Cell phones, more popularly known as the smart phones in the present arena, are undoubtedly one of the best examples of technology that we can boast of, in the last 90 years. A classic product emerged from a human brain and took the shape of cell phones in the early 1900s. Since then there has been no looking back. With each passing day, latest techniques kept on adding to this cellular electronic device, making it the handiest, powerful and useful product today.

The technology started with the simple sending and receiving radio signals through innumerable cellular base stations that are fitted with microwave antennas. However, this means of wireless communication added many new technologies to its system and provided several new services and applications to the users.

Together with the basic voice function, today, we have text messaging services, e-mails, internet services, Bluetooth, infrared, camera and video recording facilities along with sending photos and videos through MMS, downloading ringtones and also picture and videos just to name a few.

There are several latest technologies in use for the cell phones that that have been devised to make our lives much faster, simpler and trendy.

The GSM or Global System for Mobile Communication and CDMA or Code Division Multiple Access differ only in the way the two share space in the radio spectrum. While the former is more popular in Europe and Asia, the latter is used majorly in the United States. However, both work on the ability to provide high-speed internet access to these hi-tech devices.

With the application of all such technologies, the cell phones have become an asset in the educational field too. It can be used for learning activities both inside and outside the classrooms. Cell phones act as an excellent resource-collecting device for students.

The camera and video recording facilities can be used to full extent for capturing all-important data that can be used for documentation in the later stage. The data can also be sent instantly with the use of internet services available over phone to the teacher concerned if required. It can help students in assignments like test message home assignments and oral quizzes.

The cell phones can enable the students to hear educational radio broadcasts and to create instant podcast of their gathered information. Students can call up toll free numbers from their cell phones and get their doubts cleared within minutes. More importantly, they are an assistive technology for students with visual and hearing impairments with their audio and video facilities respectively. Students can also use their cell phones to organize their resources through innovative guides such as Google calendar.

Apart from this, the cell phone technology has also become a powerful tool of investigation in the hands of the investigation bureaus. The call data records maintained by the cell phone companies help the investigators in collecting leads and evidences. The cell phone technologies can also help the police to reconstruct the location of the cell phone user instantly. The standard radio tracking technology and the latest triangulation technique comes the handiest in such cases where the department needs to know the whereabouts of the suspect.

With the advent of such latest technologies in the cellular phone regime, it is not surprising that many a nation like Europe has more number of cell phones than people. This proves the effectiveness of this small pocket sized magical instrument.