Just in the last few years cell phones (usually called mobile
phones outside the US) have become de facto standards for most
of the population. What once used to be a luxury item for a
select few that was carried around in a large leather bag and
was the size of the brick, is no longer. Technology has advanced
the mobile phone industry to the point where the phone is a mere
commodity for vendors, meaning that's not where they make the
real money. It's in the service plans, which require 2 year
commitments usually, where companies like Sprint, Nextel (now
Sprint Nextel), AT&T (now Cingular), Cingular, Verizon, and
T-Mobile make the revenues that enable the cycle of technology
innovation and marketing to continue. While the downsides of
cell phones have focused primarily on the annoyance of public
conversations and the small possibility of brain damage due to
cellular coverage near the ear, these pale in comparison to the
benefits derived from cellular technology. For those who have
had cell phones most of their lives (think anyone under 25),
it's hard to imagine life before cell phones. Writing down
numbers in a paper directory, having change on hand (first a
nickel, then a dime, then two dimes), knowing how to make
collect calls, and finding pay phones in new cities were
frequent logistic challenges. Not to mention the inconvenience
of not being able to get access to those you need at any time.
At this point, corporate employees, sales professionals,
parents, young adults, and anyone in industries where
communication among many is critical could hardly imagine life
without the benefits of mobile phones. As technology matures,
ringtones, cameras, GPS features, music, and multiple other
features will be added to the hardware. And the software on
phones will progress to include easier web access,
advertisements, news downloads, and easier chat and email
features - becoming the only piece of technology most use. In
fact, in many countries in South Asia (where the industrial
revolution never occurred) they have gone from agricultural
industries right to technology, bypassing an entire type of
economy. It is in these countries where the cell phone is an
essential tool, enabling communication among millions who don't
own a computer. As technology advances, and people respond
positively to resulting changes, we will all benefit.
About the author:
Dave Lloyd has written
http://www.mobilephonedata.
com, an online guide to mobile phones.
