mobile Limited has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), becoming the first company from mainland China to be selected to the prestigious index.
The DJSI captures the top 10% of the biggest 2500 companies worldwide based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.
China Mobile’s selection in the index’s September 2008 review was based on a variety of criteria including climate change strategies, energy consumption, human resources development, knowledge management, stakeholder relations and corporate governance.
Established in 1999, the DJSI is considered a prime reference standard for socially responsible investing.
The DJSI is made up of 320 of the world’s leading companies from 19 different ‘super’ sectors. Ten of the companies are in the telecommunications industry. Along with China Mobile, BT group and Vodafone are in this exclusive club.
Currently, there two Chinese companies on the DJSI, including Hong Kong’s mass-transit rail company MTR. China Mobile is the only company from mainland China to have ever been selected to the index.
A variety of criteria are used to assess companies that are selected to the DJSI including the company’s impact on the economy, society and environment.
China Mobile has persisted in balancing its development and growth with its social responsibility. In 2007, China Mobile published its first comprehensive social responsibility report. It detailed China Mobile’s guiding principles which are based on sincerity, honesty, humanity and respect for nature and life.
Over the last year China Mobile has instituted a socially responsible and professional management system that covers the entire company.
In China Mobile’s 2006 three-year plan the company adopted the DJSI’s appraisal system for sustainability and social responsibility to measure its own performance. At that time China Mobile set a goal of being selected to the index by 2009.
China Mobile’s selection in the 2008 review of the DJSI is an acknowledgment that the company has become a world leader in sustainable development and social responsibility. Selection to the index will be a strong motivating force for China Mobile as it continues its work in building an even greater socially responsible enterprise.
China Mobile provides special services for the Beijing Paralympics
8th Sep, 2008
The Paralympics has brought thousands of athletes from the around the world to Beijing and China Mobile is ready to meet their special communication needs.
To assist people living with disabilities and to help China host the best Paralympics ever, China Mobile has designed and developed a variety of services to realise a high-tech and convenient Paralympics.
China Mobile is offering Beijing residents who are living with disabilities a special SIM card called the 'Ai Xin Card' (Love Heart Card) that features discounts and unique services that are sent directly to the user's mobile phone.
The Ai Xin Card not only provides discounts on airtime and text messaging it's loaded with other helpful features. With an Ai Xin SIM card users receive useful information such as health tips and news bulletins. The Ai Xin Card also allows users to recharge their China Mobile account by sending a simple text message.
China Mobile has also launched an audio version of its M-news service that allows people with visual impairment to listen to news reports that are sent directly to mobile phones twice daily. Customer handbooks at China Mobile's service centers, have also been printed in Braille.
China Mobile has selected its best service representatives to work at 18 competition venues and 16 other locations to provide on-site services.
China Mobile has also prepared special services at many of its service centers. At 104 China Mobile service centers around Beijing, people living with disabilities can receive one-to-one service. Sixty-one of these service centers are barrier free, providing wheelchair access into the centers, and at service desks, washrooms and other facilities.
China Mobile has assigned technical specialists who are duty around the clock to ensure it wireless communication network runs smoothly at competition venues and other key areas.
As well, China Mobile is providing 50 emergency communication vehicles and 14 mobile power generators to ensure a quick response to any emergency.
The Paralympics has brought thousands of athletes from the around the world to Beijing and China Mobile is ready to meet their special communication needs.
To assist people living with disabilities and to help China host the best Paralympics ever, China Mobile has designed and developed a variety of services to realise a high-tech and convenient Paralympics.
China Mobile is offering Beijing residents who are living with disabilities a special SIM card called the 'Ai Xin Card' (Love Heart Card) that features discounts and unique services that are sent directly to the user's mobile phone.
The Ai Xin Card not only provides discounts on airtime and text messaging it's loaded with other helpful features. With an Ai Xin SIM card users receive useful information such as health tips and news bulletins. The Ai Xin Card also allows users to recharge their China Mobile account by sending a simple text message.
China Mobile has also launched an audio version of its M-news service that allows people with visual impairment to listen to news reports that are sent directly to mobile phones twice daily. Customer handbooks at China Mobile's service centers, have also been printed in Braille.
China Mobile has selected its best service representatives to work at 18 competition venues and 16 other locations to provide on-site services.
China Mobile has also prepared special services at many of its service centers. At 104 China Mobile service centers around Beijing, people living with disabilities can receive one-to-one service. Sixty-one of these service centers are barrier free, providing wheelchair access into the centers, and at service desks, washrooms and other facilities.
China Mobile has assigned technical specialists who are duty around the clock to ensure it wireless communication network runs smoothly at competition venues and other key areas.
As well, China Mobile is providing 50 emergency communication vehicles and 14 mobile power generators to ensure a quick response to any emergency.
sms
Ek Raat Hoi Barsat Bohat.....
Me Roya Sari Raat Bohat.....
Har Ghum Thai Zamaney K Lekin.....
Me Tanha Tha us Raat Bohat.....
Phir Aankh Se Ek Sawan Barsa.....
Jab Seher Hoi Tu Kheyal Aya.....
Wo Badal Kitna Tanha Tha.....
Jo Barsa Sari Raat Bohat....
Me Roya Sari Raat Bohat.....
Har Ghum Thai Zamaney K Lekin.....
Me Tanha Tha us Raat Bohat.....
Phir Aankh Se Ek Sawan Barsa.....
Jab Seher Hoi Tu Kheyal Aya.....
Wo Badal Kitna Tanha Tha.....
Jo Barsa Sari Raat Bohat....
MG Financial 2
MG Financial and its affiliates will not be held responsible for errors in transmission or connection failures to MG's wireless web services. Note that response time may vary due to connection speed, reliability, and system configurations. We encourage you to exercise additional caution while relying on MG wireless web services to deliver vital market information and to ask you to manage your accounts accordingly. The reader agrees not to hold MG Financial, and/or any of its affiliates, liable for decisions that are based on information received from these wireless services.
Mobile Forex 2
Traders can use their web-enabled Mobile Devices, including phones and Personal Digital Assistants to connect to our proprietary wireless version of the DealStation™ to check rates & news, to monitor account status, and to place orders. We are particularly proud to be pioneers in this wireless evolution, which brings our clients even closer to the market.
MG Wireless Trading keeps traders connected to the market 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and from anywhere around the world. Here are some of the benefits of MG Wireless Solutions:
MG Wireless Trading keeps traders connected to the market 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and from anywhere around the world. Here are some of the benefits of MG Wireless Solutions:
MG Financial
As a pioneer and innovator of the retail foreign exchange industry, MG Financial has long established itself as the premier provider of online trading services in the foreign exchange market, serving clients since 1992.
ACTIVE FX INVESTORS
Achieve your trading goals with our comprehensive forex trading package, complete with state-of-the-art trading platform, custom charts, real-time news and mobile access.
Early Mobile Telephone Technologies
Before there were cellular telephone systems, there was MTS (Mobile Telephone Service) and IMTS (Improved Mobile Telephone Service). These early systems have ceased operations.
Analog and Digital Mobile Telephone Technologies
Mobile telephone systems are either analog or digital. In analog systems, voice messages are transmitted as sound waves. When you speak into an analog mobile telephone, your voice wave is linked to a radio wave and transmitted. In digital systems, voice messages are transmitted as a stream of zeroes and ones. When you speak into a digital mobile telephone, your voice wave is converted into a binary pattern before being transmitted.
Types of mobile search
Within the broad umbrella of mobile search (the ability to browse for mobile specific content), there are a range of services. Given the relative immaturity of the market, not all of these can be expected to become the industry standards.
Mobile optimized search engines - Most major search engines have implemented a mobile optimized version of their products that take into consideration bandwidth and form factor limitations of the mobile platform. For example, Yahoo has launched a product branded as Yahoo [OneSearch][2] and Google has launched a mobile friendly version of their search engine as well.
Mobile question and answer services - These services allow a user to text a question to a central database and receive a reply using text. A usage example would be a user that wants to know the answer to a very specific question but is not in front of his/her computer. Most mobile 'Q&A' services are powered by human researchers and are therefore a type of organic search engine. An example of such a service in the US is Question Mania [3], where every question is answered via text message, by a real person. A new approach by AskMeNow is to use Semantic Web technology to automate the process. Some emerging services such as MyHelpa in the UK address the perceived limitations of one-shot, reverse billed SMS messages by using VoIP to connect the Caller directly to the Human search agent.
Mobile directory search - This service is known by different names dependent on country and operator. It can also be known as 'Find My Nearest' or 'Mobile Yellow Pages' services. The basics of the services allow users to find local services in the vicinity of their current location. The services often use location-based technology to pinpoint exactly where the user currently is. An example of usage would be a user looking for a local cab or taxi company after a night out. Services also usually come with a map and directions to help the user. An example is the service offered by Yell in the UK which is powered by MobilePeople's technology. More details can be found in mobile local search.
Mobile discovery services These services offer users recommendations on what they should do next. An example would be recommending a user a similar ringtone to the one that s/he has just browsed for. They operate, in a mobile context, in a similar way to the recommendation engines provided by internet retail shops such as Amazon.com. An example of real usage is the Directory Enquiries (DQ) service operated by Orange in the UK. Callers to the Orange landline DQ service are given the business and residential numbers they have requested verbally by an operator. In addition, Orange sends the information in text format to the users mobile phone. The information contains a text reminder of the requested information as well as links to local businesses, services and other interesting information in the local area that the user has searched on.
Mobile navigation services - These services provide the indexing structure to the portals provided by mobile operators. They index the content already on the operators' portal but also provide users access to mobile specific content that is available outside the confines of the portal.
Dynamic Mobile Selection Interface Services - A new category of mobile search tool that is emerging is one in which a pre-selected set of possible search content is downloaded in advance by a mobile user and then allows for a final internet search step. An example of such search tools is the Worldport Navigator for the iPhone, which provides users with a push-button experience of selecting from thousands of human-screened and categorized Web selections in three or four seconds, without the need for text entry, search, result review, or page-scrolling.
Mobile optimized search engines - Most major search engines have implemented a mobile optimized version of their products that take into consideration bandwidth and form factor limitations of the mobile platform. For example, Yahoo has launched a product branded as Yahoo [OneSearch][2] and Google has launched a mobile friendly version of their search engine as well.
Mobile question and answer services - These services allow a user to text a question to a central database and receive a reply using text. A usage example would be a user that wants to know the answer to a very specific question but is not in front of his/her computer. Most mobile 'Q&A' services are powered by human researchers and are therefore a type of organic search engine. An example of such a service in the US is Question Mania [3], where every question is answered via text message, by a real person. A new approach by AskMeNow is to use Semantic Web technology to automate the process. Some emerging services such as MyHelpa in the UK address the perceived limitations of one-shot, reverse billed SMS messages by using VoIP to connect the Caller directly to the Human search agent.
Mobile directory search - This service is known by different names dependent on country and operator. It can also be known as 'Find My Nearest' or 'Mobile Yellow Pages' services. The basics of the services allow users to find local services in the vicinity of their current location. The services often use location-based technology to pinpoint exactly where the user currently is. An example of usage would be a user looking for a local cab or taxi company after a night out. Services also usually come with a map and directions to help the user. An example is the service offered by Yell in the UK which is powered by MobilePeople's technology. More details can be found in mobile local search.
Mobile discovery services These services offer users recommendations on what they should do next. An example would be recommending a user a similar ringtone to the one that s/he has just browsed for. They operate, in a mobile context, in a similar way to the recommendation engines provided by internet retail shops such as Amazon.com. An example of real usage is the Directory Enquiries (DQ) service operated by Orange in the UK. Callers to the Orange landline DQ service are given the business and residential numbers they have requested verbally by an operator. In addition, Orange sends the information in text format to the users mobile phone. The information contains a text reminder of the requested information as well as links to local businesses, services and other interesting information in the local area that the user has searched on.
Mobile navigation services - These services provide the indexing structure to the portals provided by mobile operators. They index the content already on the operators' portal but also provide users access to mobile specific content that is available outside the confines of the portal.
Dynamic Mobile Selection Interface Services - A new category of mobile search tool that is emerging is one in which a pre-selected set of possible search content is downloaded in advance by a mobile user and then allows for a final internet search step. An example of such search tools is the Worldport Navigator for the iPhone, which provides users with a push-button experience of selecting from thousands of human-screened and categorized Web selections in three or four seconds, without the need for text entry, search, result review, or page-scrolling.
Market Description
"Competition for the US mobile search market promises to be fierce, thanks to the large US online ad market and strong pushes by portals. By 2011, mobile search will account for around $715 million, or almost 15% of a total mobile advertising market worth nearly $4.7 billion", according to a leading market research firm. [1] Depending on a researcher's particular bias toward telecom, Web or technology factors, the published forecasts for global mobile search vary from $1.5 billion by 2011 (from Informa Telecoms & Media) to over $11 billion by 2008 (according to Piper Jaffray). [2]
Mobile Search is important for the usability of mobile content for the same reasons as internet search engines became important to the usability of internet content. Early internet content was largely provided by portals such as Netscape. As the depth of available content grew, portals were unable to provide total coverage. As a result internet search engines such as Google and AltaVista proved popular as a way of allowing users to find the increasingly specialist content they were looking for.
There is a similar situation developing in the mobile content industry. Given early adopter usage of mobile services, there has been a vast increase in the depth of content developed for mobile phones. There are now few large organizations that do not offer a mobile service of some sort. Most of the operators run their own portals that showcase the best available content. However, given the limitations of a mobile phones screen size and general navigability, most of available content that has been written for mobile users is effectively invisible to users. Research from Qpass suggests that less than 36% of an operator's portal is within 30 seconds navigation distance for the user - this being the expected time users expect to find content in.
The early deals are taking place as cell phone operators recognize that mobile Internet search is an inherently different business than its desktop counterpart. Whereas people might use a Web-connected personal computer to search for information about an 18th-century British author, they are more likely to use cell phones to find targeted information like news, weather and sports. Cell phones also offer much less space to enter in search terms and smaller screens to display results.
Some of the advancements by the major portals in Internet search, such as Google's famous page-ranking scheme, don't apply in the mobile world since people aren't searching for Web sites as much as answers to specific questions. Alltel's group president of operations, Kevin Beebe, says the Internet search giants aren't yet delivering the kind of results the mobile content industry wants. "What they're trying to do is take that core search capability and just jam it onto the phone," Mr. Beebe said. "That's probably not the right approach."
"Mobile search is a battle to define perhaps the most important new interface with the consumer," says John du Pre Gauntt, eMarketer Senior Analyst and the author of the new report, Mobile Search: Clash of the Titans. "Whoever cracks the consumer and commercial code for delivering and monetizing relevant answers for people on the go will secure a license to print money, at least for a time."
Mobile Search is important for the usability of mobile content for the same reasons as internet search engines became important to the usability of internet content. Early internet content was largely provided by portals such as Netscape. As the depth of available content grew, portals were unable to provide total coverage. As a result internet search engines such as Google and AltaVista proved popular as a way of allowing users to find the increasingly specialist content they were looking for.
There is a similar situation developing in the mobile content industry. Given early adopter usage of mobile services, there has been a vast increase in the depth of content developed for mobile phones. There are now few large organizations that do not offer a mobile service of some sort. Most of the operators run their own portals that showcase the best available content. However, given the limitations of a mobile phones screen size and general navigability, most of available content that has been written for mobile users is effectively invisible to users. Research from Qpass suggests that less than 36% of an operator's portal is within 30 seconds navigation distance for the user - this being the expected time users expect to find content in.
The early deals are taking place as cell phone operators recognize that mobile Internet search is an inherently different business than its desktop counterpart. Whereas people might use a Web-connected personal computer to search for information about an 18th-century British author, they are more likely to use cell phones to find targeted information like news, weather and sports. Cell phones also offer much less space to enter in search terms and smaller screens to display results.
Some of the advancements by the major portals in Internet search, such as Google's famous page-ranking scheme, don't apply in the mobile world since people aren't searching for Web sites as much as answers to specific questions. Alltel's group president of operations, Kevin Beebe, says the Internet search giants aren't yet delivering the kind of results the mobile content industry wants. "What they're trying to do is take that core search capability and just jam it onto the phone," Mr. Beebe said. "That's probably not the right approach."
"Mobile search is a battle to define perhaps the most important new interface with the consumer," says John du Pre Gauntt, eMarketer Senior Analyst and the author of the new report, Mobile Search: Clash of the Titans. "Whoever cracks the consumer and commercial code for delivering and monetizing relevant answers for people on the go will secure a license to print money, at least for a time."
Mobile Search
Mobile Search is an evolving branch of information retrieval services that is centered around the convergence of mobile platforms and mobile handsets or other mobile devices. The services allow users to find mobile content interactively on mobile websites, and mobile content shows a media shift toward mobile multimedia. Simply put, mobile search is not just a spatial shift of PC web search to mobile equipment, but is witnessing more of treelike branching into specialized segments of mobile broadband and mobile content, both of which show a fast-paced evolution.
Sleep and EEG effects
Sleep, EEG and waking rCBF have been studied in relation to RF exposure for a decade now, and the majority of papers published to date have found some form of effect. Whilst a Finnish study failed to find any effect on sleep or other cognitive function from pulsed RF exposure[37], most other papers have found significant effects on sleep[38][39][40][41][42][43]. Two of these papers found the effect was only present when the exposure was pulsed (amplitude modulated), and one early paper actually found that sleep quality (measured by the amount of participants' broken sleep) actually improved.
Whilst some papers were inconclusive or inconsistent[44][45], a number of studies have now demonstrated reversible EEG and rCBF alterations from exposure to pulsed RF exposure[46][47][48][49]. German research from 2006 found that statistically significant EEG changes could be consistently found, but only in a relatively low proportion of study participants (12 - 30%)[
Whilst some papers were inconclusive or inconsistent[44][45], a number of studies have now demonstrated reversible EEG and rCBF alterations from exposure to pulsed RF exposure[46][47][48][49]. German research from 2006 found that statistically significant EEG changes could be consistently found, but only in a relatively low proportion of study participants (12 - 30%)[
Mobile phones and cancer
In 2006 a large Danish study about the connection between mobile phone use and cancer incidence was published. It followed over 420,000 Danish citizens for 20 years and showed no increased risk of cancer.[22] The German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) consider this report as inconclusive.[23]
In order to investigate the risk of cancer for the mobile phone user, a cooperative project between 13 countries has been launched called INTERPHONE. The idea is that cancers need time to develop so only studies over 10 years are of interest.[24]
The following studies of long time exposure have been published:
* A Danish study (2004) that took place over 10 years and found no evidence to support a link.[22]
* A Swedish study (2005) that draws the conclusion that "the data do not support the hypothesis that mobile phone use is related to an increased risk of glioma or meningioma."[25]
* A British study (2005) that draws the conclusion that "The study suggests that there is no substantial risk of acoustic neuroma in the first decade after starting mobile phone use. However, an increase in risk after longer term use or after a longer lag period could not be ruled out."[26]
* A German study (2006) that states "In conclusion, no overall increased risk of glioma or meningioma was observed among these cellular phone users; however, for long-term cellular phone users, results need to be confirmed before firm conclusions can be drawn."[27]
* A joint study conducted in northern Europe that draws the conclusion that "Although our results overall do not indicate an increased risk of glioma in relation to mobile phone use, the possible risk in the most heavily exposed part of the brain with long-term use needs to be explored further before firm conclusions can be drawn."[28]
Other studies on cancer and mobile phones are:
* A Swedish scientific team at the Karolinska Institute conducted an epidemiological study (2004) that suggested that regular use of a mobile phone over a decade or more was associated with an increased risk of acoustic neuroma, a type of benign brain tumor. The increase was not noted in those who had used phones for fewer than 10 years.[29]
* The INTERPHONE study group from Japan published the results of a study of brain tumour risk and mobile phone use. They used a new approach: determining the SAR inside a tumour by calculating the radiofrequency field absorption in the exact tumour location. Cases examined included glioma, meninigioma, and pituitary adenoma. They reported that the overall odds ratio (OR) was not increased and that there was no significant trend towards an increasing OR in relation to exposure, as measured by SAR. [30]
In 2007, Dr. Lennart Hardell, from Örebro University in Sweden, reviewed published epidemiological papers (2 cohort studies and 16 case-control studies) and found that[31]:
* Cell phone users had an increased risk of malignant gliomas.
* Link between cell phone use and a higher rate of acoustic neuromas.
* Tumors are more likely to occur on the side of the head that the cell handset is used.
* One hour of cell phone use per day significantly increases tumor risk after ten years or more.
In a February 2008 update on the status of the INTERPHONE study IARC stated that the long term findings ‘…could either be causal or artifactual, related to differential recall between cases and controls.’[32]
* A self-published and non-peer reviewed meta-study by Dr. Vini Khurana, an Australian neurosurgeon, presented an "increasing body of evidence ... for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumours" and that it "is anticipated that this danger has far broader public health ramifications than asbestos and smoking".[33] This was criticised as ‘…an unbalanced analysis of the literature, which is also selective in support of the author’s claims.’[34]
A publication titled "Public health implications of wireless technologies" cites that Lennart Hardell found age is a significant factor. The report repeated the finding that the use of cell phones before age 20 increased the risk of brain tumors by 5.2, compared to 1.4 for all ages.[35] A review by Hardell et al. concluded that current mobile phones are not safe for long-term exposure. [36]
In order to investigate the risk of cancer for the mobile phone user, a cooperative project between 13 countries has been launched called INTERPHONE. The idea is that cancers need time to develop so only studies over 10 years are of interest.[24]
The following studies of long time exposure have been published:
* A Danish study (2004) that took place over 10 years and found no evidence to support a link.[22]
* A Swedish study (2005) that draws the conclusion that "the data do not support the hypothesis that mobile phone use is related to an increased risk of glioma or meningioma."[25]
* A British study (2005) that draws the conclusion that "The study suggests that there is no substantial risk of acoustic neuroma in the first decade after starting mobile phone use. However, an increase in risk after longer term use or after a longer lag period could not be ruled out."[26]
* A German study (2006) that states "In conclusion, no overall increased risk of glioma or meningioma was observed among these cellular phone users; however, for long-term cellular phone users, results need to be confirmed before firm conclusions can be drawn."[27]
* A joint study conducted in northern Europe that draws the conclusion that "Although our results overall do not indicate an increased risk of glioma in relation to mobile phone use, the possible risk in the most heavily exposed part of the brain with long-term use needs to be explored further before firm conclusions can be drawn."[28]
Other studies on cancer and mobile phones are:
* A Swedish scientific team at the Karolinska Institute conducted an epidemiological study (2004) that suggested that regular use of a mobile phone over a decade or more was associated with an increased risk of acoustic neuroma, a type of benign brain tumor. The increase was not noted in those who had used phones for fewer than 10 years.[29]
* The INTERPHONE study group from Japan published the results of a study of brain tumour risk and mobile phone use. They used a new approach: determining the SAR inside a tumour by calculating the radiofrequency field absorption in the exact tumour location. Cases examined included glioma, meninigioma, and pituitary adenoma. They reported that the overall odds ratio (OR) was not increased and that there was no significant trend towards an increasing OR in relation to exposure, as measured by SAR. [30]
In 2007, Dr. Lennart Hardell, from Örebro University in Sweden, reviewed published epidemiological papers (2 cohort studies and 16 case-control studies) and found that[31]:
* Cell phone users had an increased risk of malignant gliomas.
* Link between cell phone use and a higher rate of acoustic neuromas.
* Tumors are more likely to occur on the side of the head that the cell handset is used.
* One hour of cell phone use per day significantly increases tumor risk after ten years or more.
In a February 2008 update on the status of the INTERPHONE study IARC stated that the long term findings ‘…could either be causal or artifactual, related to differential recall between cases and controls.’[32]
* A self-published and non-peer reviewed meta-study by Dr. Vini Khurana, an Australian neurosurgeon, presented an "increasing body of evidence ... for a link between mobile phone usage and certain brain tumours" and that it "is anticipated that this danger has far broader public health ramifications than asbestos and smoking".[33] This was criticised as ‘…an unbalanced analysis of the literature, which is also selective in support of the author’s claims.’[34]
A publication titled "Public health implications of wireless technologies" cites that Lennart Hardell found age is a significant factor. The report repeated the finding that the use of cell phones before age 20 increased the risk of brain tumors by 5.2, compared to 1.4 for all ages.[35] A review by Hardell et al. concluded that current mobile phones are not safe for long-term exposure. [36]
Genotoxic effects
Research published in 2004 by a team at the University of Athens had a reduction in reproductive capacity in fruit flies exposed to 6 minutes of 900 MHz pulsed radiation for five days.[16] Subsequent research, again conducted on fruit flies, was published in 2007, with the same exposure pattern but conducted at both 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, and had similar changes in reproductive capacity with no significant difference between the two frequencies.[17] Following additional tests published in a third article, the authors stated they thought their research suggested the changes were “…due to degeneration of large numbers of egg chambers after DNA fragmentation of their constituent cells …”.[18]
In 1995, in the journal Bioelectromagnetics, Wengong Lai and Mohinder Singh reported damaged DNA after two hours of microwave radiation at levels deemed safe according to government standards.[19] Later, in December 2004, a pan-European study named REFLEX (Risk Evaluation of Potential Environmental Hazards from Low Energy Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure Using Sensitive in vitro Methods), involving 12 collaborating laboratories in several countries showed some compelling evidence of DNA damage of cells in in-vitro cultures, when exposed between 0.3 to 2 watts/kg, whole-sample average. There were indications, but not rigorous evidence of other cell changes, including damage to chromosomes, alterations in the activity of certain genes and a boosted rate of cell division.[20] Reviews of in vitro genotoxicity studies have generally concluded that RF is not genotoxic and that studies reporting positive effects had experimental deficiences.
In 1995, in the journal Bioelectromagnetics, Wengong Lai and Mohinder Singh reported damaged DNA after two hours of microwave radiation at levels deemed safe according to government standards.[19] Later, in December 2004, a pan-European study named REFLEX (Risk Evaluation of Potential Environmental Hazards from Low Energy Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure Using Sensitive in vitro Methods), involving 12 collaborating laboratories in several countries showed some compelling evidence of DNA damage of cells in in-vitro cultures, when exposed between 0.3 to 2 watts/kg, whole-sample average. There were indications, but not rigorous evidence of other cell changes, including damage to chromosomes, alterations in the activity of certain genes and a boosted rate of cell division.[20] Reviews of in vitro genotoxicity studies have generally concluded that RF is not genotoxic and that studies reporting positive effects had experimental deficiences.
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Some users of mobile handsets have reported feeling several unspecific symptoms during and after its use; ranging from burning and tingling sensations in the skin of the head and extremities, fatigue, sleep disturbances, dizziness, loss of mental attention, reaction times and memory retentiveness, headaches, malaise, tachycardia (heart palpitations), to disturbances of the digestive system. Reports have noted that all of these symptoms can also be attributed to stress and that current research cannot separate the symptoms from nocebo effects.[15]
Blood-brain barrier effects
Swedish researchers from Lund University (Salford, Brun, Perrson, Eberhardt, and Malmgren) have studied the effects of microwave radiation on the rat brain. They found a leakage of albumin into the brain via a permeated blood-brain barrier.[11][12] Other groups have not confirmed these findings in cell [13] or animal studies.[14]
Non-thermal effects
The communications protocols used by mobile phones often result in low-frequency pulsing of the carrier signal. Whether these modulations have biological significance has been subject to debate. [9]
Some researchers have argued that so-called "non-thermal effects" could be reinterpreted as a normal cellular response to an increase in temperature. The German biophysicist Roland Glaser, for example[10], has argued that there are several thermoreceptor molecules in cells, and that they activate a cascade of second and third messenger systems, gene expression mechanisms and production of heat shock proteins in order to defend the cell against metabolic cell stress caused by heat. The increases in temperature that cause these changes are too small to be detected by studies such as REFLEX, which base their whole argument on the apparent stability of thermal equilibrium in their cell cultures.
Some researchers have argued that so-called "non-thermal effects" could be reinterpreted as a normal cellular response to an increase in temperature. The German biophysicist Roland Glaser, for example[10], has argued that there are several thermoreceptor molecules in cells, and that they activate a cascade of second and third messenger systems, gene expression mechanisms and production of heat shock proteins in order to defend the cell against metabolic cell stress caused by heat. The increases in temperature that cause these changes are too small to be detected by studies such as REFLEX, which base their whole argument on the apparent stability of thermal equilibrium in their cell cultures.
Thermal effects
One well-understood effect of microwave radiation is dielectric heating, in which any dielectric material (such as living tissue) is heated by rotations of polar molecules induced by the electromagnetic field. In the case of a person using a cell phone, most of the heating effect will occur at the surface of the head, causing its temperature to increase by a fraction of a degree. In this case, the level of temperature increase is an order of magnitude less than that obtained during the exposure of the head to direct sunlight. The brain's blood circulation is capable of disposing of excess heat by increasing local blood flow. However, the cornea of the eye does not have this temperature regulation mechanism and exposure of 2-3 hours' duration has been reported to produce cataracts in rabbits' eyes at SAR values from 100-140W/kg, which produced lenticular temperatures of 41°C.[verification needed][8] Premature cataracts have not been linked with cell phone use, possibly because of the lower power output of mobile phones.
Health hazards of handsets
Radiation absorption
Part of the radio waves emitted by a mobile telephone handset are absorbed by the human head. The radio waves emitted by a GSM handset, can have a peak power of 2 watts, and a US analogue phone had a maximum transmit power of 3.6 watts. Other digital mobile technologies, such as CDMA2000 and D-AMPS, use lower output power, typically below 1 watt, UVA. The maximum power output from a mobile phone is regulated by the mobile phone standard it is following and by the regulatory agencies in each country. In most systems the cellphone and the base station check reception quality and signal strength and the power level is increased or decreased automatically, within a certain span, to accommodate for different situations such as inside or outside of buildings and vehicles. The rate at which radiation is absorbed by the human body is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), and its maximum levels for modern handsets have been set by governmental regulating agencies in many countries. In the USA, the FCC has set a SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg, averaged over a volume of 1 gram of tissue, for the head. In Europe, the limit is 2 W/kg, averaged over a volume of 10 grams of tissue. SAR values are heavily dependent on the size of the averaging volume. Without information about the averaging volume used comparisons between different measurements can not be made. Thus, the European 10-gram ratings should be compared among themselves, and the American 1-gram ratings should only be compared among themselves. SAR data for specific mobile phones, along with other useful information, can be found directly on manufacturers' websites, as well as on third party web sites.[7]
Part of the radio waves emitted by a mobile telephone handset are absorbed by the human head. The radio waves emitted by a GSM handset, can have a peak power of 2 watts, and a US analogue phone had a maximum transmit power of 3.6 watts. Other digital mobile technologies, such as CDMA2000 and D-AMPS, use lower output power, typically below 1 watt, UVA. The maximum power output from a mobile phone is regulated by the mobile phone standard it is following and by the regulatory agencies in each country. In most systems the cellphone and the base station check reception quality and signal strength and the power level is increased or decreased automatically, within a certain span, to accommodate for different situations such as inside or outside of buildings and vehicles. The rate at which radiation is absorbed by the human body is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), and its maximum levels for modern handsets have been set by governmental regulating agencies in many countries. In the USA, the FCC has set a SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg, averaged over a volume of 1 gram of tissue, for the head. In Europe, the limit is 2 W/kg, averaged over a volume of 10 grams of tissue. SAR values are heavily dependent on the size of the averaging volume. Without information about the averaging volume used comparisons between different measurements can not be made. Thus, the European 10-gram ratings should be compared among themselves, and the American 1-gram ratings should only be compared among themselves. SAR data for specific mobile phones, along with other useful information, can be found directly on manufacturers' websites, as well as on third party web sites.[7]
Risks
Many scientific studies have investigated possible health effects of mobile phone radiations. These studies are occasionally reviewed by some scientific committees to assess overall risks. The most recent assessment was published in 2007 by the European Commission Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR). It concludes from the available research that no significant health effect has been demonstrated from mobile phone radiation at normal exposure levels:
* Normal exposure to mobile phone radiation cannot cause headaches or dizziness, nor can it cause brain cancers, neurological effects or reproductive effects.
* A few inconclusive studies suggest that it may cause a benign tumour of the auditory nerve.
* However, more studies concerning potential health effects on children are needed.[6]
* Normal exposure to mobile phone radiation cannot cause headaches or dizziness, nor can it cause brain cancers, neurological effects or reproductive effects.
* A few inconclusive studies suggest that it may cause a benign tumour of the auditory nerve.
* However, more studies concerning potential health effects on children are needed.[6]
Mobile phone radiation and health
Mobile phone radiation and health concerns have been raised, especially following the enormous increase in the use of wireless mobile telephony throughout the world (as of August 2005[update], there were more than 2 billion users worldwide). Mobile phones use electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range, and some researchers[1] believe this may be harmful to human health. These concerns have induced a large body of research (both epidemiological and experimental, in non-human animals and in humans). Concerns about effects on health have also been raised regarding other digital wireless systems, such as data communication networks.
The World Health Organization, based upon the consensus view of the scientific and medical communities, states that cancer is unlikely to be caused by cellular phones or their base stations and that reviews have found no convincing evidence for other health effects.[2][3] The WHO expects to make recommendations about mobile phones in October 2009.[4] Some national radiation advisory authorities[5] have recommended measures to minimize exposure to their citizens.
The World Health Organization, based upon the consensus view of the scientific and medical communities, states that cancer is unlikely to be caused by cellular phones or their base stations and that reviews have found no convincing evidence for other health effects.[2][3] The WHO expects to make recommendations about mobile phones in October 2009.[4] Some national radiation advisory authorities[5] have recommended measures to minimize exposure to their citizens.
Banning
Many places limit or restrict the use of mobile phones. Many schools has set restrictions on the use of mobile phones because of the use of cell phones for cheating on tests, harassing other people, causing threats to the schools security, and causing gossip and other drama in school. Many mobile phones are banned in school locker room facilities and in public restrooms. New camera phones are required to have a shutter effect when a photo is taken.[citation needed]
Cell phone use is banned while driving in some states, either for adolescent drivers or everyone. Text messaging and wireless internet is banned while driving in most areas because of safety precautions.
Cell phone use is banned while driving in some states, either for adolescent drivers or everyone. Text messaging and wireless internet is banned while driving in most areas because of safety precautions.
Controversial raw materials
Mobile phones and other electronic products have high quality capacitors in them, which contain Tantalum. A major source of Tantalum is the coltan ore from some illegal mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo operated by rebel groups to get money to fund their civil war.[27] A typical mobile phone has 40 milligrams of Tantalum. A conflict-free source of Tantalum are mines at Wodgina in the Pilbara region near Perth, Australia.
Health risks
Because mobile phones emit electromagnetic radiation, concerns have been raised about cancer risks that may pose when used for long periods of time.[21] This radiation is non-ionizing, but localized heating can occur. The current consensus view of the scientific and medical communities is that health effects are very unlikely to be caused by cellular phones or their base stations
Cellular phones became widely available only relatively recently, while tumors can take decades to develop. For this reason, some health authorities have urged that the precautionary principle be observed, recommending that use and proximity to the head be minimized, especially by children.
Cellular phones became widely available only relatively recently, while tumors can take decades to develop. For this reason, some health authorities have urged that the precautionary principle be observed, recommending that use and proximity to the head be minimized, especially by children.
Privacy
Cell phones have numerous privacy issues associated with them, and are regularly used by governments to perform surveillance.
Law enforcement and intelligence services in the U.K. and the United States possess technology to remotely activate the microphones in cell phones in order to listen to conversations that take place nearby the person who holds the phone.
Mobile phones are also commonly used to collect location data. The geographical location of a mobile phone can be determined easily (whether it is being used or not), using a technique known multilateration to calculate the differences in time for a signal to travel from the cell phone to each of several cell towers near the owner of the phone.
Law enforcement and intelligence services in the U.K. and the United States possess technology to remotely activate the microphones in cell phones in order to listen to conversations that take place nearby the person who holds the phone.
Mobile phones are also commonly used to collect location data. The geographical location of a mobile phone can be determined easily (whether it is being used or not), using a technique known multilateration to calculate the differences in time for a signal to travel from the cell phone to each of several cell towers near the owner of the phone.
Usage
The cell-phone novel is the first literary genre to emerge from the cellular age via text messaging to a website that collects the novels as a whole.[16] In virtual online computer games, readers can put themselves into first person in the story. Cell phone novels create a personal space for each individual reader. Paul Levinson, in Information on the Move (2004), says "...nowadays, a writer can write just about as easily, anywhere, as a reader can read" and they are "not only personal but portable".
WiFi Phones
A relatively new type of mobile phone. These phones deliver calls over wireless internet networks as opposed to traditional CDMA and GSM network. Witel developed a WiFi phone in June 2009 that it retails for $59.99 making global calling affordable.
Satellite phone
This type of phone communicates directly with an artificial satellite, which in turn relays calls to a base station or another satellite phone. A single satellite can provide coverage to a much greater area than terrestrial base stations. Since satellite phones are costly, their use is typically limited to people in remote areas where no mobile phone coverage exists, such as mountain climbers, mariners in the open sea, and news reporters at disaster sites.
Radio phone
This is a term which covers radios which could connect into the telephone network. These phones may not be mobile; for example, they may require a mains power supply, they may require the assistance of a human operator to set up a PSTN phone call.
Professional Mobile Radio
Advanced professional mobile radio systems can be very similar to mobile phone systems. Notably, the IDEN standard has been used as both a private trunked radio system as well as the technology for several large public providers. Similar attempts have even been made to use TETRA, the European digital PMR standard, to implement public mobile networks.
Cordless telephone (portable phone)
Cordless phones are telephones which use one or more radio handsets in place of a wired handset. The handsets connect wirelessly to a base station, which in turn connects to a conventional land line for calling. Unlike mobile phones, cordless phones use private base stations (belonging to the land-line subscriber), and which are not shared.
Car phone
A type of telephone permanently mounted in a vehicle, these often have more powerful transmitters, an external antenna and loudspeaker for handsfree use. They usually connect to the same networks as regular mobile phones.
Mobile Technology Reviews
Mobile Technology Reviews provides the following report on mobile phones destined for success in 2008.
Apple iphone tops the list followed by Ocean in spite of its carrier's setbacks; this phone stands out with lots of features to offer. The LG Voyager made the list with some cool features you might want in a cell phone. The Razr2 V9 revitalized the obsolete Razr. The Samsung SPH-M620 stood out with unique design and seamlessly mixing music with cell phone, very elegant. Finally not the least Motorola V195 gave the user a new meaning to cell phone, i.e. doing exactly what a cell phone is supposed to do, make calls. With these final words, lets launch yourself into 2008 and some exciting technology's awaits us starting from a 5 mega pixel camera to a Mobile projector, yes a mobile phone projector releases you from the shakes of tiny displays, Microvision has partnered up with a confidential partner to bring you this cool feature.
Apple iphone tops the list followed by Ocean in spite of its carrier's setbacks; this phone stands out with lots of features to offer. The LG Voyager made the list with some cool features you might want in a cell phone. The Razr2 V9 revitalized the obsolete Razr. The Samsung SPH-M620 stood out with unique design and seamlessly mixing music with cell phone, very elegant. Finally not the least Motorola V195 gave the user a new meaning to cell phone, i.e. doing exactly what a cell phone is supposed to do, make calls. With these final words, lets launch yourself into 2008 and some exciting technology's awaits us starting from a 5 mega pixel camera to a Mobile projector, yes a mobile phone projector releases you from the shakes of tiny displays, Microvision has partnered up with a confidential partner to bring you this cool feature.
who made mobile
The first mobile phone was made by a saitlite in space that connected to all the phones and allowed us to connect from long distances. Oh we should thank that great inventer Alexander Graham bell who allows us this.
Wireless Mobile phone Forex trading software for Pocket PC or Palm
Monitor your account, check prices and open and close positions - todays specifically designed software offers everything you need when away from your PC. You can use most up to date mobile phones that support internet browsers or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).
Please note that you must have an existing service contract with a cellular phone company and an Internet-enabled mobile device to access mobile (wireless) forex trading platforms
DealBook® FX Mobile
The Enhanced version for pocket PC users includes standard features, such as live streaming quotes, full-color charting, complete access to real-time transaction history, account statements and position, margin and risk-analysis.
MetaTrader 4 Mobile
Mobile trading (m-trading) — controlling of trading account via mobile devices such a cellular phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Wireless access technologies WAP and GPRS provide access to the Internet. MetaTrader 4 Mobile for Pocket PC program is comparable with full-function trading terminal.
Mobile Forex
Traders can use their web-enabled Mobile Devices, including phones and Personal Digital Assistants to connect to our proprietary wireless version of the DealStation™ to check rates & news, to monitor account status, and to place orders. We are particularly proud to be pioneers in this wireless evolution, which brings our clients even closer to the market.
MG Wireless Trading keeps traders connected to the market 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and from anywhere around the world. Here are some of the benefits of MG Wireless Solutions:
MG Wireless Trading keeps traders connected to the market 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and from anywhere around the world. Here are some of the benefits of MG Wireless Solutions:
Features
Main articles: Mobile phone features, Smartphone, and iPhone
Mobile phones often have features beyond sending text messages and making voice calls, including call registers, GPS navigation, music (MP3) and video (MP4) playback, RDS radio receiver, alarms, memo and document recording, personal organiser and personal digital assistant functions, ability to watch streaming video or download video for later viewing, video calling, built-in cameras (3.2+ Mpx) and camcorders (video recording), with autofocus and flash, ringtones, games, PTT, memory card reader (SD), USB (2.0), infrared, Bluetooth (2.0) and WiFi connectivity, instant messaging, Internet e-mail and browsing and serving as a wireless modem for a PC, and soon will also serve as a console of sorts to online games and other high quality games.
our history
The Mobile World was founded in 2003 by financial analyst John Tysoe and investment banker Stephen Davidson. As professionals of long standing within the telecoms sector, they perceived a real need for “investment grade” data in the industry - high quality verified information on which real decisions could be made. The Mobile World exists to meet this need, and not just for financial institutions, but also for mobile operators, equipment vendors and consulting and professional services firms.
our founders 2
Stephen Davidson brings top level investment banking and industry experience to the Mobile World as Associate Principal Consultant. Stephen is best known as the former Chief Executive and Finance Director of Telewest Communications plc. After Telewest Stephen went on to a career as a senior investment banker in the TMT sector in the City of London.
In his career in investment banking Stephen became Sr MD Telecoms Investment Banking at Bear Stearns in London and later went on to become Vice Chairman, Investment Banking and Global Head of Telecoms, Media & Technology at WestLB Panmure. In addition to his role with The Mobile World, Stephen is currently a non-executive director of a number of high growth media and telecommunications companies.
our founders
John Tysoe was a financial analyst on the telecoms sector for more than 25 years in the City of London before founding The Mobile World. During his City career, John was head of telecoms research at Kleinwort Benson, NatWest Securities, Lehman Bros, Societe Generale, and WestLB Panmure. John has been at the forefront of mobile telecoms research since the very inception of the industry.
ABOUT US
The Mobile World is a market data and analysis company focused exclusively on the mobile telecommunications sector. Founded by experienced financial analysts and bankers, The Mobile World is the culmination of nearly three decades of mobile market research. With our unique expertise and understanding of the industry, we provide global mobile market and competitive intelligence with an unprecedented level of accuracy, detail and reliability.
HOME
The Mobile World is a market data and analysis company focused exclusively on the mobile telecommunications sector. Founded by experienced telecoms financial analysts and investment bankers, with more than three decades of experience at the forefront of mobile industry research, The Mobile World is now firmly established as the world's most accurate, detailed and accountable source of mobile market intelligence.
Bluetooth IEEE 802.15.1 vs. Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 in networking
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have many applications in today's offices, homes, and on the move: setting up networks, printing, or transferring presentations and files from PDAs to computers. Both are versions of unlicensed wireless technology.
Wi-Fi is intended for resident equipment and its applications. The category of applications is outlined as WLAN, the wireless local area networks. Wi-Fi is intended as a replacement for cabling for general local area network access in work areas.
Bluetooth is intended for non resident equipment and its applications. The category of applications is outlined as the wireless personal area network (WPAN). Bluetooth is a replacement for cabling in a variety of personally carried applications in any ambience.
Wi-Fi is intended for resident equipment and its applications. The category of applications is outlined as WLAN, the wireless local area networks. Wi-Fi is intended as a replacement for cabling for general local area network access in work areas.
Bluetooth is intended for non resident equipment and its applications. The category of applications is outlined as the wireless personal area network (WPAN). Bluetooth is a replacement for cabling in a variety of personally carried applications in any ambience.
Operating systems of Bluetooth
* Linux: Initial. A2DP support was added to BlueZ in version 3.15. The instructions to set up A2DP can be found in the BlueZ Wiki.
* Mac OS X: As of version 10.5, Mac OS X includes native support for A2DP on Bluetooth-equipped Macs.[3] Version 10.4 does not support A2DP, but can be hacked to enable limited functionality.[4] Softick Audio Gateway for Mac OS X also supports A2DP. The iPhone variant of OS X supports this, but only in version 3.0.
* iPhone: Version 3.0 of the iPhone operating system, due to be released Summer 2009, support A2DP.
* Palm OS: A2DP support was introduced in 2006 by Softick with their Softick Audio Gateway shareware program.
* Symbian Series60: Devices running Series60 3rd Edition FP1 (S60v3.1/Symbian 9.1) and newer support A2DP [5]
* Motorola P2K: Motorola L9 running on P2K supports A2DP Profile.
* UIQ: UIQ 3.0 (Symbian 9.1) and newer support A2DP.[5]
* Windows Mobile (previously Pocket PC): Version 5.0 and newer (with AKU 2.0), thus far based on the Windows CE 5.0 kernel, fully support A2DP if an appropriate device is present.
* Windows XP: Does not natively support A2DP, but newer Bluetooth USB dongles and built-in adapters include drivers with A2DP support.[6]
* Windows Vista: Supports A2DP after installing an April 2007 update to the Bluetooth stack, which enables A2DP for supported dongles.[7] No update has been made available through Microsoft as of Feb. 13, 2008, though a Widcomm update may be available to some.
* Windows 7: Supported.
* BlackBerry: Supports A2DP in Operating System 4.2.
* Android: Not supported until cupcake release.[8]
[edit] Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
This profile is designed to provide a standard interface to control TVs, Hi-fi equipment, etc. to allow a single remote control (or other device) to control all of the A/V equipment to which a user has access. It may be used in concert with A2DP or VDP.
It has the possibility for vendor-dependent extensions. Additionally, with the version 1.3 release of the specification, there is now capability to transmit information on the status of the music source (playing, stopped, etc), including information on the track itself (artist, track name, etc).
[edit] Basic Imaging Profile (BIP)
This profile is designed for sending images between devices and includes the ability to resize, and convert images to make them suitable for the receiving device. It may be broken down into smaller pieces:
Image Push
Allows the sending of images from a device the user controls.
Image Pull
Allows the browsing and retrieval of images from a remote device.
Advanced Image Printing
print images with advanced options using the DPOF format developed by Canon, Kodak, Fujifilm, and Matsushita
Automatic Archive
Allows the automatic backup of all the new images from a target device. For example, a laptop could download all of the new pictures from a camera whenever it is within range.
Remote Camera
Allows the initiator to remotely use a digital camera. For example, a user could place a camera on a tripod for a group photo, use their phone handset to check that everyone is in frame, and activate the shutter with the user in the photo.
Remote Display
Allows the initiator to push images to be displayed on another device. For example, a user could give a presentation by sending the slides to a video projector.
* Mac OS X: As of version 10.5, Mac OS X includes native support for A2DP on Bluetooth-equipped Macs.[3] Version 10.4 does not support A2DP, but can be hacked to enable limited functionality.[4] Softick Audio Gateway for Mac OS X also supports A2DP. The iPhone variant of OS X supports this, but only in version 3.0.
* iPhone: Version 3.0 of the iPhone operating system, due to be released Summer 2009, support A2DP.
* Palm OS: A2DP support was introduced in 2006 by Softick with their Softick Audio Gateway shareware program.
* Symbian Series60: Devices running Series60 3rd Edition FP1 (S60v3.1/Symbian 9.1) and newer support A2DP [5]
* Motorola P2K: Motorola L9 running on P2K supports A2DP Profile.
* UIQ: UIQ 3.0 (Symbian 9.1) and newer support A2DP.[5]
* Windows Mobile (previously Pocket PC): Version 5.0 and newer (with AKU 2.0), thus far based on the Windows CE 5.0 kernel, fully support A2DP if an appropriate device is present.
* Windows XP: Does not natively support A2DP, but newer Bluetooth USB dongles and built-in adapters include drivers with A2DP support.[6]
* Windows Vista: Supports A2DP after installing an April 2007 update to the Bluetooth stack, which enables A2DP for supported dongles.[7] No update has been made available through Microsoft as of Feb. 13, 2008, though a Widcomm update may be available to some.
* Windows 7: Supported.
* BlackBerry: Supports A2DP in Operating System 4.2.
* Android: Not supported until cupcake release.[8]
[edit] Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
This profile is designed to provide a standard interface to control TVs, Hi-fi equipment, etc. to allow a single remote control (or other device) to control all of the A/V equipment to which a user has access. It may be used in concert with A2DP or VDP.
It has the possibility for vendor-dependent extensions. Additionally, with the version 1.3 release of the specification, there is now capability to transmit information on the status of the music source (playing, stopped, etc), including information on the track itself (artist, track name, etc).
[edit] Basic Imaging Profile (BIP)
This profile is designed for sending images between devices and includes the ability to resize, and convert images to make them suitable for the receiving device. It may be broken down into smaller pieces:
Image Push
Allows the sending of images from a device the user controls.
Image Pull
Allows the browsing and retrieval of images from a remote device.
Advanced Image Printing
print images with advanced options using the DPOF format developed by Canon, Kodak, Fujifilm, and Matsushita
Automatic Archive
Allows the automatic backup of all the new images from a target device. For example, a laptop could download all of the new pictures from a camera whenever it is within range.
Remote Camera
Allows the initiator to remotely use a digital camera. For example, a user could place a camera on a tripod for a group photo, use their phone handset to check that everyone is in frame, and activate the shutter with the user in the photo.
Remote Display
Allows the initiator to push images to be displayed on another device. For example, a user could give a presentation by sending the slides to a video projector.
A Bluetooth profile
A Bluetooth profile is a wireless interface specification for Bluetooth-based communication between devices. In order to use Bluetooth technology, a device must be compatible with the subset of Bluetooth profiles necessary to use the desired services. A Bluetooth profile resides on top of the Bluetooth Core Specification and (optionally) additional protocols. While the profile may use certain features of the core specification, specific versions of profiles are rarely tied to specific versions of the core specification. For example, there are HFP 1.5 implementations using both Bluetooth 2.0 and Bluetooth 1.2 core specifications.
The way a device uses Bluetooth technology depends on its profile capabilities. The profiles provide standards which manufacturers follow to allow devices to use Bluetooth in the intended manner.
At a minimum, each profile specification contains information on the following topics:
* Dependencies on other profiles
* Suggested user interface formats
* Specific parts of the Bluetooth protocol stack used by the profile. To perform its task, each profile uses particular options and parameters at each layer of the stack. This may include an outline of the required service record, if appropriate.
This article summarizes the current definitions and possible applications of each profile.
The way a device uses Bluetooth technology depends on its profile capabilities. The profiles provide standards which manufacturers follow to allow devices to use Bluetooth in the intended manner.
At a minimum, each profile specification contains information on the following topics:
* Dependencies on other profiles
* Suggested user interface formats
* Specific parts of the Bluetooth protocol stack used by the profile. To perform its task, each profile uses particular options and parameters at each layer of the stack. This may include an outline of the required service record, if appropriate.
This article summarizes the current definitions and possible applications of each profile.
Uses of Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard and communications protocol primarily designed for low power consumption, with a short range (power-class-dependent: 1 meter, 10 meters, 100 meters) based on low-cost transceiver microchips in each device.[5] Bluetooth makes it possible for these devices to communicate with each other when they are in range. Because the devices use a radio (broadcast) communications system, they do not have to be in line of sight of each other.[4]
Implementation
Bluetooth uses a radio technology called frequency-hopping spread spectrum, which chops up the data being sent and transmits chunks of it on up to 79 frequencies. In its basic mode, the modulation is Gaussian frequency-shift keying (GFSK). It can achieve a gross data rate of 1 Mb/s. Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices such as mobile phones, telephones, laptops, personal computers, printers, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, digital cameras, and video game consoles through a secure, globally unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) 2.4 GHz short-range radio frequency bandwidth. The Bluetooth specifications are developed and licensed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The Bluetooth SIG consists of companies in the areas of telecommunication, computing, networking, and consumer electronics.[4]
Origin of the Bluetooth logo
The Bluetooth logo design merges the Germanic runes analogous to the modern Latin letters H and B: (for Harald Bluetooth) (Hagall) and (Berkanan) merged together, forming a bind rune.
Origin of the name
The word Bluetooth is an anglicized version of Old Norse Blátönn or Danish Blåtand, the name of the tenth-century king Harald I of Denmark and Norway, who united dissonant Scandinavian tribes into a single kingdom. The implication is that Bluetooth does the same with communications protocols, uniting them into one universal standard.[1][2][3]
It is possible that the name may have been inspired less by the historical Harald, than by the loose interpretation of him in The Long Ships by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson, a Swedish Viking-inspired novel.[citation needed]
It is possible that the name may have been inspired less by the historical Harald, than by the loose interpretation of him in The Long Ships by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson, a Swedish Viking-inspired novel.[citation needed]
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is an open wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs). It was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS232 data cables. It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization.
BREW
Ideal for deploying applications for deployment on CDMA-based networks (also supports GPRS/GSM models) with a deployed Brew Content Platform especially if OTA app deployment is desired. Little penetration in Europe.
.NET Compact Framework
Ideal for deployment on homogeneous Pocket-PC devices. However not cross platform and limited to Microsoft Windows Mobile devices.
Lazarus
Ideal for prototyping and quickly developing database powered applications. Also useful for porting Object Pascal software to mobiles. Can access the native APIs when translated headers are available.
iPhone
The iPhone and iPod Touch SDK uses Objective C, based on the C programming language. Currently, is only available on Mac OS X 10.5 and is the only way to write an iPhone application. All applications must be cleared by Apple before being hosted on the AppStore, the sole distribution channel for iPhone and iPod touch applications. However, non-Apple approved applications can be released to for jailbroken iPhones via Cydia or Installer.
BlackBerry
supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services as well as a multi-touch interface. It has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. The BlackBerry devices soon took a dominating position on
the north-american smartphone market. Also important for BlackBerry are the BES (Black Berry Enterprise Server) and the Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS).
the north-american smartphone market. Also important for BlackBerry are the BES (Black Berry Enterprise Server) and the Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS).
Android
Recently announced by the Open Handset Alliance, whose 34 members include Google, HTC, Motorola, Qualcomm, and T-Mobile, Android is a new Linux-based platform currently available only as a developer pre-release. Although it does not yet have any fielded implementations, its support by 34 major software, hardware and telecoms companies makes it likely that it will be rapidly adopted from 2008. The Linux kernel is used as a hardware abstraction layer (HAL). Application programming is exclusively done in Java. You need the Android specific Java SDK. Besides the Android Java Libraries it is possible to use normal Java IDEs.
Symbian
Very powerful for general purpose development. The Symbian based S60 platform is strongly supported by Nokia with some support from other device manufacturers. In Japan NTT DoCoMo's Symbian based MOAP platform is also well supported by a number of manufacturers (Fujitsu, Sony Ericsson Japan, Mitsubishi and Sharp amongst others). It should be noted, however, that MOAP is not an open development platform. Another Symbian based platform, UIQ, is less well supported (principally by Sony Ericsson and Motorola). Currently large device deployments in Europe and Japan, with little penetration in the US market.
Java ME
Ideal for a portable solution, if the Java ME platform provides the needed functionality. Good for vertical applications that must be portable. Device-specific libraries exist for many devices and are commonly used for games, making them non-portable. Applications (including their data) cannot be larger than around 1 MB if they are to run on most phones. They must also be cryptographically signed in order to effectively use many APIs such as the filesystem access API. This is relatively expensive and is rarely done, even for commercial applications.
Softbank May Raise Spending 11% for Network Expansion
Summary (6/30/2007) Softbank Corp., which owns Japan’s third-largest mobile-phone company, plans to boost capital spending at least 11 percent this year to expand its network and catch up with bigger rivals NTT DoCoMo Inc. and KDDI Corp. The company will raise spending to about 432.9 billion yen ($3.5 billion) in the 12 months ending March 2008, from 389.8 billion yen a year earlier, Tokyo-based Softbank said in a financial statement submitted to the Ministry of Finance on June 22. The mobile-phone unit will increase spending at least 26 percent to about 387.9 billion yen, according to the document.Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son failed to meet his network expansion plans last fiscal year. By the end of March, Softbank had 29,404 base stations, which transmit mobile-phone signals, missing the company’s own target and trailing DoCoMo’s number of stations by 36 percent. (Bloomberg) http://www.mobilemediajapan.com/
Aims and Scope
Recent advances in wireless technology have led to mobile computing, a new dimension in data communication and processing. Many predict a new emerging, gigantic market with millions of mobile users carrying small, battery-powered terminals equipped with wireless connection, and as a result, the way people use information resources is predicted to be radically transformed. The International Journal of Mobile Information Systems (IJMIS) presents visionary concepts and stimulating ideas in mobile information systems at both the theory and application levels. The objectives of the journal are to be a source for mobile information systems research and development, and to serve as an outlet for facilitating communication and networking among mobile information systems researchers, practitioners, and professionals across academics, government, industry and students. The journal is published multiple times a year, with the purpose of providing a forum for state-of-the-art development and research, as well as current innovative activities in mobile information systems. The main goal will be to provide timely dissemination of information.
http://www.iospress.nl/loadtop/load.php?isbn=1574017x
http://www.iospress.nl/loadtop/load.php?isbn=1574017x
Phone Information
The phone information pages cover many of the phones produced but will not always be up to date with the latest phones due to the large number released. The primary aim of the phone information pages is to offer an archive of information after the phone manufacturers replace a phone and remove it's information from their website. If there are any phones that we have missed let us know and we'll try and get the information and add it.
SIM card
In addition to the battery, GSM cellphones require a small microchip, called a Subscriber Identity Module or SIM Card, to function. Approximately the size of a small postage stamp, the SIM Card is usually placed underneath the battery in the rear of the unit, and (when properly activated) stores the phone's configuration data, and information about the phone itself, such as which calling plan the subscriber is using. When the subscriber removes the SIM Card, it can be re-inserted into another phone and used as normal.
Each SIM Card is activated by use of a unique numerical identifier; once activated, the identifier is locked down and the card is permanently locked in to the activating network. For this reason, most retailers refuse to accept the return of an activated SIM Card.
Those cell phones that do not use a SIM Card have the data programmed in to their memory. This data is accessed by using a special digit sequence to access the "NAM" as in "Name" or number programming menu. From here, one can add information such as a new number for your phone, new Service Provider numbers, new emergency numbers, change their Authentication Key or A-Key code, and update their Preferred Roaming List or PRL. However, to prevent someone from accidentally disabling their phone or removing it from the network, the Service Provider puts a lock on this data called a Master Subsidiary Lock or MSL.
The MSL also ensures that the Service Provider gets payment for the phone that was purchased or "leased". For example, the Motorola RAZR V9C costs upwards of CAD $500. You can get one for approximately $200, depending on the carrier. The difference is paid by the customer in the form of a monthly bill. If the carrier did not use a MSL, then they may lose the $300–$400 difference that is paid in the monthly bill, since some customers would cancel their service and take the phone to another carrier.
The MSL applies to the SIM only so once the contract has been completed the MSL still applies to the SIM. The phone however, is also initially locked by the manufacturer into the Service Providers MSL. This lock may be disabled so that the phone can use other Service Providers SIM cards. Most phones purchased outside the US are unlocked phones because there are numerous Service Providers in close proximity to one another or have overlapping coverage. The cost to unlock a phone varies but is usually very cheap and is sometimes provided by independant phone vendors.
Having an unlocked phone is extremely useful for travelers due to the high cost of using the MSL Service Providers access when outside the normal coverage areas. It can cost sometimes up to 10 times as much to use a locked phone overseas as in the normal service area, even with discounted rates.
For example, in Jamaica, an AT&T subscriber might pay in excess of US$1.65 per minute for discounted international service while a B-Mobile (Jamaican) customer would pay US$0.20 per minute for the same international service. Some Service Providers focus sales on international sales while others focus on regional sales. For example, the same B-Mobile customer might pay more for local calls but less for international calls than a subscriber to the Jamaican national phone C&W (Cable & Wireless) company. These rate differences are mainly due to currency variations because SIM purchases are made in the local currency. In the US, this type of service competition does not exist because some of the major Service Providers do not offer Pay-As-You-Go services. [Needs Pay-As-You-Go references, rumored T-Mobile,Verizon provide one, AT&T does not as of 12/2008]
Each SIM Card is activated by use of a unique numerical identifier; once activated, the identifier is locked down and the card is permanently locked in to the activating network. For this reason, most retailers refuse to accept the return of an activated SIM Card.
Those cell phones that do not use a SIM Card have the data programmed in to their memory. This data is accessed by using a special digit sequence to access the "NAM" as in "Name" or number programming menu. From here, one can add information such as a new number for your phone, new Service Provider numbers, new emergency numbers, change their Authentication Key or A-Key code, and update their Preferred Roaming List or PRL. However, to prevent someone from accidentally disabling their phone or removing it from the network, the Service Provider puts a lock on this data called a Master Subsidiary Lock or MSL.
The MSL also ensures that the Service Provider gets payment for the phone that was purchased or "leased". For example, the Motorola RAZR V9C costs upwards of CAD $500. You can get one for approximately $200, depending on the carrier. The difference is paid by the customer in the form of a monthly bill. If the carrier did not use a MSL, then they may lose the $300–$400 difference that is paid in the monthly bill, since some customers would cancel their service and take the phone to another carrier.
The MSL applies to the SIM only so once the contract has been completed the MSL still applies to the SIM. The phone however, is also initially locked by the manufacturer into the Service Providers MSL. This lock may be disabled so that the phone can use other Service Providers SIM cards. Most phones purchased outside the US are unlocked phones because there are numerous Service Providers in close proximity to one another or have overlapping coverage. The cost to unlock a phone varies but is usually very cheap and is sometimes provided by independant phone vendors.
Having an unlocked phone is extremely useful for travelers due to the high cost of using the MSL Service Providers access when outside the normal coverage areas. It can cost sometimes up to 10 times as much to use a locked phone overseas as in the normal service area, even with discounted rates.
For example, in Jamaica, an AT&T subscriber might pay in excess of US$1.65 per minute for discounted international service while a B-Mobile (Jamaican) customer would pay US$0.20 per minute for the same international service. Some Service Providers focus sales on international sales while others focus on regional sales. For example, the same B-Mobile customer might pay more for local calls but less for international calls than a subscriber to the Jamaican national phone C&W (Cable & Wireless) company. These rate differences are mainly due to currency variations because SIM purchases are made in the local currency. In the US, this type of service competition does not exist because some of the major Service Providers do not offer Pay-As-You-Go services. [Needs Pay-As-You-Go references, rumored T-Mobile,Verizon provide one, AT&T does not as of 12/2008]
Car phone
A type of telephone permanently mounted in a vehicle, these often have more powerful transmitters, an external antenna and loudspeaker for handsfree use. They usually connect to the same networks as regular mobile phones.
Culture and customs
Between the 1980s and the 2000s, the mobile phone has gone from being an expensive item used by the business elite to a pervasive, personal communications tool for the general population. In most countries, mobile phones outnumber land-line phones, with fixed landlines numbering 1.3 billion but mobile subscriptions 3.3 billion at the end of 2007.
In many markets from Japan and South Korea , to Scandinavia, to Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, most children age 8-9 have mobile phones and the new accounts are now opened for customers aged 6 and 7. Where mostly parents tend to give hand-me-down used phones to their youngest children, in Japan already new cameraphones are on the market whose target age group is under 10 years of age, introduced by KDDI in February 2007. The USA also lags on this measure, as in the US so far, about half of all children have mobile phones.[14] In many young adults' households it has supplanted the land-line phone. Mobile phone usage is banned in some countries, such as North Korea and restricted in some other countries such as Burma.[15]
Given the high levels of societal mobile phone service penetration, it is a key means for people to communicate with each other. The SMS feature spawned the "texting" sub-culture amongst younger users. In December 1993, the first person-to-person SMS text message was transmitted in Finland. Currently, texting is the most widely used data service; 1.8 billion users generated $80 billion of revenue in 2006 (source ITU). Many phones offer Instant Messenger services for simple, easy texting. Mobile phones have Internet service (e.g. NTT DoCoMo's i-mode), offering text messaging via e-mail in Japan, South Korea, China, and India. Most mobile internet access is much different from computer access, featuring alerts, weather data, e-mail, search engines, instant messages, and game and music downloading; most mobile internet access is hurried and short.
The mobile phone can be a fashion totem custom-decorated to reflect the owner's personality.[16] This aspect of the mobile telephony business is, in itself, an industry, e.g. ringtone sales amounted to $3.5 billion in 2005.[17]
The use of a mobile phone is prohibited in some train company carriages
Mobile phone use can be an important matter of social discourtesy: phones ringing during funerals or weddings; in toilets, cinemas and theatres. Some book shops, libraries, bathrooms, cinemas, doctors' offices and places of worship prohibit their use, so that other patrons will not be disturbed by conversations. Some facilities install signal-jamming equipment to prevent their use, although in many countries, including the US, such equipment is illegal. Some new auditoriums have installed wire mesh in the walls to make a Faraday cage, which prevents signal penetration without violating signal jamming laws.[citation needed]
Trains, particularly those involving long-distance services, often offer a "quiet carriage" where phone use is prohibited, much like the designated non-smoking carriage of the past. In the UK however many users tend to ignore this as it is rarely enforced, especially if the other carriages are crowded and they have no choice but to go in the "quiet carriage".[citation needed] In Japan, it is generally considered impolite to talk using a phone on any train -- e-mailing is generally the mode of mobile communication. Mobile phone usage on local public transport is also increasingly seen as a nuisance; the city of Graz, for instance, has mandated a total ban of mobile phones on its tram and bus network in 2008 (though texting and emailing is still allowed).[18][19]
Mobile phone use on aircraft is starting to be allowed with several airlines already offering the ability to use phones during flights. Mobile phone use during flights used to be prohibited and many airlines still claim in their in-plane announcements that this prohibition is due to possible interference with aircraft radio communications. Shut-off mobile phones do not interfere with aircraft avionics; the concern is partially based on the crash of Crossair Flight 498. The recommendation why phones should not be used during take-off and landing, even on planes that allow calls or messaging, is so that passengers pay attention to the crew for any possible accident situations, as most airplane accidents happen on take-off and landing.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
In many markets from Japan and South Korea , to Scandinavia, to Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, most children age 8-9 have mobile phones and the new accounts are now opened for customers aged 6 and 7. Where mostly parents tend to give hand-me-down used phones to their youngest children, in Japan already new cameraphones are on the market whose target age group is under 10 years of age, introduced by KDDI in February 2007. The USA also lags on this measure, as in the US so far, about half of all children have mobile phones.[14] In many young adults' households it has supplanted the land-line phone. Mobile phone usage is banned in some countries, such as North Korea and restricted in some other countries such as Burma.[15]
Given the high levels of societal mobile phone service penetration, it is a key means for people to communicate with each other. The SMS feature spawned the "texting" sub-culture amongst younger users. In December 1993, the first person-to-person SMS text message was transmitted in Finland. Currently, texting is the most widely used data service; 1.8 billion users generated $80 billion of revenue in 2006 (source ITU). Many phones offer Instant Messenger services for simple, easy texting. Mobile phones have Internet service (e.g. NTT DoCoMo's i-mode), offering text messaging via e-mail in Japan, South Korea, China, and India. Most mobile internet access is much different from computer access, featuring alerts, weather data, e-mail, search engines, instant messages, and game and music downloading; most mobile internet access is hurried and short.
The mobile phone can be a fashion totem custom-decorated to reflect the owner's personality.[16] This aspect of the mobile telephony business is, in itself, an industry, e.g. ringtone sales amounted to $3.5 billion in 2005.[17]
The use of a mobile phone is prohibited in some train company carriages
Mobile phone use can be an important matter of social discourtesy: phones ringing during funerals or weddings; in toilets, cinemas and theatres. Some book shops, libraries, bathrooms, cinemas, doctors' offices and places of worship prohibit their use, so that other patrons will not be disturbed by conversations. Some facilities install signal-jamming equipment to prevent their use, although in many countries, including the US, such equipment is illegal. Some new auditoriums have installed wire mesh in the walls to make a Faraday cage, which prevents signal penetration without violating signal jamming laws.[citation needed]
Trains, particularly those involving long-distance services, often offer a "quiet carriage" where phone use is prohibited, much like the designated non-smoking carriage of the past. In the UK however many users tend to ignore this as it is rarely enforced, especially if the other carriages are crowded and they have no choice but to go in the "quiet carriage".[citation needed] In Japan, it is generally considered impolite to talk using a phone on any train -- e-mailing is generally the mode of mobile communication. Mobile phone usage on local public transport is also increasingly seen as a nuisance; the city of Graz, for instance, has mandated a total ban of mobile phones on its tram and bus network in 2008 (though texting and emailing is still allowed).[18][19]
Mobile phone use on aircraft is starting to be allowed with several airlines already offering the ability to use phones during flights. Mobile phone use during flights used to be prohibited and many airlines still claim in their in-plane announcements that this prohibition is due to possible interference with aircraft radio communications. Shut-off mobile phones do not interfere with aircraft avionics; the concern is partially based on the crash of Crossair Flight 498. The recommendation why phones should not be used during take-off and landing, even on planes that allow calls or messaging, is so that passengers pay attention to the crew for any possible accident situations, as most airplane accidents happen on take-off and landing.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phoneOverview
According to internal memos, American Telephone & Telegraph discussed developing a wireless phone in 1915, but were afraid deployment of the technology could undermine its monopoly on wired service in the U.S.[2]
Japan's first commercial mobile phone service was launched by NTT in 1978. By November 2007, the total number of mobile phone subscriptions in the world had reached 3.3 billion, or half of the human population (although some users have multiple subscriptions, or inactive subscriptions), which also makes the mobile phone the most widely spread technology and the most common electronic device in the world.[3]
The first mobile phone to enable internet connectivity and wireless email, the Nokia Communicator, was released in 1996, creating a new category of multi-use devices called smartphones. In 1999 the first mobile internet service was launched by NTT DoCoMo in Japan under the i-Mode service. By 2007 over 798 million people around the world accessed the internet or equivalent mobile internet services such as WAP and i-Mode at least occasionally using a mobile phone rather than a personal computer.
As of 2007, more than a billion mobile phones are sold each year, including over 100,000 smart-phones.[4]
Japan's first commercial mobile phone service was launched by NTT in 1978. By November 2007, the total number of mobile phone subscriptions in the world had reached 3.3 billion, or half of the human population (although some users have multiple subscriptions, or inactive subscriptions), which also makes the mobile phone the most widely spread technology and the most common electronic device in the world.[3]
The first mobile phone to enable internet connectivity and wireless email, the Nokia Communicator, was released in 1996, creating a new category of multi-use devices called smartphones. In 1999 the first mobile internet service was launched by NTT DoCoMo in Japan under the i-Mode service. By 2007 over 798 million people around the world accessed the internet or equivalent mobile internet services such as WAP and i-Mode at least occasionally using a mobile phone rather than a personal computer.
As of 2007, more than a billion mobile phones are sold each year, including over 100,000 smart-phones.[4]
Mobile phone radiation and health
Since the introduction of mobile phones, concerns (both scientific and public) have been raised about the potential health impacts from regular use.[26] But by 2008, American mobile phones transmitted and received more text messages than phone calls.[27] Numerous studies have reported no significant relationship between mobile phone use and health, but the effect of mobile phone usage on health continues to be an area of public concern.
For example, at the request of some of their customers, Verizon created usage controls that meter service and can switch phones off, so that children could get some sleep.[27] There have also been attempts to limit use by persons operating moving trains or automobiles, coaches when writing to potential players on their teams, and movie theater audiences.[27] By one measure, nearly 40% of automobile drivers aged 16 to 30 years old text while driving, and by another, 40% of teenagers said they could text blindfolded.[27]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
For example, at the request of some of their customers, Verizon created usage controls that meter service and can switch phones off, so that children could get some sleep.[27] There have also been attempts to limit use by persons operating moving trains or automobiles, coaches when writing to potential players on their teams, and movie theater audiences.[27] By one measure, nearly 40% of automobile drivers aged 16 to 30 years old text while driving, and by another, 40% of teenagers said they could text blindfolded.[27]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone (also known as a wireless phone, cell phone, or cellular telephone[1]) is a long-range, electronic device used for mobile voice or data communication over a network of specialized base stations known as cell sites. In addition to the standard voice function of a mobile phone, telephone, current mobile phones may support many additional services, and accessories, such as SMS for text messaging, email, packet switching for access to the Internet, gaming, Bluetooth, infrared, camera with video recorder and MMS for sending and receiving photos and video, MP3 player, radio and GPS. Most current mobile phones connect to a cellular network of base stations (cell sites), which is in turn interconnected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) (the exception is satellite phones).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
History of mobile phones
In 1908, U.S. Patent 887,357 for a wireless telephone was issued in to Nathan B. Stubblefield of Murray, Kentucky. He applied this patent to "cave radio" telephones and not directly to cellular telephony as the term is currently understood.[51] Cells for mobile phone base stations were invented in 1947 by Bell Labs engineers at AT&T and further developed by Bell Labs during the 1960s. Radiophones have a long and varied history going back to Reginald Fessenden's invention and shore-to-ship demonstration of radio telephony, through the Second World War with military use of radio telephony links and civil services in the 1950s, while hand-held cellular radio devices have been available since 1973. A patent for the first wireless phone as we know today was issued in US Patent Number 3,449,750 to George Sweigert of Euclid, Ohio on June 10th, 1969.
In 1945, the zero generation (0G) of mobile telephones was introduced. 0G mobile phones, such as Mobile Telephone Service, were not cellular, and so did not feature "handover" from one base station to the next and reuse of radio frequency channels.[citation needed] Like other technologies of the time, it involved a single, powerful base station covering a wide area, and each telephone would effectively monopolize a channel over that whole area while in use. The concepts of frequency reuse and handoff as well as a number of other concepts that formed the basis of modern cell phone technology are first described in U.S. Patent 4,152,647 , issued May 1, 1979 to Charles A. Gladden and Martin H. Parelman, both of Las Vegas, Nevada and assigned by them to the United States Government.
This is the first embodiment of all the concepts that formed the basis of the next major step in mobile telephony, the Analog cellular telephone. Concepts covered in this patent (cited in at least 34 other patents) also were later extended to several satellite communication systems. Later updating of the cellular system to a digital system credits this patent.
Martin Cooper, a Motorola researcher and executive is widely considered to be the inventor of the first practical mobile phone for handheld use in a non-vehicle setting. Using a modern, if somewhat heavy portable handset, Cooper made the first call on a handheld mobile phone on April 3, 1973.[52]
The first commercial citywide cellular network was launched in Japan by NTT in 1979. Fully automatic cellular networks were first introduced in the early to mid 1980s (the 1G generation). The Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) system went online in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in 1981.[53]
In 1983, Motorola DynaTAC was the first approved mobile phone by FCC in the United States. In 1984, Bell Labs developed modern commercial cellular technology (based, to a large extent, on the Gladden, Parelman Patent), which employed multiple, centrally controlled base stations (cell sites), each providing service to a small area (a cell). The cell sites would be set up such that cells partially overlapped. In a cellular system, a signal between a base station (cell site) and a terminal (phone) only need be strong enough to reach between the two, so the same channel can be used simultaneously for separate conversations in different cells.
Cellular systems required several leaps of technology, including handover, which allowed a conversation to continue as a mobile phone traveled from cell to cell. This system included variable transmission power in both the base stations and the telephones (controlled by the base stations), which allowed range and cell size to vary. As the system expanded and neared capacity, the ability to reduce transmission power allowed new cells to be added, resulting in more, smaller cells and thus more capacity. The evidence of this growth can still be seen in the many older, tall cell site towers with no antennae on the upper parts of their towers. These sites originally created large cells, and so had their antennae mounted atop high towers; the towers were designed so that as the system expanded—and cell sizes shrank—the antennae could be lowered on their original masts to reduce range.
The first "modern" network technology on digital 2G (second generation) cellular technology was launched by Radiolinja (now part of Elisa Group) in 1991 in Finland on the GSM standard which also marked the introduction of competition in mobile telecoms when Radiolinja challenged incumbent Telecom Finland (now part of TeliaSonera) who ran a 1G NMT network.
The first data services appeared on mobile phones starting with person-to-person SMS text messaging in Finland in 1993. First trial payments using a mobile phone to pay for a Coca Cola vending machine were set in Finland in 1998. The first commercial payments were mobile parking trialled in Sweden but first commercially launched in Norway in 1999. The first commercial payment system to mimick banks and credit cards was launched in the Philippines in 1999 simultaneously by mobile operators Globe and Smart. The first content sold to mobile phones was the ringing tone, first launched in 1998 in Finland. The first full internet service on mobile phones was i-Mode introduced by NTT DoCoMo in Japan in 1999.
In 2001 the first commercial launch of 3G (Third Generation) was again in Japan by NTT DoCoMo on the WCDMA standard.[54]
Until the early 1990s, most mobile phones were too large to be carried in a jacket pocket, so they were typically installed in vehicles as car phones. With the miniaturization of digital components and the development of more sophisticated batteries, mobile phones have become smaller and lighter.
With its use by Nokia as the default ringtone, The Gran Vals by Francisco Tarrega has become arguably the most recognised tune in the world.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
In 1945, the zero generation (0G) of mobile telephones was introduced. 0G mobile phones, such as Mobile Telephone Service, were not cellular, and so did not feature "handover" from one base station to the next and reuse of radio frequency channels.[citation needed] Like other technologies of the time, it involved a single, powerful base station covering a wide area, and each telephone would effectively monopolize a channel over that whole area while in use. The concepts of frequency reuse and handoff as well as a number of other concepts that formed the basis of modern cell phone technology are first described in U.S. Patent 4,152,647 , issued May 1, 1979 to Charles A. Gladden and Martin H. Parelman, both of Las Vegas, Nevada and assigned by them to the United States Government.
This is the first embodiment of all the concepts that formed the basis of the next major step in mobile telephony, the Analog cellular telephone. Concepts covered in this patent (cited in at least 34 other patents) also were later extended to several satellite communication systems. Later updating of the cellular system to a digital system credits this patent.
Martin Cooper, a Motorola researcher and executive is widely considered to be the inventor of the first practical mobile phone for handheld use in a non-vehicle setting. Using a modern, if somewhat heavy portable handset, Cooper made the first call on a handheld mobile phone on April 3, 1973.[52]
The first commercial citywide cellular network was launched in Japan by NTT in 1979. Fully automatic cellular networks were first introduced in the early to mid 1980s (the 1G generation). The Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) system went online in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in 1981.[53]
In 1983, Motorola DynaTAC was the first approved mobile phone by FCC in the United States. In 1984, Bell Labs developed modern commercial cellular technology (based, to a large extent, on the Gladden, Parelman Patent), which employed multiple, centrally controlled base stations (cell sites), each providing service to a small area (a cell). The cell sites would be set up such that cells partially overlapped. In a cellular system, a signal between a base station (cell site) and a terminal (phone) only need be strong enough to reach between the two, so the same channel can be used simultaneously for separate conversations in different cells.
Cellular systems required several leaps of technology, including handover, which allowed a conversation to continue as a mobile phone traveled from cell to cell. This system included variable transmission power in both the base stations and the telephones (controlled by the base stations), which allowed range and cell size to vary. As the system expanded and neared capacity, the ability to reduce transmission power allowed new cells to be added, resulting in more, smaller cells and thus more capacity. The evidence of this growth can still be seen in the many older, tall cell site towers with no antennae on the upper parts of their towers. These sites originally created large cells, and so had their antennae mounted atop high towers; the towers were designed so that as the system expanded—and cell sizes shrank—the antennae could be lowered on their original masts to reduce range.
The first "modern" network technology on digital 2G (second generation) cellular technology was launched by Radiolinja (now part of Elisa Group) in 1991 in Finland on the GSM standard which also marked the introduction of competition in mobile telecoms when Radiolinja challenged incumbent Telecom Finland (now part of TeliaSonera) who ran a 1G NMT network.
The first data services appeared on mobile phones starting with person-to-person SMS text messaging in Finland in 1993. First trial payments using a mobile phone to pay for a Coca Cola vending machine were set in Finland in 1998. The first commercial payments were mobile parking trialled in Sweden but first commercially launched in Norway in 1999. The first commercial payment system to mimick banks and credit cards was launched in the Philippines in 1999 simultaneously by mobile operators Globe and Smart. The first content sold to mobile phones was the ringing tone, first launched in 1998 in Finland. The first full internet service on mobile phones was i-Mode introduced by NTT DoCoMo in Japan in 1999.
In 2001 the first commercial launch of 3G (Third Generation) was again in Japan by NTT DoCoMo on the WCDMA standard.[54]
Until the early 1990s, most mobile phones were too large to be carried in a jacket pocket, so they were typically installed in vehicles as car phones. With the miniaturization of digital components and the development of more sophisticated batteries, mobile phones have become smaller and lighter.
With its use by Nokia as the default ringtone, The Gran Vals by Francisco Tarrega has become arguably the most recognised tune in the world.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
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