How to buy the best mobile phone?

You can anywhere If you go into any cell phone store, most phones can be purchased without a plan. You end up paying a hefty price tag. Just remember to get a GSM phone, that's the one with the sim card. You can use it with t-mobile or ATT or any other carrier that uses sim cards. I thinEasy just pay more You can buy any cell phone with out a contract you will just end up paying more for it. Like a free RAZR may be $200 with out a plan with it. Also if your looking to say get a AT&T phone and use it with T-Mobile, this will not work. You would need to buy an "Unlocked" phone which you can get from an AT&T store(Ebay or other online sights) But if you just want a new T-Mobile Phone and you have T-Mobile already, you would just pay the full price of the phone with no contract. You can buy directly from the cell phone company They always have a price without a new service plan and a big discount for signing the service plan. If you don’t want to take on a new service plan, you can pay the full price. Also, ebay has hundreds of used and new phones for sale. Just be careful, because if you "used" phone was stolen, it may power up fine, but it may be blocked and you will not be able to activate it. Amusing side note - I worked for a wireless carrier in central america. The list of blocked phones was called (no joke) the "bandido list" Good luck! Cell phones can be purchased in department stores, discount stores, Ebay... Without a service plan, you would want a prepay phone. They’re available in most major department stores. There are different types of prepays. Some of them sell their time at the store that you purchase the phone from, others allow you to call in, to add time when you need it. The latter requires a credit card, on file, to charge your time to. I have a prepay that I purchased at Target. I bought a $100.00 amount of time, (1000 minutes), and received a Nokia phone and an additional 10 minutes of time. My time will expire in one year. I had done comparison shopping, online, for prices, customer reviews and so forth, before making a decision. The main thing that you need to check, is that the network, that you choose, will provide good service to the area, in which, you will be using your phone. I bought my phone for emergency use and to enable me to call home, if I’m running late. 1000 minutes has been more than ample for me, but if you plan to use the phone quite often, you may want to rethink signing a contract. Prepay can be pretty expensive if you plan to talk a lot. The phones aren’t fancy, but they do the job. I’m pretty happy with mine. I’ve had it for about 10 months and it looks like I’ll lose a few minutes, by the end of my year.

Choosing a mobile phone

Cameras & MP3 players

Many people take snapshots with their mobile phone, so it's no surprise they want a great built-in digital camera. Today's mobile phones – with digital cameras of up to 8 megapixels – take great snapshots, and many can shoot short video clips, too.

Some mobile phones also contain radios and MP3 players, so you can listen to music when you're not making calls. In addition, many models can do smart stuff like pausing the music if a call comes in, meaning no fumbling.

Style & shape

The smaller the mobile phone, the handier it is to carry around.There are three main styles: candybar (the standard bar-shaped traditional phone), clamshell (with a flip cover) and the slider (where the keypad slides out from under the screen).

Candybar designs are all-in-one, with screen and controls on a single rectangular block. They're robust and easy to use, so look at candybar designs if your phone gets the odd bit of rough treatment. Clamshell mobile phones are also good for this, as the screen is protected from scratching.

Clamshell designs have a screen that 'folds over' the keyboard, which you open up to use it. They're fun to use, and often have bigger screens and keyboards than candybar designs despite being smaller when folded up. Also, having the buttons protected means the phone won’t accidentally dial your friends when it bumps against something in your bag!

You’ll also see variants of clamshells like ‘twist’ phones, where the screen can turn around 180 degrees to keep everything on display without having to open it up.

Like clamshells, slider designs also protect the screen by keeping the keypad retracted underneath. This often means the screen can be bigger – handy if you're planning to use your phone as a PDA (personal diary and organiser) too. Mobile phones also come in a range of colours, so you can pick one in your favourite colour or that matches your favourite outfit!

Screen size

Today's mobile phones have excellent clear, full-colour screens. The main factor determining screen size is how you'll use your phone. Do you mostly make calls, and just need clear digits and contact names on the screen? If so, go for a smaller screen, since it should increase battery life and 'talk time'.

If you expect to use your phone for web surfing and email on the go, then look for a larger screen. A screen with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels is ideal for checking email or looking at mobile web pages – and it'll show your To-Do list, calendar, or contacts list if you want, too.

Other features

All phones connect to the UK's GSM network as standard. Many also connect to the GPRS data network for light email and data, and increasingly phones are able to use 3G – a high-speed data network. So if you'd like to use your phone as a pocket-sized Internet and email device, look for 3G.

Bluetooth is another useful option if you travel a lot. It's how your phone connects to a wireless headset or satellite navigation device in your car – keeping your hands free and your eyes on the road. (Remember it's illegal to make calls while driving without hands-free). A Bluetooth connection also lets your phone exchange data
with other devices like your sat nav, and at zero cost!

 

Mobile accessories

It's a good idea to buy a spare charger, so you can keep one at work or in the car as well as at home without carrying it around all the time.

And if you drive, a hands-free car kit is essential – it lets you make calls without having to stop. Remember, holding a mobile phone and talking while driving is illegal in the UK. A Bluetooth headset is ideal – all Bluetooth headsets work with all Bluetooth phones, so there's no need to match your models.

Or perhaps you like to listen to music, using your mobile as an MP3 player? A memory card will expand the space on your phone for storing music. Of course, it can store other data too, such as photographs or video clips. Different phones take different cards: when buying a card (Mini-SD, Micro-SD, and M2 are the common ones) make sure it'll fit your phone.

Introduction to Mobile Computing and Communications

The most familiar aspect of mobile computing technology is the hand phone. About two decades ago, a hand phone was bulky and was only used for voice communication. It was merely an extension of the fixed line telephony that allowed users to keep in touch with colleagues. Now the hand phone is not only used for voice communication, it is also used to send text and multimedia messages. Future mobile devices will not only enable Internet access, but will also support high-speed data services.

In addition to the hand phone, various types of mobile devices are now available, for example, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and pocket personal computers (PCs). Road warriors use mobile devices to access up-to-date information from the corporate database. A police officer at a crime scene may send a fingerprint picked up there for matching with data in a central database through a wireless network, hence leading to faster identification and arrest of potential suspects. The global positioning system (GPS) is used in search and rescue missions, for monitoring and preservation of wildlife, and for vehicle theft prevention. Though many of us are unaware of when mobile computing technology is being used, it has permeated all aspects of our lives.

What is mobile computing? Simply defined, it is the use of a wireless network infrastructure to provide anytime, anywhere communications and access to information. There are many aspects of mobile computing and, sometimes, different terms are used to refer to them. This chapter gives an overview of what mobile computing has to offer and how it improves the quality of our lives. 

Mobile Computing Applications

In 1991, Mark Weiser envisioned the next-generation computer technologies that "weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it." He described a ubiquitous computing environment that enhances the environment by making many computers available throughout the physical realm, while making them effectively invisible to the user. Weiser pointed out that anthropological studies of work life showed that people primarily work in a world of shared situations and unexamined technological skills. Today's computer technology does not conform to this description because it remains the focus of attention instead of being a tool that disappears from users' awareness. Ubiquitous computing aims to make computers widely available throughout users' environments and effortless to use. In other words, users should be able to work with computing devices without having to acquire the technological skills to use them. Computers are integrated into their environments so that users are not even aware that they are using a computer to accomplish a task. Unlike the computer technology of today, users need not acquire specific skills to use computers because their use would be intuitive. The aim of ubiquitous computing is to create a new relationship between people and computers in which the computers are kept out of the way of users as they go about their lives.

Instead of computers that sit passively on desks, ubiquitous computers are aware of their surroundings and locations. They come in different sizes, each tailored to a specific task. At the Xerox Lab, Weiser and his colleagues developed a tab that is analogous to a Post-it® note, a pad that is analogous to a sheet of paper, and a board that is analogous to a yard-scale display. An office may contain hundreds of tabs, tens of pads, and one or two boards. These devices are not personal computers, but are a pervasive part of everyday life, with users often having many units in simultaneous operation. Unlike a laptop or a notebook, which is associated with a particular user, tabs and pads can be grabbed and used anywhere-they have no individualized identity and importance. You may have a few pads on your desk, each dedicated to a particular task in the same way that you spread papers on your desk.

An employee ID card is replaced by an active badge that is of the same size. It identifies itself to receivers placed throughout a building. It makes it possible to keep track of people and objects that it is attached to. Because an active badge is associated to a particular user, it can become a form of ID; for example, an electronic door to a restricted area would only open to authorized users. When I am not in my office, the system detects my current location and forwards phone calls there. When I walk into a lecture hall, the system detects my presence, checks the timetable, deduces that I am there for a WRES3405 lecture, and automatically downloads that day's lecture notes. When the system detects the presence of a team working on a particular project in a meeting room, it checks the room booking system to determine if there is a scheduled meeting. Confirming that it is indeed the case, it downloads and displays the previous minutes on the board. As the meeting progresses, team members may manipulate the board using a tetherless pen that need not touch the screen, but can operate from a few meters away. Using the pen, a team member may point to an object on the board, select it, and modify it.

Pervasive computing is a term that is synonymous with ubiquitous computing. Many interesting projects on pervasive computing are carried out at Carnegie-Mellon University. The Portable Help Desk (PHD) is an application developed under Project Aura that makes use of spatial (a user's relative and absolute position and orientation) and temporal (scheduled time of private and public events) awareness. PHD allows a user to determine the location of colleagues and information about them. It is equipped with the capability to display maps of surrounding areas, indicating resources and nearby people. It also notifies users of the availability of resources they may need, for example, a nearby printer or café. PHD is equipped with visual and audio interfaces, each of which provides support in different contexts; for example, a user who is walking is more likely to prefer an audio interface to interact with PHD.

An important requirement of the applications discussed so far is that for them to offer relevant information to the user (e.g., a café is about 100 m to your left), they need to be aware of their context. This is a very important aspect of mobile computing applications. To be useful, an application needs to be aware of its current environment. For example, if I am currently in Kuching and I request information about seafood restaurants, I expect the application to give me a list of seafood restaurants in Kuching, not Kuala Lumpur. For this reason, a tourist guide application must have context awareness embedded so that it can deliver information that is relevant to the users.

HyperAudio and HIPS are handheld electronic museum guides that adapt their behavior to that of a visitor. A visitor to a museum is given a handheld device equipped with headphones. As the visitor approaches an exhibit, the system dynamically composes a presentation of the object in sight. When the system detects that a visitor pauses in front of a display, it presents information about it. The information is presented in the form of audio recording, a relevant image, and a set of links for obtaining more information about it. The system obtains an estimate of the distance between the visitor and the display and adapts the way the information is presented. For example, if it detects that the visitor is standing right in front of the display, the audio message would say, "this item is. . . ." If the visitor is a distance away, it may attract his attention to it by saying, "the display in front of you . . ." or "the display to your left is. . . ." The system deduces that the visitor is very interested in the display if he or she pauses in front of it for more than a certain period of time and proceeds to present more detailed information about it. 

Another class of information that makes use of wireless technology is wearable computing, which involves integrating computers into our clothes to perform certain functions, for example, monitor the wearer's heartbeat and blood pressure. There are many practical and useful applications of wearable computing. Guide dogs and canes are very useful in assisting visually impaired people to avoid obstacles and negotiate changes in ground level, such as steps. However, they are not helpful in avoiding higher obstacles such as street signs and tree branches. This difficulty may be overcome with the use of a wearable headset consisting of a laptop, a video camera with infrared (IR) light emitting diodes mounted on one side of an eyeglass frame, and a scanning fiber display and optics mounted in a tube. The software comprises a machine vision program that identifies potential collision objects, a program that controls the display, and a graphical user interface (GUI) to help set parameters for the embedded processors and generate bright warning icons.

A more recent technology is a wireless sensor network (WSN). In a WSN, sensors are placed at strategic locations to monitor certain aspects of the environment. For example, biologists may use it for habitat monitoring to study behavioral patterns of a species. The use of sensor networks assists ecologists to accurately measure the degree of micro-environmental variance that organisms experience. Data collected by scientists regarding population dynamics and habitat needs is important in conservation biology, landscape monitoring and management, and species-recovery efforts. Sensor nodes are also used to monitor personnel and mobile assets; for example, an alarm is triggered when a printer is detected leaving an office area without authorization. One application of this technology is in agriculture, where sensors are used to monitor environmental conditions that may affect the crop. Early detection and alert of a change in temperature, for example, would help farmers to take precautionary steps to protect their crops.

Another novel invention using wireless technology is the virtual fence. Cowboys on horsebacks herding cattle might one day become a feature of a bygone era as the introduction of virtual fences allows ranchers to herd their cattle from the comfort of their homes. The virtual fence is downloaded to the cows by transmitting GPS coordinates to head collars worn by the cows. The dynamic virtual fences are moved along desired trajectories. The collars are equipped with a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) networking card, a Zaurus PDA, an eTrex GPS unit, and a loudspeaker that transmits occurring sounds (e.g., roaring tigers, barking dogs) when a cow strays from the intended path. This multidisciplinary project, the brain child of a biologist, is made possible in collaboration with computer scientists.

Sensor technology can potentially play an important role in search and rescue operations by first responders (i.e., emergency personnel), such as firefighters, paramedics, and police, who arrive at the scene immediately after an event (e.g., a fire, an earthquake, a building collapse) occurs. Firefighters wear tags to allow easy tracking of their movements to coordinate search and rescue operations more effectively. The firefighters can be informed if a particular section of a building is found to be unstable and is about to collapse, and they are directed to evacuate it immediately. A wireless vital sign monitor is attached to victims found trapped so that their condition can be monitored to ensure that they receive the appropriate medical attention as soon as they are rescued. This noninvasive sensor monitors vital signs such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, and serum chemistry measurements. The vital sign monitor helps the paramedic team determine which victims' conditions are more critical so that they can prioritize medical attention to more severely injured victims. The application and architecture required to support this emergency response application is being developed under the CodeBlue project at Harvard University.

Wireless technology is also used in healthcare. The Arrhythmia Monitoring System (AMS) is a medical telemetry (telemedicine) system that makes use of wireless technology to monitor patients suffering from arrhythmia (Liszka et al. 2004). Among the complications that arise from arrhythmia are the loss of regular heartbeat and subsequent loss of function and rapid heartbeats. AMS provides a means for healthcare professionals to continuously monitor a patient's electrical cardiac rhythms remotely even though the patient is not at the hospital. This technology allows patients to be in the comfort of their homes without jeopardizing their health. It is also useful for monitoring the heart functions of astronauts who are more susceptible to cardiac dysrhythmias when in space.

The system architecture consists of a wearable server, a central server, and a call center. The wearable server is a small communications device worn by the patient that collects the patient's electrocardiogram ([ECG], i.e., the heart muscles' electrical activity). The data is collected using wires attached to skin-contact biosensors. The wearable server receives analog signals from the sensors and converts them into digital signals. Data is collected every 4 ms and requires a minimum baud rate of 22.5 kbps to transmit over a wireless link to the central server.

The central server is located close to the patient. Its functions are data compression, location awareness utilizing GPS, and rudimentary arrhythmia detection. It serves as a wireless gateway to a long-distance cellular network. Data is routed via the call center that is manned 24/7, by healthcare professionals who monitor the ECG signals and respond to alerts. The system transmits an alert automatically if it detects that the patient is about to have or is having an arrhythmia attack. A patient can press a button on the wearable server to send a non-critical alert to the call center if the heart flutters or other unusual feeling occurs. There is also a panic button that a patient can press to send a critical alert for help so that an emergency response team can be rushed to the most recent GPS location.

The GPS location service is a critical part of the system as it is imperative that an emergency response team is dispatched in the quickest time possible. A patient's location is tracked using a GPS transceiver equipped with a 1.55 GHz GPS antenna and a 2.4 GHz Bluetooth antenna. The location information is sent to the receiver every 10 s and acquires a minimum of three GSP satellite signals. A patient's location can be accurately tracked within 10 m.

Another category of mobile applications that is gaining popularity is mobile commerce or m-commerce, which is likely to become an important application of this technology. M-commerce application can be classified into ten types:

1. Mobile financial application (business-to-customer [B2C] and business-to-business [B2B]): The mobile device is used as a powerful financial medium.
2. Mobile advertising (B2C): It turns the wireless infrastructure and devices into a powerful marketing medium.
3. Mobile inventory management (B2C and B2B) or product locating and shopping (B2C and B2B): It is an attempt to reduce the amount of inventory needed by managing in-house and on-the-move inventory. It also includes applications that help to locate products and services that are needed.
4. Proactive service management (B2C and B2B): It attempts to locate products and services that are needed.
5. Wireless reengineering (B2C and B2B): It focuses on improving the quality of business services using mobile devices and wireless infrastructure.
6. Mobile auction or reverse auction (B2C and B2B): It allows users to buy or sell certain items using multicast support of wireless infrastructure.
7. Mobile entertainment services and games (B2C): It provides entertainment services to users on a per-event or subscription basis.
8. Mobile office (B2C): It provides the complete office environment to mobile users anywhere, anytime.
9. Mobile distance education (B2C): It extends distance or virtual education support for mobile uses everywhere.
10. Wireless data center (B2C and B2B): It supports large amounts of stored data to be made available to mobile users for making "intelligent" decisions.

The mobile computing applications discussed so far provide a glimpse of what mobile computing technology has to offer. The applications are used in many different fields and may perform generic functions or be tailored to specific needs. The next section gives an overview the evolution of wireless networks that have made these applications possible.

Evolution of Wireless Networks and Services

The first generation (1G) wireless network was analog. The first in North America was advanced mobile phone system (AMPS), which was based on frequency division multiple access. A total of 1664 channels were available in the 824 to 849 MHz and 869 to 894 MHz band, providing 832 downlink (DL) and 832 uplink (UL) channels. AMPS, widely used in North America, supports frequency reuse. The underlying network is a cellular network where a geographical region is divided into cells. A base station (BS) at the center of the cell transmits signals to and from users within the cell.

The second generation (2G) systems onward are digital. Digital systems make possible an array of new services such as caller ID. The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a popular 2G system. GSM offers a data rate of 9.6 to 14.4 kbps. It supports international roaming, which means users may have access to wireless services even when traveling abroad. The most popular service offered by GSM is the Short Message Service (SMS), which allows users to send text messages up to 160 characters long.

2.5G systems support more than just voice communications. In addition to text messaging, 2.5G systems offer a data rate on the order of 100 kbps to support various data technologies, such as Internet access. Most 2.5G systems implement packet switching. The 2.5G systems help provide seamless transition technology between 2G and third generation (3G) systems. The following are 2.5G systems:

High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD): Even though most 2.5G systems implement packet switching, HSCSD continues support for circuit-switched data. It offers a data rate of 115 kbps and is designed to enhance GSM networks. The access technology used is time division multiple access (TDMA). It provides support for Web browsing and file transfers.
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS): GPRS offers a data rate of 168 kbps. It enhances the performance and transmission speeds of GSM. GPRS provides always-on connectivity, which means users do not have to reconnect to the network for each transmission. Because there is a maximum of eight slots to transmit calls on one device, it allows more than one transmission at one time; for example, a voice call and an incoming text message can be handled simultaneously.
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE): EDGE works in conjunction with GPRS and TDMA over GSM networks. Its offered data rate is 384 kbps. EDGE supports data communications while voice communications are supported using the technology on existing networks.

Third-generation (3G) wireless systems are designed to support high bit rate telecommunications. 3G systems are designed to meet the requirements of multimedia applications and Internet services. The bit rate offered ranges from 144 kbps for full mobility applications, 384 kbps for limited mobility applications in macro- and microcellular environments, and 2 Mbps for low-mobility applications in micro- and picocellular environments. A very useful service provided by 3G systems is an emergency service with the ability to identify a user's location within 125 m 67% of time. Figure 1.1 shows the evolution of wireless standards.

Initially, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) intended to design a single 3G standard; however, due to a number of difficulties, it has ratified two 3G standards. The two standards are CDMA2000, which provides a bit rate of up to 2.4 Mbps, and wideband CDMA (WCDMA), which provides a bit rate of up to 8 Mbps. The high bit rate enables new wireless services that can be classified into three categories:

1. Information retrieval: It permits location-aware applications to remotely download information from a corporate database.
2. Mobile commerce: It allows users to book a flight or pay bills.
3. General communication: It permits users to make or receive phone calls, send or receive messages, or activate an air conditioner at home.

Compound wireless service enables users to combine different types of services to carry out specialized functions. For example, you can take a photo using a camera phone and send it to a friend using the multimedia message service (MMS). A more useful application would be to combine a home alarm system with a wireless service so that when an intruder is detected, a photo of the intruder is captured by the surveillance camera and sent to the authorities, while the owner is alerted via mobile phone.

A compound service comprises a fundamental wireless service (one that cannot be partitioned into smaller identifiable services), a utility service (one that carries out a function within a particular compound service sequence), and possibly another compound service. For example, consider a courier service driver who has to deliver a document before a certain deadline and he has to find the fastest and least congested route to his destination. He makes use of a route planning application on the wireless terminal in his van, which consists of three fundamental wireless services:

1. A location service to determine the current location of the driver.
2. A travel route computation to determine the least congested and fastest route to his destination.
3. Traffic information retrieval to obtain traffic information from various sources.

The compound service consists of continuous iterations of these services: determine the current location and provide it to the wireless terminal, compute the least congested route from the current location to the destination, and retrieve the most updated traffic information. It involves executing step 1 and deciding whether to repeat step 2. Going back to step 1 is the utility service.

 Today's phones let you send and receive email and text messages, surf the Web, and play music and videos. Sifting through the sea of service plans and handsets can be difficult, but we'll walk you through what you need to know to get the phone and the service plan that are right for you.

If you don't have to own the latest and greatest smartphone, there’s no time like the present to buy a new one, whether it be the newest iPhone, an Android superphone, or a business-friendly Windows Phone. Before you hit the stores, however, do a bit of research and read this guide so that you'll know exactly what to look for.

Features to Consider

When you're shopping for a phone, you can do some simple hands-on tests in the store to ensure that the handset has everything you need.

Call quality: What good is a phone if it can't make calls? Some of the simplest, most bare-bones feature phones offer the best call quality, and some fancy smartphones offer dismal calling. When evaluating phones, be sure to make a few test calls. In our hands-on tests, we generally place some calls from a quiet room and several others in a noisy environment. You might not be able to replicate such tests indoors, but try your best. Listen for static, tinny voices, and interference. Ask the people you call if they can hear a disruptive amount of background noise.

Design: Your choices range from phones with large touchscreens to slider-style handsets with full-QWERTY keyboards. Whichever type of phone you select, check to see if it's comfortable to hold against your ear, if you can hear callers without constant adjustment, if you can use the phone with one hand (or by scrunching your neck and shoulder), if it fits comfortably in your pocket or bag, and if it's durable enough to handle some rough treatment. A solidly built phone should be able to withstand getting banged around in a handbag or pocket, as well as a bit of moisture and a short-range drop. You should consider investing in a case or display protector as well—especially if you’re somewhat accident-prone.

Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 is one of the many mobile operating systems you can choose from.

Operating system: If you're looking to do more than make calls and send text messages with your phone, consider the platform that it runs on. The mobile operating system you choose will greatly affect your phone's capabilities. The most popular platforms are Google'sAndroid (found on multiple devices), iOS(found only on iPhone models),BlackBerry OS (found on BlackBerrys of various designs), and Microsoft’s Windows Phone. Each operating system has its own advantages and disadvantages, so familiarize yourself with all of them before settling on one.

Display: If you intend do a lot of Web browsing or movie streaming, make sure that the screen is big enough for you to take full advantage of the phone's features. For surfing the Web or editing Office documents on your phone, a screen that measures less than 3 inches diagonally will feel cramped.

Screen resolution: The higher the resolution, the better the screen will look—an important factor if you plan to watch videos or view photos on your phone. A high-resolution display is desirable if you plan to do a lot of reading on your phone, since text will look much sharper on it and be easier to read.

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Things you need to know

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The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties of and trade marks or registered trade marks of Research In Motion Limited used by permission.
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7 Disadvantages of Mobile Phones

Each article in this series will go into at least one of the seven disadvantages of mobile phones. The 7 disadvantages of mobile phones that will be covered are:

• An Unsafe Safety Standard (see below)
• Negative Health Effects
• Male Infertility

• The Effect on Children
• Mobile Phones and Driving

• Increased Stress Level
• The Effect on the Environment

I am thinking of adding ‘Mobile Phones and Privacy’. The last part of the series will provide actions you can take to reduce the health risks.

All articles will be posted in the coming few weeks.

A Short History – The exponential use of mobile phones

Almost every adult has a mobile phone, and so do many children. Prof. Kenneth J. Rothman, one of the world’s leading epidemiologists, states the following:

Within only a few years a substantial proportion of the world’s population has adopted a new technology that involves placing a small radio transmitter up against the head, in some instances for hours a day.^[1]

The explosion of mobile phone use in the last few decades has been astounding: In 1988 there were approximately 500,000 mobile phone subscribers in the US, by 1993 this had grown to 13,000,000. ^[2] By 2006 there were 223 million mobile phone users. ^[3]

Mobile phones transmit and receive Radio Frequency (RF) signals in order to communicate. The RF signals from mobile phones fall within the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum.^[4] This radiation is also referred to as microwave radiation or electromagnetic radiation. In short: Mobile phones use microwave radiation to communicate.

Consequently, our landscapes and cities are covered by ‘base stations’ that relay the microwave signals used for communication. Both the base stations and the mobile phones emit microwave radiation.

In the last twenty years, the US has adopted mobile phones as a integral part of everyday life; 223 million people have started using personal mobile devices that emit microwave radiation. In order to make this work, there are at least 126,000 cell phone towers that also emit microwave radiation.^[5]

Mobile phone safety

Introduction

Most current research suggests it is unlikely mobile phones or base stations increase the risk of any type of cancer (see below). However, it is acknowledged this evidence is based on use of mobile phones over 15 years and long-term effects are not fully known.

This means there are recommendations for mobile phone safety that aim to lower your exposure to radiowaves. Any risk from mobile phone use is likely to be higher in children.

You are four times more likely to have an accident when using a mobile phone while driving. For now, this is considered the biggest risk to your health from using a mobile phone.

Read more information about the risks of mobile phone use.

Mobile phone use in the UK

Ofcom, the independent regulator for the communication industry, says around 91% of adults in the UK own or use a mobile phone.

Mobile phones are more than just a business tool. They are now a popular means of communication, a safety aid and an essential part of many people's lives.

There are around 54,000 mobile phone base stations in the UK according to May 2011 figures. Base stations are transmitters (sometimes called masts) that use radio waves to communicate with mobile phone handsets.

Radio waves are low-energy radiation waves that transmit through antenna on a mobile phone. The radio waves transmit to the base station and back again. Base stations are surrounded by electromagnetic fields, an energy force created when electricity is generated.

What research has been done?

There has been a huge amount of scientific research into health effects of mobile phone use since widespread use started in the 1990s.

In April 2012, the largest review yet of published research from the Health Protection Agency's independent advisory group on non-ionising radiation (AGNIR) found no clear evidence that radio waves from mobile phones caused brain tumours or any other type of cancer. 

The review, Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, considered hundreds of scientific studies on the effects of mobile phone radiation on cells, animals and people.

However scientists cautioned research only covered exposure of up to 15 years and further monitoring of risks was necessary.

Mobile phone safety has also been brought to public attention by the former Department of Transport, Local Government and Regions (DTLR). The DTLR highlighted safety implications of driving while using a mobile phone. It is now against the law to use a handheld mobile phone while driving.

Advantages and disadvantages of using mobile phones.

Today, mobile phone has become popular to everybody since it is very convenient. The most advantage of having a mobile phone is you can communicate to your family and your friends no matter what where you are. For instance, you can contact easily to your friends by calling or sending messages everywhere without electricity. It is maybe the main reason why almost all people today choose to own a mobile phone. From the customer’s point of view, it is obvious that mobile phones assist you in business a lot, such as, make schedule of working, surf the internet, and keep in touch with their companies. Moreover, you can relax with mobile phone’s applications, for example, play games, listen to music, or chat with your friends.

On the other hand, there are also disadvantages. Using a lot mobile phone can harm your brain, particularly teenager and children who are under 16 years old. If you use mobile phones too much, you will get bad effects like dizzy, blood-brain barrier, or ears problems. In addition, when you use mobile phones while you are driving, you will get an accident. It is essential not good for you and others. Moreover, “radiations emitted from the phone are dead harmful for the eardrum”, has proved by many scientist.

Owning a mobile phone in your hand is you can solve many issues and hold most of information around the world. Even though is not good for your health and you have to protect yourself from bad effects of mobile phones if you choose to have one.


P/s: Plz help me to correct this essay since next week i'm going to do final exam. How can i reduce this essay because i should write from 150 to 180 words and this essay has about 291 words. Thank you for helping me.

Importance of Mobile Phones!

With the advent of new technology the way of communication is also changed. In very early days of history, pigeons were used as means of communication. Later, written messages are sent through letters by post. As the time passed, telephone came into existence and today is the era of wireless communication which gives rise to mobile phones. Mobiles are the latest invention and common way to communicate now-a-days.

Mobile phones are long range, portable and wireless electronic device of communication. A few years back, when mobile phones were not so common, the device was expensive and communication costs pretty good to the user. But in last a few years as the use of mobiles increased, their cost is decreased considerably and this factor helped a lot to make them available for common men. Mobile phones are now inexpensive, easy to use, and comfortable and equipped with almost every latest feature we desire.

Mobiles are now every one's first choice gadget, either an elderly person or a younger one. It is like a status symbol now. Every persons hand is equipped with latest mobile models and everyone has its own reason to have this magic gadget in his hands. Every day new models of mobiles come replacing the older ones to lure the users. The interested users especially the young generation is very fond of the latest features provided in new handsets. People like the new ring tones, hello tunes and wallpapers. With this, mp3 and video recording facilities, MMS and Internet facilities are attracting the users to mobile world. Mobile users can't even imagine their world without their handset. The importance of mobiles can be imagined by the reaction of people if they are asked to leave their handset separate from them for a day. Their life got a comma if they are keeping apart of their mobiles.

In Japan, mobile phone companies provide immediate notification of earthquakes and other natural disasters to their customers free of charge. In the event of an emergency, disaster response crews can locate trapped or injured people using the signals from their mobile phones or the small detonator of flare in the battery of every cell phone; an interactive menu accessible through the phone's Internet browser notifies the company if the user is safe or in distress.

There is no doubt that the mobile phones have made the life more easy and comfortable. Everyone is in touch with their family members, friends and other known. If we want to talk with anyone, there is no need to write a letter and have to wait for days to send the message to receiver, just we have to pick the phone and press a number and start talking. Mobile phones are comfortable way of communication over a long distance. Life becomes so easy and fast by holding the mobile phones.

Mobile phones proved to be a big help in emergencies. Mobile phones are also known as lifesavers as helping people in emergencies. If you get stuck in the middle of the road and find no one for help, you can just use a mobile phone and call for help. Along with the obvious convenience and quick access to help in emergencies big and small, mobile phones can be both economical and essential for travelers trying to stay connected.

Like every coin have two sides, mobiles phones providing a lot of advantages also shows off few disadvantages. Mobile-phone use while driving is common. It is generally agreed that using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is a distraction that brings risk of road traffic accidents. So we need to use hands free sets to avoid such hazards.

A little attention is received recently towards the potential impact of the kind of electromagnetic fields generated by cellular phones on the human brain. Accumulating evidence indicate that microwave radiation from mobile phones may cause serious diseases and disturbances in the physiology. This includes an increased cancer risk and genetic damage, disturbed brain function and other effects. Mobile phone radiation and health concerns have been raised, especially following the enormous increase in the use of wireless mobile telephony throughout the world. Hence, the head set should be kept at reasonable distance from our head and prolonged use of mobile phone should be avoided.

Mobile phone contracts

What is a mobile phone contract?

A contract mobile phone means that you pay a single monthly fee for a fixed period of time. Most mobile phone contracts are set at either 18 or 24 months and provide mobile customers with a cheap tariff and a great new handset.

When opting to go for a mobile phone contract, you choose the package of minutes and texts that you think will best suit you, and you pay a fixed price for them every month.

Ever-improving mobile phone technology means that mobile internet access can all now also be included as part of your mobile contract. If you like to use your phone to surf the internet, access your social networks and stream multimedia content on the go, then you can pick a contract that comes with a generous data allowance to meet your needs.

Most contracts can offer these features either inclusively, or as an extra. Providers offer bolt-ons like "unlimited texts per month" or "5GB of data", which cost a fixed fee and are added to your basic contract plan.

The great thing about a mobile phone contract is that you never have to think about topping up your mobile phone or worry about running out of credit. Even if you find that you use up the inclusive minutes in your contract, you can still use your phone to make calls or send texts and will be billed for those calls and texts at the end of the month.

Read our guide to pick the best phone contract that meets your needs.

Why choose a contract?

Free handset

The main reason is to get a free handset. These are available with almost any mobile phone contract, and there is always an excellent range of handsets to choose from. Whatever type of phone user you are and whatever type of handset you want, you will be able to find it with a competitive contract deal from most of the major mobile phone networks.

If you want the very latest mobile handset, it is worth bearing in mind that you may have to pay a small one-off fee on top of the contract fee when you sign up. There are no hard and fast rules about this, but sometimes there is a price to pay for owning the newest mobile phone on the market.

Cheaper mobile phone bills

Mobile contracts usually offer more competitive deals on calls and texts than Pay As You Go deals. Even though you will be charged for any calls and texts over those included in your contract, most people find that whatever network they are with, they still get a cheaper mobile phone deal by switching to a mobile phone contract from a Pay As You Go phone.

Free line rental deals

The fierce competition between mobile phone networks means that they have to offer great incentives for you to sign up for a long-term deal. Most of the major mobile networks offer free line rental contracts.

Extras and Free Gifts

Many mobile networks offer a range of extras and free gifts when you sign up for a contract mobile phone with them. For example, you may get a hands free headset or accessories pack thrown in.

The recent trend has seen more exciting free gifts thrown in with contracts. These days you may even find that you are able to get gifts like iPod Nanos, Playstation 3s and, Xbox 360s. Some even offer a free laptop.

Compare all mobile phone contracts with free gifts at uSwitch now.

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