Besides the standard voice function of a telephone, latest cell phones have features such as SMS for text messages, MMS for multimedia messages, radio, games, internet connectivity for email, browsing, blogging, music (MP3) playback, memo recording, built-in cameras and camcorders, ringtones, personal organizers, Push-to-Talk (PTT), Bluetooth and infrared connectivity, call registers, streaming video, downloading video, video call, and also serve as wireless modems for PCs that can be connected to the Internet.
The power in a cell phone is obtained from rechargeable batteries, which can be recharged from the mains, a USB port or a cigarette lighter port in an automobile. Nickel Metal Hydride were the most common types of batteries, which due to the "memory effect" (the user can recharge only when the entire battery is drained off) were replaced by Lithium-Ion batteries, which did not suffer from any memory effect.
Cell phones came into existence because of the invention of hexagonal cells in 1947, for the base stations by Bell Labs engineers at AT&T. This was further developed during the 1960s by Bell Labs. During a call, the channel frequency could not be changed automatically from one cell (base station coverage area) to another cell (base station coverage area) as the person traveled from the area of one cell to the area of another cell. Amos Joel of Bell Labs invented a breakthrough invention and called it as the `call handoff` by which the channel frequency could be changed automatically from one cell to another cell, during the same call, as the mobile user traveled from one cell to another cell. Due to their heavy construction, these phones were used mainly in automobiles.
The first practical cell phone in a non-vehicle setting, and which could be handheld, was invented by Martin Cooper, the General Manager (Communications Division) of Motorola, who made the world`s first handheld cell phone call on April 3, 1973.
The technology by which the cell phone works depends on the mobile phone operator; however, all of them use electromagnetic radio waves, which are in touch with a cell site (base station). The base station is composed of several antennas which are mounted on a pole, tower, or building. Cell sites are spread at a distance of 5 to 8 miles (approx. 8 to 13 km) from each other. The low power transceiver from the cell phone transmits the voice and data to the nearest cell site. During movement, the cell phone will "handoff" the information to other cell site. Mobile phone operators use many technologies to maintain the smooth stream of digitized data from the cell phone to the cell site and vice versa.
The wireless telephone technologies are grouped under heads known as generations, starting from zero generation or 0G. The current generation going on is 4G; however, there are old cell phones that still operate on 1G, 2G, and 3G technologies. The wireless telephone technologies used in each generation are as given below:
The impact of cell phone usage on human health has been of considerable worldwide concern. Research studies in Copenhagen, from the Danish Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, the National Cancer Institute, and the Institute of Cancer Research, do not establish any link between cancer and cell phone usage. However, an intergovernmental agency IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) forming part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations, undertook a study of 4,500 users and found a statistically significant link between cell phone usage and tumor frequency. Further research is going on.
Cell phone usage and driving is a common worldwide phenomenon. Some jurisdictions have banned usage of hand-held phones during driving, but allowed the hands-free fashion of cell phone usage while driving. However, studies have found out that the distraction is caused by the conversation itself; hence, both hand-held and hands-free cell phones contribute towards road traffic accidents. Further studies on cell phone usage and driving are going on.
Nokia Corporation is currently the world`s largest manufacturer of cell phones. Other notable cell phone manufacturers, in alphabetical order, are 3G, Audiovox (now UT Starcom), Benefon, BenQ-Siemens, Fujitsu, High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC), Kyocera, LG Mobile, Motorola, NEC, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric), Pantech Curitel, Philips, Research In Motion, Sagem, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Siemens, Sierra Wireless, SK Teletech, Sony Ericsson, T&A Alcatel, Toshiba, and Verizon.
In these modern times of communication people are becoming more and more dependant on the use of cell phones. There are literally hundreds of different plans that all offer completely unique incentives. Unfortunately it is starting to become a little too complicated for most people, therefore if you are one of these people, your best option would be to go with prepaid plan instead of a monthly contracted plan. This article will discuss the major differences between prepaid cell phone plans and monthly plans.
Prepaid Cell Phones
So what exactly are prepaid cell phones and how are they beneficial. Well they are essentially this, a phone plan that you pay for when you need more credit. Basically once you run out of credit, all you have to do is go down to the local 7 eleven or anywhere that offers prepaid credit and top up your account. The benefits of such a plan are that you aren't locked into any fixed contract so if you decide that you want to change providers you can do so without having to pay any sort of fee.
When people think of prepaid, they think that it will work out to be more expensive then if you were on a plan of some sort, especially if you are someone who uses their cell phone a lot. This of course is not true as there is the option of purchasing a cap plan where you are given a certain amount of credit for the price you pay, however you will only have one month to use the credit. Basically you get about 5 times as much credit as what you paid for. So if you paid $50, you should get around $250 worth of calls, depending on the service provider.
Monthly Plans
The next choice you have to make is whether or not you are best going with a plan or not. Basically the advantage of going with a plan is that you will normally get a free phone when you sign the contract. Prepaid phones require you to purchase your own phone and we all know how expensive they can be! Therefore if you want to get a good phone that is worth a few hundred dollars, you are more than likely going to get it for free on a plan, if not free then for a lot cheaper.
So in summary you need to make the choice of whether having a good phone is important to you and if it is you are better off going with monthly plan, if not then you can buy yourself a cheap phone and get yourself a prepaid sim card and in the end you are going to save a little more money and have the added bonus of not being locked into a contract.
Both Roberto Sedycias & Dane Stanton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Roberto Sedycias has sinced written about articles on various topics from GPS Cell Phones, Writing and Movie Reviews. This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the News Article section of page Roberto Sed. Roberto Sedycias's top article generates over 1500000 views. to your Favourites.
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