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A mobile phone (also known as a wireless phone or cell phone ) is a short-range, electronic device used for mobile voice or data communication over a network of specialised 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. 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).

Overview

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.

The first commercial mobile phone service was launched in Japan 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.

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.

Cellular systems

Mobile phones send and receive radio signals with any number of cell site base stations fitted with microwave antennas. These sites are usually mounted on a tower, pole or building, located throughout populated areas, then connected to a cabled communication network and switching system. The phones have a low-power transceiver that transmits voice and data to the nearest cell sites, normally not more than 8 to 13 km (approximately 5 to 8 miles) away.

When the mobile phone or data device is turned on, it registers with the mobile telephone exchange, or switch, with its unique identifiers, and can then be alerted by the mobile switch when there is an incoming telephone call. The handset constantly listens for the strongest signal being received from the surrounding base stations, and is able to switch seamlessly between sites. As the user moves around the network, the "handoffs" are performed to allow the device to switch sites without interrupting the call.

Cell sites have relatively low-power (often only one or two watts) radio transmitters which broadcast their presence and relay communications between the mobile handsets and the switch. The switch in turn connects the call to another subscriber of the same wireless service provider or to the public telephone network, which includes the networks of other wireless carriers. Many of these sites are camouflaged to blend with existing environments, particularly in scenic areas.

The dialogue between the handset and the cell site is a stream of digital data that includes digitised audio (except for the first generation analog networks). The technology that achieves this depends on the system which the mobile phone operator has adopted. The technologies are grouped by generation. The first-generation systems started in 1979 with Japan, are all analog and include AMPS and NMT. Second-generation systems, started in 1991 in Finland, are all digital and include GSM, CDMA and TDMA.

The nature of cellular technology renders many phones vulnerable to 'cloning': anytime a cell phone moves out of coverage (for example, in a road tunnel), when the signal is re-established, the phone sends out a 're-connect' signal to the nearest cell-tower, identifying itself and signalling that it is again ready to transmit. With the proper equipment, it's possible to intercept the re-connect signal and encode the data it contains into a 'blank' phone -- in all respects, the 'blank' is then an exact duplicate of the real phone and any calls made on the 'clone' will be charged to the original account.

Third-generation (3G) networks, which are still being deployed, began in Japan in 2001. They are all digital, and offer high-speed data access in addition to voice services and include W-CDMA (known also as UMTS), and CDMA2000 EV-DO. China will launch a third generation technology on the TD-SCDMA standard. Operators use a mix of predesignated frequency bands determined by the network requirements and local regulations.

In an effort to limit the potential harm from having a transmitter close to the user's body, the first fixed/mobile cellular phones that had a separate transmitter, vehicle-mounted antenna, and handset (known as car phones and bag phones ) were limited to a maximum 3 watts Effective Radiated Power. Modern handheld cellphones which must have the transmission antenna held inches from the user's skull are limited to a maximum transmission power of 0.6 watts ERP. Regardless of the potential biological effects, the reduced transmission range of modern handheld phones limits their usefulness in rural locations as compared to car/bag phones, and handhelds require that cell towers be spaced much closer together to compensate for their lack of transmission power.

Some handhelds include an optional auxiliary antenna port on the back of the phone, which allows it to be connected to a large external antenna and a 3 watt cellular booster. Alternately in fringe-reception areas, a cellular repeater may be used, which uses a long distance high-gain dish antenna or yagi antenna to communicate with a cell tower far outside of normal range, and a repeater to rebroadcast on a small short-range local antenna that allows any cellphone within a few meters to function properly.

Handsets

Nokia is currently the world's largest manufacturer of mobile phones, with a global device market share of approximately 40% in 2008. Other major mobile phone manufacturers (in order of market share) include Samsung (14%), Motorola (14%), Sony Ericsson (9%) and LG (7%). These manufacturers account for over 80% of all mobile phones sold and produce phones for sale in most countries.

Other manufacturers include Apple Inc., Audiovox (now UTStarcom), Benefon, BenQ-Siemens, CECT, High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC), Fujitsu, Kyocera, Mitsubishi Electric, NEC, Neonode, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric), Pantech Curitel, Philips, Research In Motion, Sagem, Sanyo, Sharp, Siemens, Sendo, Sierra Wireless, SK Teletech, Sonim Technologies, T&A Alcatel, Huawei, Trium and Toshiba. There are also specialist communication systems related to (but distinct from) mobile phones.

There are several categories of mobile phones, from basic phones to feature phones such as musicphones and cameraphones, to smartphones. The first smartphone was the Nokia 9000 Communicator in 1996 which incorporated PDA functionality to the basic mobile phone at the time. As miniaturisation and increased processing power of microchips has enabled ever more features to be added to phones, the concept of the smartphone has evolved, and what was a high-end smartphone five years ago, is a standard phone today. Several phone series have been introduced to address a given market segment, such as the RIM Blackberry focusing on enterprise/corporate customer email needs; the SonyEricsson Walkman series of musicphones and Cybershot series of cameraphones; the Nokia N-Series of multimedia phones; and the Apple iPhone which provides full-featured web access and multimedia capabilities.

Features

Mobile phones often have features beyond sending text messages and making voice calls, including Internet browsing, music (MP3) playback, memo recording, personal organiser functions, e-mail, instant messaging, built-in cameras and camcorders, ringtones, games, radio, Push-to-Talk (PTT), infrared and Bluetooth connectivity, call registers, ability to watch streaming video or download video for later viewing, video calling and serve 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. The total value of mobile data services exceeds the value of paid services on the Internet, and was worth 31 billion dollars in 2006 (source Informa). The largest categories of mobile services are music, picture downloads, videogaming, adult entertainment, gambling, video/TV.

Nokia and the University of Cambridge are showing off a bendable cell phone called Morph .

Applications

The most commonly used data application on mobile phones is SMS text messaging, with 74% of all mobile phone users as active users (over 2.4 billion out of 3.3 billion total subscriber

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FroBag76 asks: "Recently i visited my grandpa and he showed me this website called letstalk.com It allows you to get a bunch of really cheap if not free cell phones. The catch is you have to wait for your contract to end. I was wondering if there were any more websites like this one that work with or without your contract ending.I have AT&T / Cingular if that makes a difference.Thanks"
April S replies: 'Does this site not allow an upgrade in order to get the phones at discount? If you are interested i know a site with great offers, also free phones, with any carrier. And you can get discount with an upgrade, if you are eligible for an upgrade. You are usually eligible after about 6 month of service with your carrier. anyway check out this site and go to the wireless shop. Let me know if I can help you with anything!:)'
David L asks: "California just passed a law that says you have to be hands free on your cell phone while driving.Is there any PROOF that this ACTUALLY cuts down on accidents?"
cmdrbnd007 replies: 'Is there any proof that it doesn't? It's all just knee-jerk reactions by the politicians without doing any true research into the problem.'
aj_franklin replies: 'Seems like more "feel-good" legislation from the nanny state.But there is proof that talking on a cell phone while driving is almost as bad as blowing a .08 on a breathalyser. It takes a great deal of your attention off of the road and directs it into your phone. Some people even try to text while driving.So maybe there is something good that will come out of it, huh.'
Kukoc replies: 'Studies have shown that hands-free doesn't help much, because the real problem is the "cognitive load" on your brain from having the conversation.On the other hand, are you safer with just one hand on the steering wheel or two?In Europe you can't even *talk* on a cell phone while driving, so count your blessings.'
Mommy on 12/10/08 replies: 'Just to get some perspective here, what exactly are you protesting in this- making it unlawful to drive and hold the phone or that it's not a full out ban on cells while driving?'
open4one replies: 'Actually, there is. There have been studies of the effect on reaction times of various "detractors", to include children in the rear seat, radios, holding a cup of coffee, and various other things that people commonly do while driving. While they found that while any one of them alone will increase reaction times, the ones that actually occupy a hand increase it the most dramatically. So that means they found that listening to the radio is distracting, talking to someone else (in the car or on the phone) is more distracting than that, and holding something against your ear is even more distracting than talking to someone in the car. So, talking on a cell phone at all is something of a distraction, but using one of two limbs normally available for steering to actually hold the device takes most people well beyond any safe limit of distraction. Yeah, there actually is scientific proof. Want some empirical data? Look closely at the next person who tailgates you on the interstate, or drives half the speed limit on the interstate, or who is going the wrong way on a one way street, or basically doing something obviously stupid. In my experience, there's a 75% probability the driver is talking on a hand-held cell phone. Any idea how many people I've seen in NYC who almost walk into traffic while just walking while on a cellphone? It's something to think about when you come to a four way stop and see someone coming from your right who is supposed to stop, but probably won't if they are distracted from the sign that tells them to.'
Edward replies: 'No there isn't any proof. The California law is so misguided that at present it leaves text messaging while driving perfectly legal! Yes, you can take your eyes off the road, hold onto the phone with two hands while you text, and that's ok!'
Superman replies: 'It will not cut down on accidents…“There just doesn’t seem to be any safety benefit by restricting drivers to hands-free phones,” “It’s the cognitive overload that sometimes occurs when you're engaging in a conversation that is the source of the distraction more so than the manipulation of the device.”–Rae Tyson, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration“SB1613 fails to address the real public issue of inattentive driving and singles out just one potential distraction, the handheld wireless phone. It ignores many other more significant causes of inattentive driving, including drowsiness, smoking, and adjusting the radio/CD player. And it fails to distinguish between inexperienced teen drivers, who may be easily distracted, and experienced adult drivers whose experience and maturity make them completely capable of operating an automobile safely while speaking on a wireless phone.”–Letter from Sprint Nextel to the governor asking for his veto.“The simple fact is it’s dangerous to talk on your cell phone while driving. CHP data show that cell phones are the number one cause of distracted-driving accidents,” “So getting people’s hands off their phones and onto their steering wheels is going to make a big difference in road safety. The ‘Hands-Free’ cell phone bill will save lives by making our roads safer.”–Honorable California Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerThe simple fact is it’s dangerous to talk…PERIOD. It is the conversation, not just the cell phone. While the Governator’s theories concerning safer roads and saving lives are laudable, this law fails to address the facts. It ignores safety and instead requires drivers wishing to continue distracted conversations to purchase speakerphones, bluetooth wireless devices, wired headsets, and car kits. I cannot imagine for the life of me any possible reason why Verizon Wireless was so greatly supportive of a law that ignored safety, can you?*/End of Line.'
laura t asks: "I need to know if theres a site you can go to for a free cell phone no credit cards needed and no credit checks."
The Best Pencil Skater There Is replies: 'They're all scams.'
roderick_young replies: 'Those are not really free, sorry. There's always some kind of catch, and it's an expensive one.'
shadouse asks: "I do not see a reason to get a fancy cell phone as they only last a few years and really do not seem to work any better than a cheap one."
Karen H replies: 'I like to play with gadgets. I text a lot so I get one with a full keyboard, also now I like the phones that also double as MP3 players. Sure, they're exactly the same quality as phones, you're paying for all the extra bells and whistles.'
Thomas A asks: "Need it to complete a comparison with driving with a normal cell phone also need to know if there is also a place to find the same thing only with blue tooth."
UCANTCME replies: 'Try this site and maybe you can find something.'
fire_inur_eyes replies: 'What is this inane project for--who takes these pictures?? No one holds the phone while smashing face first into a tree or under a truck. Pictures may be available locally--we have to take shots for court and then for the dead body autopsy. but you can't have them--there is privacy at stake. is there some idiot that doesn't believe the accidents really happen?? Take any picture and say it involved a phone--who would know???'

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