iPhone

iPhone is a smart made by Apple that combines an iPod, a tablet PC , a digital camera and a cell phone. The device includes Internet browsing and networking capabilities. iPhone is extremely thin (only 11.6 millimeters thick) but wider and longer than many comparable devices. The display area is a 3.5-inch wide screen multi-touch interface with unusually high resolution (160 pixels per inch). Unlike most other smartphones, iPhone does not use a hardware keyboard or a stylus . To navigate, a user uses multiple taps and drags to navigate through a mobile version of Apple's OS X operating system . Like iPod, iPhone synchronizes data with a user's personal computer, using iTunes as a client software and Apple's proprietary USB port. iPhone is compatible with Microsoft's Windows operating systems, including Vista. iPhone's networking features include: Automatic detection of Wifi networks. Support for the 802.11b and 802.11b standards. The use of quadband GSM and SIM cards to access cellular networks. EDGE support for high-speed data transfer where available. Bluetooth connectivity for short range networking with peripherals, other iPhones and PCs. Apple says that iPhone carries 8 hours of life on the internal lithium-ion battery for talk or video, and up to 24 hours for music mode. The device ships with either a 4 or 8 GB hard drive, an Intel CPU and Apple's OS X operating system, modified for mobile use. iPhone comes preloaded with a suite of media management software and communications software, including iTunes, the Safari Web browser and iPhoto. iPhoto may be used in combination with the 2 megapixel camera on the back of the device. Google’s search and mapping services are fully integrated, including the ability to initiate phone calls from within Google Maps. Users can also view YouTube videos on the device, along with Microsoft Office documents and most imaging formats, including .JPEG, .GIF and .TIFF. A partnership with Yahoo allows iPhone users to send and receive rich HTML email. Other IMAP or POP3 e-mail services are integrated as well, along with webmail access in the browser. While iPhone was released under an exclusive two-year partnership with AT&T Wireless, it took less than three months for hackers working in concert worldwide to unlock the device for use on any GSM network, though the process involved a level of technical sophistication well beyond the consumer level.

Crowd-beating

During the festive season, high streets and shopping malls across Europe are packed with shoppers armed with mobile phones. But the big crowds in small areas put intense strain on mobile networks, causing connection failures and reduced quality of service. Better network resource management offers a low-cost solution. The need for greater network capacity has been a constant concern of mobile operators as mobile phone traffic has increased in recent years and new data services have become available. There are two main ways to meet the demand: invest in costly new infrastructure or improve the way you manage the resources you have. “Better resource management allows operators to provide more services of better quality to more users on existing infrastructure without having to spend money on new infrastructure,” explains Ferran Casadevall, a researcher at the Technical University of Catalonia. And, because it is a more dynamic solution, resource management technologies allow operators to optimise traffic capacity as and when it is needed, whether in shopping malls during the busy holiday season or at a sports’ stadium during a football match. However, for resource management systems to be truly effective, they must be able to manage a variety of different radio access technologies, from GSM and third-generation (3G) UMTS to high-speed WLAN, simultaneously. A team of researchers led by Casadevall have come up with a solution. In the EU-funded Aroma project, they developed Common Radio Resource Management (CRRM) algorithms that function within and between mobile and wireless systems. “We have taken a global approach in that we focused not on one access technology alone, but rather on all that are available. Our approach manages network connections depending on where users are and what they are doing. In essence, it provides operators with a better way to balance traffic from different sources, and it does so intelligently,” Casadevall says. “Someone making a voice call, for example, would probably only need GSM but someone watching streaming video or digital TV would want to use high-speed WLAN where it is available, such as inside a building, and then be handed over seamlessly to UMTS when they leave the coverage area,” he adds. The CRRM concept and some of the algorithms developed by Casadevall’s team are being considered for adoption by the four big European mobile operators in the Aroma consortium – Telefónica, telecom Italia, Portugal Telecom and TeliaSonera. They have also elicited interest from other operators. Telecom Italia has one patent pending as a result of the project, while the Technical University of Catalonia has another. More calls, more messages, more TV… more quality of service For mobile phone users, the Aroma approach provides better quality of service because no matter what they are doing or where they are, the algorithms fine-tune the network to suit their needs. In high-traffic situations, that means more people will be able to make calls, send messages or watch television without suffering from service losses. For operators, CRRM promises major cost savings. According to the Aroma consortium’s projections, the resource management solutions could save operators a significant amount of money per year by reducing how much they need to invest in new UMTS infrastructure in order to continue to add clients. That is especially important at a time when the rollout of new services, such as digital mobile television, will put increased strain on existing networks. In addition, no big leap in communications technology is expected in the coming years. “The first generation of mobile communications was the analogue networks introduced in the 1980s. Those then underwent a major switch in Europe and much of the world to GSM, the second generation, and then a big leap to UMTS, the third generation. Now we are witnessing a more gradual evolution toward integrating new services and systems into existing technology and improving the management of them globally in order to free up bandwidth. In the future, new services will appear that you couldn’t even imagine today,” Casadevall predicts. In his view, the introduction of new services and the need to optimise network capacity to handle them is part of a virtuous circle that will continue to spur growth in the mobile communications industry. “People demand more services, which requires more bandwidth, which requires better resource management, which in turn improves services and allows new ones to be created,” he says. “Until now, voice has been the major driving force behind the sector, but a big switch is starting to occur toward data – and that creates new demands.”

Satellite Phones

Whether you're posting a breaking news story from the mountains of Afghanistan or just staying in touch with the office during a Caribbean cruise, satellite phones can be the only choice when you absolutely, positively need a phone in the far reaches of the world. Satellite Phones can be expensive, though Iridium's $1.50/minute USD charge is sometimes equaled or surpassed by international mobile roaming rates for some GSM carriers. However, only recently have they achieved acceptable speeds for data transmission. Since there needs to be a clear line of sight between the antenna and satellite, performance can also be affected by poor weather and use is generally restricted to outdoors (though they will sometimes work through glass or canvas). This can also limit the ability to receive incoming calls, though external antenna connections can help overcome some of these limitations. Also, satellite phones like the Hughes 7100 (shown at right) allow users of the Thuraya system (serving Europe, North & Central Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent) to also access local GSM networks in those areas. Other phones offer compatibility with existing AMPS and CDMA networks to help alleviate some of the drawbacks while allowing users to stay connected well beyond the reach of lowly terrestrial networks. Satellite phone systems are expensive to build and far less competitive than conventional mobile systems, so there are only a few providers to choose from like Iridium, Globalstar, ICO Global, Ellipso, Inmarsat and the previously mentioned Thuraya. Great strides have been made in making these phones increasingly portable, though many of them need an oversized antenna for satellite use.

Cell phones usage by Drivers

The use of mobile phones by people who are driving has become increasingly common, either as part of their job, as in the case of delivery drivers who are calling a client, or by commuters who are chatting with a friend. While many drivers have embraced the convenience of using their cellphone while driving, some jurisdictions have made the practice against the law, such as the Canadian provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador as well as the United Kingdom, consisting of a zero-tolerance system operated in Scotland and a warning system operated in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Officials from these jurisdictions argue that using a mobile phone while driving is an impediment to vehicle operation that can increase the risk of road traffic accidents. Studies have found vastly different relative risks (RR). Two separate studies using case-crossover analysis each calculated RR at 4, while an epidemiological cohort study found RR, when adjusted for crash-risk exposure, of 1.11 for men and 1.21 for women. A simulation study from the University of Utah Professor David Strayer compared drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% to those conversing on a cell phone, and after controlling for driving difficulty and time on task, the study concluded that cell phone drivers exhibited greater impairment than intoxicated drivers. Meta-analysis by The Canadian Automobile Association and The University of Illinois found that response time while using both hands-free and hand-held phones was approximately 0.5 standard deviations higher than normal driving (i.e., an average driver, while talking on a cell phone, has response times of a driver in roughly the 40th percentile). Other research has found that using a mobile phone while driving may reduce the driver's concentration and reaction time. People in or near their 20s who use a mobile phone while driving have the same reaction time as 70-year-olds. Studies have shown that talking on a phone can reduce the cognitive resources that the driver can apply to the driving task, and may thus lead to dangerous situations Driving while using a hands-free device is not safer than driving while using a hand-held phone, as concluded by case-crossover studies. epidemiological studies, simulation studies, and meta-analysis. Even with this information, California recently passed a cell phone law that requires drivers who are 18 years of age or older to use a hands-free device while using the phone in the vehicle. Moreover, this law also restricts drivers under the age of 18 from using a mobile phone. This law goes into effect on July 1, 2008 with a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 fines for each subsequent conviction. The consistency of increased crash risk between hands-free and hand-held phone use is at odds with legislation in over 30 countries that prohibit hand-held phone use but allow hands-free. Scientific literature is mixed on the dangers of talking on a phone versus those of talking with a passenger, with the Accident Research Unit at the University of Nottingham finding that the number of utterances was usually higher for mobile calls when compared to blindfolded and non-blindfolded passengers, but the University of Illinois meta-analysis concluding that passenger conversations were just as costly to driving performance as cell phone ones.

Cell Phones Usage

By civilians An increasing number of countries, particularly in Europe, now have more mobile phones than people. According to the figures from Eurostat, the European Union's in-house statistical office, Luxembourg had the highest mobile phone penetration rate at 158 mobile subscriptions per 100 people (158%), closely followed by Lithuania and Italy. In Hong Kong the penetration rate reached 139.8% of the population in July 2007.Over 50 countries have mobile phone subscription penetration rates higher than that of the population and the Western European average penetration rate was 110% in 2007 (source Informa 2007). The U.S. currently has one of the lowest rates of mobile phone penetrations in the industrialized world at 85%. There are over five hundred million active mobile phone accounts in China, as of 2007, but the total penetration rate there still stands below 50%. The total number of mobile phone subscribers in the world was estimated at 2.14 billion in 2005. The subscriber count reached 2.7 billion by end of 2006 according to Informa[citation needed], and 3.3 billion by November, 2007, thus reaching an equivalent of over half the planet's population. Around 80% of the world's population has access to mobile phone coverage, as of 2006. This figure is expected to increase to 90% by the year 2010. In some developing countries with little "landline" telephone infrastructure, mobile phone use has quadrupled in the last decade. The rise of mobile phone technology in developing countries is often cited as an example of the leapfrog effect. In many remote regions in the third world went literally from having no telecommunications infrastructure to having satellite based communications systems. At present, Africa has the largest growth rate of cellular subscribers in the world, its markets expanding nearly twice as fast as Asian markets. The availability of prepaid or 'pay-as-you-go' services, where the subscriber is not committed to a long term contract, has helped fuel this growth in Africa as well as in other continents. On a numerical basis, India is the largest growth market, adding about 6 million mobile phones every month. With 256.55 million mobile phones, market penetration in the country is still low at 22.52%. India expects to reach 500 million subscribers by end of 2010. There are three major technical standards for the current generation of mobile phones and networks, and two major standards for the next generation 3G phones and networks. All European, African and many Asian countries have adopted a single system, GSM, which is the only technology available on all continents and in most countries and covers over 74% of all subscribers on mobile networks. In many countries, such as the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, India, and South Korea and Vietnam GSM co-exists with other internationally adopted standards such as CDMA and TDMA, as well as national standards such as iDEN in the USA and PDC in Japan. Over the past five years several dozen mobile operators (carriers) have abandoned networks on TDMA and CDMA technologies, switching over to GSM. With third generation (3G) networks, which are also known as IMT-2000 networks, about three out of four networks are on the W-CDMA (also known as UMTS) standard, usually seen as the natural evolution path for GSM and TDMA networks. One in four 3G networks is on the CDMA2000 1x EV-DO technology. Some analysts count a previous stage in CDMA evolution, CDMA2000 1x RTT, as a 3G technology whereas most standardization experts count only CDMA2000 1x EV-DO as a true 3G technology. Because of this difference in interpreting what is 3G, there is a wide variety in subscriber counts. As of June 2007, on the narrow definition there are 200 million subscribers on 3G networks. By using the more broad definition, the total subscriber count of 3G phone users is 475 million. Culture and customs Between the 1980s and the 2000s, the mobile phone has gone from being an expensive item used by the business elite to a pervasive, personal communications tool for the general population to where specific styles of phones are often seen as a regular fashion statements (much to the lament of some). In most countries, mobile phones outnumber land-line phones, with fixed landlines numbering 1.3 Billion but mobile subscriptions 3.3 Billion at the end of 2007. In many advanced markets from Japan and South Korea, to Scandinavia, to Israel, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, most children age 8-9 have mobile phones and the new accounts are now opened for customers aged 6 and 7. Where mostly parents tend to give hand-me-down used phones to their youngest children, in Japan already new cameraphones are on the market whose target age group is under 10 years of age, introduced by KDDI in February 2007. The USA also lags on this measure, as in the US so far, about half of all children have mobile phones. In many young adults' households it has supplanted the land-line phone. Mobile phone usage is banned in some countries, such as North Korea and restricted in some other countries such as Burma. Given the high levels of societal mobile phone service penetration, it is a key means for people to communicate with each other. The SMS feature spawned the "texting" sub-culture amongst younger users. In December 1993, the first person-to-person SMS text message was transmitted in Finland. Currently, texting is the most widely-used data service; 1.8 billion users generated $80 billion of revenue in 2006 (source ITU). Many phones offer Instant Messenger services for simple, easy texting. Mobile phones have Internet service (e.g. NTT DoCoMo's i-mode), offering text messaging via e-mail in Japan, South Korea, China, and India. Most mobile internet access is much different from computer access, featuring alerts, weather data, e-mail, search engines, instant messages, and game and music downloading; most mobile internet access is hurried and short. The mobile phone can be a fashion totem custom-decorated to reflect the owner's personality. This aspect of the mobile telephony business is, in itself, an industry, e.g. ringtone sales amounted to $3.5 billion in 2005. The use of a mobile phone is prohibited in some train company carriages Mobile phone use can be an important matter of social discourtesy: phones ringing during funerals or weddings; in toilets, cinemas and theatres. Some book shops, libraries, bathrooms, cinemas, doctors' offices and places of worship prohibit their use, so that other patrons will not be disturbed by conversations. Some facilities install signal-jamming equipment to prevent their use, although in many countries, including the US, such equipment is illegal. Some new auditoriums have installed wire mesh in the walls to make a Faraday cage, which prevents signal penetration without violating signal jamming laws. Trains, particularly those involving long-distance services, often offer a "quiet carriage" where phone use is prohibited, much like the designated non-smoking carriage of the past. In the UK however many users tend to ignore this as it is rarely enforced, especially if the other carriages are crowded and they have no choice but to go in the "quiet carriage".[citation needed] In Japan, it is generally considered impolite to talk using a phone on any train -- texting is generally the mode of mobile communication. Mobile phone usage on local public transport is also increasingly seen as a nuisance; the city of Graz, for instance, has mandated a total ban of mobile phones on its tram and bus network in 2008 (though texting is still allowed). Mobile phone use on aircraft is also prohibited and many airlines claim in their in-plane announcements that this prohibition is due to possible interference with aircraft radio communications. Shut-off mobile phones do not interfere with aircraft avionics; the concern is partially based on the crash of Crossair Flight 498.

Terminology

Related non-mobile-phone systems Cordless telephone (portable phone) Cordless phones are telephones which use one or more radio handsets in place of a wired handset. The handsets connect wirelessly to a base station, which in turn connects to a conventional land line for calling. Unlike mobile phones, cordless phones use private base stations (belonging to the land-line subscriber), and which are not shared. Professional Mobile Radio Advanced professional mobile radio systems can be very similar to mobile phone systems. Notably, the IDEN standard has been used as both a private trunked radio system as well as the technology for several large public providers. Similar attempts have even been made to use TETRA, the European digital PMR standard, to implement public mobile networks. Radio phone This is a term which covers radios which could connect into the telephone network. These phones may not be mobile; for example, they may require a mains power supply, they may require the assistance of a human operator to set up a PSTN phone call. Satellite phone This type of phone communicates directly with an artificial satellite, which in turn relays calls to a base station or another satellite phone. A single satellite can provide coverage to a much greater area than terrestrial base stations. Since satellite phones are costly, their use is typically limited to people in remote areas where no mobile phone coverage exists, such as mountain climbers and mariners in the open sea.

Power supply

Mobile phones generally obtain power from batteries which can be recharged from a USB port or from mains power or a cigarette lighter socket in a car using an adapter (often called battery charger or wall wart). Formerly, the most common form of mobile phone batteries were nickel metal-hydride, as they have a low size and weight. Lithium-Ion batteries are sometimes used, as they are lighter and do not have the voltage depression that nickel metal-hydride batteries do. Many mobile phone manufacturers have now switched to using lithium-Polymer batteries as opposed to the older Lithium-Ion, the main advantages of this being even lower weight and the possibility to make the battery a shape other than strict cuboid. Mobile phone manufacturers have been experimenting with alternate power sources, including solar cells. In addition to the battery, most cellphones require a small microchip, called a Subscriber Identity Module or SIM Card, to function. Approximately the size of a one-cent postage stamp, the SIM Card is usually placed underneath the battery in the rear of the unit, and (when properly activated) stores the phone's configuration data, and information about the phone itself, such as which calling plan the subscriber is using. When the subscriber removes the SIM Card, it can be re-inserted into another phone and used as normal. Each SIM Card is activated by use of a unique numerical identifier; once activated, the identifier is locked down and the card is permanently locked in to the activating network. For this reason, most retailers refuse to accept the return of an activated SIM Card. Those cell phones that do not use a SIM Card have the data programmed in to their memory. This data is accessed by using a special digit sequence to access the "NAM" as in "Name" or number programming menu. From here, one can add information such as a new number for your phone, new Service Provider numbers, new emergency numbers, change their Authentication Key or A-Key code, and update their Preferred Roaming List or PRL. However, to prevent the average Joe from totally disabling their phone or removing it from the network, the Service Provider puts a lock on this data called a Master Subsidiary Lock or MSL. The MSL also ensures that the Service Provider gets payment for the phone that was purchased or "leased". For example, the Motorola Razr V9C costs upwards of CAD $500. You can get one from Bell Mobility for approximately $200. The difference is paid by the customer in the form of a monthly bill. If, in this case, Bell Mobility did not use a MSL, then they may lose the $300–$400 difference that is paid in the monthly bill, since some customers would cancel their service and take the phone to another carrier such as Telus, or Verizon. This would eventually put the carrier or in this case, Bell Mobility out of business.

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, 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 miniaturization 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; and the Nokia N-Series of multimedia phones. The Apple iPhone is another example of a multimedia smartphone. Main article: Mobile phone features Mobile phones often have features beyond sending text messages and making voice calls, including Internet browsing, music (MP3) playback, memo recording, personal organizer 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).[citation needed] The largest categories of mobile services are music, picture downloads, videogaming, adult entertainment, gambling, video/TV.

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 digitized 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.

Cellular frequencies

All cellular phone networks worldwide utilize a portion of the radio frequency spectrum designated as Ultra High Frequency, or "UHF", for the transmission and reception of their signals. The UHF band is also shared with Television, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transmission. The cellular frequencies are the sets of frequency ranges within the UHF band that have been allocated for cellular phone use. Due to historical reasons, radio frequencies used for cellular networks differ in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The first commercial standard for mobile connection in the United States was AMPS, which was in the 800 MHz frequency band. In nordic countries of Europe, the first wide-spread automatic mobile network was based on the NMT-450 standard, which was in the 450 MHz band. As mobile phones became more popular and affordable, mobile providers encountered a problem because they couldn't provide service to the increasing number of customers. They had to develop their existing networks and eventually introduce new standards, often based on other frequencies. Some european countries (and Japan) adopted TACS operating in 900 Mhz. The GSM standard, which appeared in Europe to replace NMT-450 and other standards, initially used the 900 MHz band too. As demand grew, carriers acquired licenses in the 1800 MHz band. (Generally speaking, lower frequencies allow carriers to provide coverage for a larger area, while higher frequencies allow carriers to provide service to more customers in a given area.) In the U.S., the analog AMPS standard that used the Cellular band (800 MHz) was replaced by a number of digital systems. Initially, systems based upon the AMPS mobile phone model were popular, including IS-95 (often known as "CDMA", the air interface technology it uses) and IS-136 (often known as D-AMPS, Digital AMPS, or "TDMA", the air interface technology it uses.) Eventually, IS-136 on these frequencies was replaced by most operators with GSM. GSM had already been running for some time on US PCS (1900 MHz) frequencies. And, some NMT-450 analog networks have been replaced with digital networks utilizing the same frequency. In Russia and some other countries, local carriers received licenses for 450 MHz frequency to provide CDMA mobile coverage. Many GSM phones support three bands (900/1800/1900 MHz or 850/1800/1900 MHz) or four bands (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), and are usually referred to as tri band and quad band phones, or world phones; with such a phone one can travel internationally and use the same handset. This portability is not as extensive with IS-95 phones, however, as IS-95 networks do not exist in most of Europe. Mobile networks based on different standards may use the same frequency range; for example, AMPS, D-AMPS, N-AMPS and IS-95 all use the 800 MHz frequency band. Moreover, one can find both AMPS and IS-95 networks in use on the same frequency in the same area that do not interfere with each other. This is achieved by the use of different channels to carry data. The actual frequency used by a particular phone can vary from place to place, depending on the settings of the carrier's base station.

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 subscribers at the end of 2007). SMS text messaging was worth over 100 billion dollars in annual revenues in 2007 and the worldwide average of messaging use is 2.6 SMS sent per day per person across the whole mobile phone subscriber base. (source Informa 2007). The first SMS text message was sent from a computer to a mobile phone in 1992 in the UK, while the first person-to-person SMS from phone to phone was sent in Finland in 1993. The other non-SMS data services used by mobile phones were worth 31 Billion dollars in 2007, and were led by mobile music, downloadable logos and pictures, gaming, gambling, adult entertainment and advertising (source: Informa 2007). The first downloadable mobile content was sold to a mobile phone in Finland in 1998, when Radiolinja (now Elisa) introduced the downloadable ringing tone service. In 1999 Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo introduced its mobile internet service, i-Mode, which today is the world's largest mobile internet service and roughly the same size as Google in annual revenues. The first mobile news service, delivered via SMS, was launched in Finland in 2000. Mobile news services are expanding with many organizations providing "on-demand" news services by SMS. Some also provide "instant" news pushed out by SMS. Mobile telephony also facilitates activism and public journalism being explored by Reuters and Yahoo![5] and small independent news companies such as Jasmine News in Sri Lanka. Companies like Monster[6] are starting to offer mobile services such as job search and career advice. Consumer applications are on the rise and include everything from information guides on local activities and events to mobile coupons and discount offers one can use to save money on purchases. Even tools for creating websites for mobile phones are increasingly becoming available, e.g. Mobilemo. Mobile payments were first trialled in Finland in 1998 when two coca cola machines in Espoo were enabled to work with SMS payments. Eventually the idea spread and in 1999 the Philippines launched the first commercial mobile payments systems, on the mobile operators Globe and Smart. Today mobile payments ranging from mobile banking to mobile credit cards to mobile commerce are very widely used in Asia and Africa, and in selected European markets. For example in the Philippines it is not unusual to have your whole paycheck paid to the mobile account. In Kenya the limit of money transfers from one mobile banking account to another is one million US dollars. In India paying utility bills with mobile gains a 5% discount. In Estonia the government found criminals collecting cash parking fees, so the government declared that only mobile payments via SMS were valid for parking and today all parking fees in Estonia are handled via mobile and the crime involved in the activity has vanished. Mobile Applications are developed using the Six M's (previously Five M's) service-development theory created by the author Tomi Ahonen with Joe Barrett of Nokia and Paul Golding of Motorola. The Six M's are Movement (location), Moment (time), Me (personalization), Multi-user (community), Money (payments) and Machines (automation). The Six M's / Five M's theory is widely referenced in the telecoms applications literature and used by most major industry players. The first book to discuss the theory was Services for UMTS by Ahonen & Barrett in 2002. The availability of mobile phone backup applications is growing with the increasing amount of mobile phone data being stored on mobile phones today. With mobile phone manufacturers producing mobile handsets with more and more memory storage capabilities the awareness of the importance in backing up mobile phone data is increasing.

MOTOROLA'S HISTORY

Motorola is known around the world as an innovator and leader in wireless and broadband communications. We are committed to helping you get and stay connected simply and seamlessly to the people, information and entertainment you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering "must have" products, "must do" experiences and powerful networks — with a full complement of support services as well. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US$42.8 billion in 2006. In the UK, the subsidiary Motorola Ltd was first established in 1967 in Stotfold, Herefordshire, where the company manufactured car radios. Since then, Motorola has risen to become one of the UK's leading electronics companies and a major supplier of communications and embedded solutions to consumers and network operators as well as commercial, government and industrial customers. Motorola Ltd's export achievements from the UK have been recognised with seven Queen's Awards since 1991. The subsidiary maintains eight offices throughout the region, including three research and development centres and one manufacturing facility. Learn more about our primary business units in the links below: Enterprise Mobility Solutions: This group includes the mission-critical communications offered by our government and public safety sectors and our enterprise mobility business. We design, manufacture, sell, install and service analog and digital two-way radio as well as voice and data communications products and systems. We deliver mobile computing, advanced data capture, wireless infrastructure and RFID solutions not only to clients in the public sector, but also to retail, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, healthcare, travel and transportation customers worldwide. Through innovative technology, we help people integrate, optimize and manage their networks to seamlessly stay connected as they move about their daily lives. Home & Networks Mobility: Operators today are being asked by their subscribers to deliver bandwidth-intensive, experience-based services — regardless of the network architecture. Motorola is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this trend, providing integrated, end-to-end systems that seamlessly and reliably enable uninterrupted access to digital entertainment, information and communications services over a variety of wired and wireless solutions. Motorola designs, manufactures, sells and services digital video system solutions and interactive set-top devices; voice and data modems for digital subscriber line and cable networks; and, broadband access systems (including cellular infrastructure systems) for cable and satellite television operators, wireline carriers and wireless service providers. With these solutions, Motorola empowers consumers by connecting their homes — easily keeping contacts, content and services within reach. Mobile Devices: As a pioneer in wireless communications, Motorola has transformed the cell phone into an icon of personal technology — an integral part of daily communications, data management and mobile entertainment. Motorola not only designs, manufactures, sells and services wireless handsets, but also licenses its vast portfolio of intellectual property. Our collection spans all cellular and wireless systems and includes integrated software applications as well as a large complement of Bluetooth®-enabled accessories. We offer customers innovative product designs that deliver "must have" experiences, such as mobile music and video — enabling seamless connectivity at work or at play.

NOKIA'S HISTORY

Nokia's history starts in 1865, when engineer Fredrik Idestam established a wood-pulp mill in southern Finland and started manufacturing paper. Due to the European industrialization and the growing consumption of paper and cardboard Nokia soon became successful. In 1895 Fredrik Idestam handed over the reins of the company to his son-in-law Gustaf Fogelholm. Nokia's products were exported first to Russia and then to the UK and France. The Nokia factory attracted a large workforce and a small community grew up around it. A community called Nokia still exists on the riverbank of Emäkoski in southern Finland. The Nokia Community attracts other Companies The hydroelectricity (from the river Emäkoski) which the wood-pulp mill used also attracted the Finnish Rubber Works to establish a factory in Nokia. In the 1920s, the Rubber Works started to use Nokia as their brand name. In addition to footwear (galoshes) and tyres, the company later went on to manufacture rubber bands, industrial parts and raincoats. Expanding into Electronics After World War II the Finnish Rubber Works bought the majority of the Finnish Cable Works shares. The Finnish Cable Works was a company that had grown quickly due to the increasing need for power transmission and telegraph and telephone networks. Gradually the ownership of the Rubber Works and the Cable Works companies consolidated. In 1967 the companies were merged to form the Nokia Group (link to Nokia company logos). The Finnish Cable Works had manufactured cables for telegraph and telephone networks and in the 1960 they establishmed the Cable Works´Electronics department. At this time the seeds of Nokia's global success in telecommunications were planted. In 1967, when the Nokia Group was formed, Electronics generated three percent of the Group's net sales and provided work for 460 people. The Journey into Telecommunications Nokia´s Cable Work's Electronics department started to conduct research into semiconductor technology in the 1960´s. This was the beginning of Nokias journey into telecommunications. In the early 1970s, the majority of telephone exchanges were electro-mechanical analog switches. Nokia began developing the digital switch (Nokia DX 200) which became a success. Nokia DX 200, which was equipped with high-level computer language and Intel microprocessors gradually evolved into the multifaceted platform that is still the basis for Nokia's network infrastructure today. At the same time, new legislation allowed the Finnish telecommunications authorities to set up a mobile network for car phones that was connected to the public network. The result was Nordic Mobile Telephony (NMT). Opening in 1981, NMT was the world's first multinational cellular network. During the following decade, NMT was introduced in many other countries and launched the rapid expansion of the mobile phone industry. At the end of the 1980s a common standard for digital mobile telephony was developed. This standard is known as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). In 1991 Nokia made agreements to supply GSM networks to nine European countries and by August 1997 Nokia had supplied GSM systems to 59 operators in 31 countries. New Products During the 1980s, Nokia's operations rapidly expanded to new business sectors and products. The strategy was to expand rapidly on all fronts. In 1988, Nokia was a large television manufacturer and the largest information technology company in the Nordic Countries. Focusing on Telecommunications During the deep recession in Finland at the beginning of the 1990s, the telecommunications and mobile phones divisions were the supporting pillars of the Nokia. Despite the depth of the recession, Nokia came to its feet quickly as the company started streamlining its businesses. In May 1992 Nokia made the strategic decision to divest its non-core operations and focus on telecommunications. The company's 2100 series phone was an incredible success. In 1994, the goal was to sell 500,000 units. Nokia sold 20 million. It has been rumored that a group of businessmen tried to offer Nokia to the swedish telecom company Ericsson during the recession (1990´s)! Today, Nokia is a world leader in digital technologies, including mobile phones, telecommunications networks, wireless data solutions and multimedia terminals.

Ombudsman

What is the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman? The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) is an independent dispute resolution service that can assist you if you have been unable to resolve your complaint with your phone or Internet company directly. What kind of complaints can the TIO deal with? The TIO deals with complaints about telecommunications services. Some of these include billing problems, telephone faults, poor customer service, mobile phone contract problems and Internet access difficulties. The TIO also has a role in handling objections by owners or occupiers of land on which a carrier intends to undertake land inspection, or installation of certain types of facility or maintenance activities. Information about these objection processes, including the strict timeframes involved, is available in ACMA's fact sheet Installation of telecommunications facilities, or by contacting the TIO. When should I go to the TIO? If you have a complaint about your phone or Internet company, the first step you should take is to contact the company in question and try and resolve it directly with them. Usually the problem can be resolved at this stage and there is no reason to take the issue further. If you are not happy with the way your complaint is dealt with at first contact, you should escalate the matter within the phone company by asking to speak to a supervisor or manager. However, if the company doesn't respond to your complaint, or if you are unhappy with the resolution of the problem or think that their solution is unfair, then you can make a complaint to the TIO. The TIO will only handle the complaint if you have first contacted your phone or Internet company. How long does it take for the TIO to deal with a complaint? More than 90 per cent of complaints to the TIO are sorted out within a few days, but the more complex cases can take a few weeks. It depends on the nature of the complaint. How much does it cost? The TIO service is free. There is no charge to have a complaint investigated by the TIO. Who pays for the TIO? The TIO is funded entirely by the telecommunications industry. The TIO bills telephone and internet companies according to the number of complaints received against them. How do I contact the TIO? You can get more information about the TIO on the internet at www.tio.com.au or by calling the TIO on the freephone number 1800 062 058. If you don't speak English, you can call the Commonwealth Government's Translating and Interpreting Services on 131 450 and ask to be put through to the TIO freephone number. The TIO pays for the cost of using the interpreter service. The TIO also has fact sheets available in different languages.

Frequently asked questions

1. Are mobile phones and cell sites safe? The consensus of scientific opinion is that there is no substantiated evidence of adverse health effects from exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields below the limits recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Based on a recent in-depth review of the scientific literature, the World Health Organisation (WHO) concluded that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level RF fields. The WHO has recommended that research continues. Vodafone supports and funds independent research in a number of countries 2. Why do we need cell sites? Cell sites are needed to make mobile phones work. Without a network of cell sites, which include masts, mobile phones wouldn’t work. Extensive regulations and safety guidelines apply to the construction and operation of cell sites. The guidelines are there to protect the public. We ensure all our cell sites comply with the RF exposure limits recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines. 3. Are mobile phones safe for children? We follow the World Health Organisation’s position which recognises that present scientific information does not indicate the need for any special precautions for the use of mobile phones by children. If individuals are concerned they may choose to limit their own and their children’s exposure to RF fields from mobile phones, by using hands free kits or limiting the length of calls. 4. What is a SAR value? When a person is exposed to a radio frequency field it penetrates a few centimetres into the body and is absorbed as energy. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is an indication of the amount of energy absorbed into the body whilst using a mobile phone. ICNIRP has issued guidelines for SAR values from phones (measured in watts per kilogram of body weight). These set a maximum SAR value of 2 watts per kg. All Vodafone mobiles comply with this ICNIRP limit. 5. Is it safe to carry a mobile phone close to your body? There is no evidence to suggest that holding a mobile phone close to your body has any harmful effect provided that the phone is compliant with the recommended ICNIRP guidelines. All mobiles sold by Vodafone comply with these guidelines. Mobile phone SAR values are currently measured for exposure to the head using international test standards. In addition, we recognise that mobiles are worn near the body (on a belt or in a pocket) so we have asked our manufacturers to supply us with a body-worn SAR measurement. Some manufacturers are updating their User Guides with information on body-worn use and customers who purchase a new mobile may notice a sticker and/or a leaflet in the box requesting that they read the information provided with the device before using it. 6. What are the health impacts of continuous mobile phone use over a long period of time? There has been global research into wireless technology since radio transmissions began in the 1930s. Worldwide, tens of millions of dollars has been spent on research and thousands of scientific studies have been done. The consensus of opinion is that there is no substantiated evidence linking mobile phone technology to adverse health effects, provided the technology is operated within internationally recognised guidelines. 7. How long is it safe to use a mobile phone for? We follow the WHO’s position which recognises that present scientific information does not indicate the need for any special precautions for the use of mobile phones. Therefore, there’s no need to limit the length of mobile calls. However, if individuals are concerned they may choose to limit their own and their children’s exposure to RF fields from mobiles, by using hands free kits, or limiting the length of calls.

WI-FI

Wi-Fi, which stands for wireless fidelity, in a play on the older term Hi-Fi, is a wireless networking technology used across the globe. Wi-Fi refers to any system that uses the 802.11 standard, which was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and released in 1997. The term Wi-Fi, which is alternatively spelled WiFi, Wi-fi, Wifi, or wifi, was pushed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade group that pioneered commercialization of the technology. In a Wi-Fi network, computers with wifi network cards connect wirelessly to a wireless router. The router is connected to the Internet by means of a modem, typically a cable or DSL modem. Any user within 200 feet or so (about 61 meters) of the access point can then connect to the Internet, though for good transfer rates, distances of 100 feet (30.5 meters) or less are more common. Retailers also sell wireless signal boosters that extend the range of a wireless network. Wifi networks can either be "open", such that anyone can use them, or "closed", in which case a password is needed. An area blanketed in wireless access is often called a wireless hotspot. There are efforts underway to turn entire cities, such as San Francisco, Portland, and Philadelphia, into big wireless hotspots. Many of these plans will offer free, ad-supported service or ad-free service for a small fee. San Francisco recently chose Google to supply it with a wireless network. Wifi technology uses radio for communication, typically operating at a frequency of 2.4GHz. Electronics that are "WiFi Certified" are guaranteed to interoperate with each other regardless of brand. Wifi is technology designed to cater to the lightweight computing systems of the future, which are mobile and designed to consume minimal power. PDAs, laptops, and various accessories are designed to be wifi-compatible. There are even phones under development that would switch seamlessly from cellular networks to wifi networks without dropping a call. New wifi technologies will extend range from 300 feet (91.5 meters) to 600 feet (183 meters) and beyond, while boosting data transfer rates. Most new laptops nowadays come equipped with internal wireless networking cards. What is Wi-Fi? A way to get Internet access, the term Wi Fi is a play upon the decades-old term HiFi that describes the type of output generated by quality musical hardware, Wi Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity and is used to define any of the wireless technology in the IEEE 802.11 specification - including (but not necessarily limited to) the wireless protocols 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. The Wi-Fi Alliance is the body responsible for promoting the term and its association with various wireless technology standards. What is a Wi Fi Hotspot? A Wi Fi hotspot is defined as any location in which 802.11 (wireless) technology both exists and is available for use to consumers. In some cases the wireless access is free, and in others, wireless carriers charge for Wi Fi usage. Generally, the most common usage of Wi Fi technology is for laptop users to gain Internet access in locations such as airports, coffee shops, and so on, where Wi Fi technology can be used to help consumers in their pursuit of work-based or recreational Internet usage. How Can I Use Wi Fi? You must be using a computer or PDA that has Wi Fi connectivity already working. Most portable computers can add Wi Fi using an adapter that plugs into a PC card slot or USB port. Will I need to have an account with a Wi Fi service provider? Generally, no. You should be able to sign up with the provider at the location. Many providers will display instructions when browser software opens on a WiFi-enabled computer. If you don't have an account, simply start your computer and make sure your Wi Fi card is plugged on. Then, open a browser. Is Wi Fi the same as Bluetooth? No. While both are wireless technology terms, Bluetooth technology lives under the IEEE protocol 802.15.1, while Wi Fi falls under the 802.11 specification. What this means for consumers is that appliances using Wi Fi technology and those using Bluetooth technology are not interoperable. Bluetooth and Wi Fi are different in several ways, and are not necessarily in competition. Wi Fi technology boasts faster data transfer speeds and range, making it a good replacement for Ethernet (802.3) systems, while Bluetooth requires less power and is therefore more prominent in small appliances, such as PDAs.

Mobile Phone Glossary

Mobile Phone Jargon / Glossary Do you know your Bluetooth from your SMAF, or the difference between CDMA or PCN or GSM? What exactly is a Polyphonic ringtone? Abbreviations usually stand for something you can live life without knowing, some are useful gadgets, others describe functions on the phone, or perhaps the type of network you are on, but sometimes its just good to know what they do mean. The most popular terms... The following terms relate to the abbreviations, or jargon we get asked about most: Bluetooth Bluetooth is a handy technology that allows devices to talk to one another when close. As and example, you may have Bluetooth on your phone, and when in the car use this to talk to the carphone without having to plug in your phone. EMS EMS standard for Enhanced Messaging Service. It is system that has evolved from the standard SMS messaging you my be used to, and allows standard ringtones and graphics to be sent to and between phones. GPRS General Packet Radio Service. GPRS is a data upgrade for GSM networks, allowing a data transfer rate of up to 115kps and always on availablity. Now being used for MMS multimedia messaging by some networks. MMS MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Servoce. MMS allows you to send colour images, graphics and audio files like polyphonic ringtones along with your text messages. Polyphonic Polyphonic comes from the word polyphony, meaning "many sounds". Music that has many notes sounding together, either in a chordal, or countrapuntal setting. Polyphonic ringtones vary in specification from phone to phone, but all polyphonic phones support the playing of more than one note together, so your ringtone is generally more musical. On the downside, because the ringtones are played 'musically' they usually difficult to here in noisy environments. Some manufacturers like Samsung have taken steps to improve this by making their ringtones especially loud, whilst others like Sony Ericsson have retained the 'beep' ringtones in their T300 handset in addition to the polyphonic tones so you can choose. RTTTL Ring Tone Text Transfer Language. A text format designed to allow people to save standard (non-polyphonic) ringtones. Used by most internet sites for Nokia ringtones and by the Ringtone Converter so you can use RTTTL ringtones with almost any make or model of phone. SMAF (mmf) Synthetic Mobile Music Application Format. Used in some cell phones including phones from Samsung and Sharp for polyphonic ringtone support. Filenames usually end in .mmf and are downloaded to the handset using a cable, IrDA or download by wap. WAP Wireless Application Protocol. Wap is an agreed standard that allows your phone to access the Internet. Supported by almost every modern phone. Network terms... Some terms are specific to the way the mobile phone network you are on works. These include: AMPS Advanced Mobile Phone Standard. Analogue format used widely in the USA. CDMA Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA is a a digital standard used in the USA, the Far East and Japan. CDMA uses coding of the digital segments of calls, allowing networks to use space on channels over a wide range of frequencies. GSM Global System for Mobile Communications. A digital cellular standard used throughout Europe and now popular in most parts of the world. The standard uses three frequency bands, 900Mhz, 1800Mhz and 1900Mhz. In the UK GSM usually relates to the GSM900 band as this came first with Vodaphone and Cellnet (now O2), see GSM1800 below. GSM1800 / PCN / DCS1800 Various names for the same technology. GSM1800 is a digital standard using the 1800MHz band. In Europe the GSM1800 band was added in most countries after the GSM900 slots very sold, and is used by the newer providers like Orange and T-Mobile. Coverage used to be limited to major cities, however now coverage is usually just as good, or in some cases better than the GSM900 networks. PCS1900 Personal Communications System operating on the 1900Mh frequency. Yet another name for GSM1900, used in the USA and Canada. TDMA Time Division Multiple Access. TDMA is a digital processing system that allows several phones to use the same frequency. Each conversation is allocated a time slot so you only hear the conversation for a fraction of each second, but as the gaps are very small you cannot usually notice. Other popular jargon... Analogue The traditional way to send calls through the air to cell phones. Still used widely in areas where coverage over large areas is required, however in most densely populated countries and locations analog has generally replaced by digital phone networks which generally offer better clarity. Caller Display (CLI) Also know as CLI, or Calling Line Identification. Anyone with a digital mobile will know what caller display is immediately, it used to be groundbreaking, but now it is commonplace. The CLI system allows the user of a phone to see who is calling before choosing if they should accept or decline the call. DECT Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication. DECT is a standard for cordless phones. We list it here as some Sagem phones used a combined GSM and DECT setup to allow you to use your mobile phone at home on your landline. It was a good idea, but unfortunately it dones look like it took off as recent Sagem models do not seem to have the facility. DECT uses 120 channels over 10 frequencies, and gives better quality calls than traditional analogue home phones. Typically most DECT phones have a range of about 30 metres from their base station. Digital Digital is often banded about as a better alternative to Analogue. With a digital handset speech is sampled to create a binary series of ones and noughts which can be transmitted, and then decoded at the other end. The advantages of this to the network operator are immediate as more calls can be compressed into the same amount of free air space, but their are advantages to the user as well. As less data is flying, and the data can be corrected for errors, quality is improved, and additional services like caller id and text messaging can also tag onto the messages. Picture messaging is now starting to take off, and the next generation of digital mobile phones, known as 3G, should feature innovations like streaming video from one handset to another. Dual Band / Triple Band Dual and triple band phones started to appear in the late 90's when roaming started to become a realistic proposition. Dual band phones usually allow your phone to work on networks in the GSM900 and GSM1800 bands, allowing you to use your phone in most countries worldwide. The exception is the USA, where you need a Triple band phone to roam as the GSM standard in the states is GSM1900. Even then in remote areas you may find GSM1900 is not yet supported as the USA is a big place, and GSM networks are better suited to densely populated areas, so if you are planning to roam throughout the States you may be better buying a pre-pay package such as Virgin Mobile on a CDMA network for more coverage than a triple band phone can offer at the time of writing. EFR EFR standard for Enhanced Full Rate. It is a voice coding system designed to improve the voice quality on cell phones. For EFR to work it must be supported by the phone networkand your handset. ETSI The European Telecommunications Standard Institute. The ETSI wrote the specifications for GSM and DECT. HSCSD High Speed Circuit Switched Data is an enhancement to standard GSM networks allowing higher data speeds by combining data slots. Requires support by the network and phone, such as the Nokia card phone. IMEI International Mobile Equipment Identity. A unique serial number for your phone. J2ME J2ME is a micro edition of Java 2 used for smaller devices with limited memory, such as mobile phones and PDAs. It allows developers to write software for mobiles, expect to see great games on a mobile near you very soon! Roaming Roaming allows you to use your mobile phone on other networks other than the one you pay. Usually quite expensive, but very handy when you are on your holidays and want to make someone a little jealous! SIM (Card) Subscriber Identity Module. The name for the small smart card used in your phone. Sim cards used to be the same size as credit cards, but with shrinking phone sizes, the Sim was re-worked to a small card about the size of a penny or cent. The Sim card stored your phone number.

Bluetooth

What Is Bluetooth? Well it isn't some strange form of tooth decay as you might initially imagine. Bluetooth is the name of a new technology that is now becoming commercially available. It promises to change significantly the way we use machines. 1 Take a look around Look around you at the moment, you have your keyboard connected to the computer, as well as a printer, mouse, monitor and so on. What (literally) joins all of these together?, they are connected by cables. Cables have become the bane of many offices, homes etc. Most of us have experienced the 'joys' of trying to figure out what cable goes where, and getting tangled up in the details. Bluetooth essentially aims to fix this, it is a cable-replacement technology 2 How? Conceived initially by Ericsson, before being adopted by a myriad of other companies, Bluetooth is a standard for a small , cheap radio chip to be plugged into computers, printers, mobile phones, etc.A Bluetooth chip is designed to replace cables by taking the information normally carried by the cable, and transmitting it at a special frequency to a receiver Bluetooth chip, which will then give the information received to the computer, phone whatever. 3 How about ? That was the original idea, but the originators of the original idea soon realised that a lot more was possible. If you can transmit information between a computer and a printer, why not transmit data from a mobile phone to a printer, or even a printer to a printer?. The projected low cost of a Bluetooth chip (~$5), and its low power consumption, means you could literally place one anywhere. 4 Ideas, ideas... With this viewpoint interest in Bluetooth is soaring, lots of ideas are constantly emerging, some practical and feasible e.g.: Bluetooth chips in freight containers to identify cargo when a lorry drives into a storage depot, or a headset that communicates with a mobile phone in your pocket, or even in the other room, other ideas not so feasible: Refrigerator communicating with your Bluetooth-enabled computer, informing it that food supply is low, and to inform the retailer over the internet. 5 The future Whatever the ideas, Bluetooth is set to take off. To be honest it's going to be forced down the consumers necks, whether they want it or not, as too many companies have invested in it. This website is generally geared towards the technical issues surrounding Bluetooth, and its implementation in real life. But free feel to have a look around anyway, and see why this technology will have such a big impact on our lives. If you're a complete beginner & you want to know more go to the other pages on the website: the Tutorial has a reasonably in-depth guide to Bluetooth (can be quite technical in parts though), our members-only Download** page has some more general introductions to Bluetooth to download. Also check out the Resource Center, Articles, Glossary & Knowledge Base to further enhance your Bluetooth education. There are also related Resource Centers on IEEE 802.11 WiFi Wireless LANs, HomeRF, GPS, SyncML, ZigBee and other mobile and wireless technologies. Enjoy! 6 Looking after your teeth By the way if, you're wondering where the Bluetooth name originally came from, it named after a Danish Viking and King, Harald Blåtand (translated as Bluetooth in English), who lived in the latter part of the 10th century. Harald Blåtand united and controlled Denmark and Norway (hence the inspiration on the name: uniting devices through Bluetooth). He got his name from his very dark hair which was unusual for Vikings, Blåtand means dark complexion. However a more popular, (but less likely reason), was that Old Harald had a inclination towards eating Blueberries , so much so his teeth became stained with the colour, leaving Harald with a rather unique set of molars. And you thought your teeth were bad...

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the name for the different technologies that allow telephone calls to be made over broadband internet connections. This section of ACMA’s website provides practical information about VoIP for service providers, consumers and product suppliers. Introduction to VoIP Related pages Introduction to VoIP Subscribing to a VoIP service Key issues to consider before getting VoIP Costs relating to VoIP VoIP quality VoIP security Links Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Australian Consumers Association Australian High Tech Crime Centre (AHTCC) Communications Alliance Ltd Consumer Telecommunications Network Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) Scamwatch Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Contacts Voice Outlook Project Ph: +61 2 9334 7705 Phone calls from a regular home phone are made using the public switched telephone network (the PSTN). When you pick up the receiver and hear a dial tone, you have access to a line on the network. The line stays open between you and the person you are calling until the end of the call. VoIP calls don’t use the phone network. They route calls via the internet. To send voice across the internet, the voice information is coded into a digital format and transmitted in packets of information in the form of data. The data packets are then sent across the internet and reassembled into sound at the other end for the receiver to hear. When considering choosing a VoIP service, it is a good idea to be aware of the characteristics of VoIP services so you know how VoIP may change your telecommunications experience. This should help inform your decision about whether to subscribe to a VoIP service, and which VoIP service best meets your needs. You should be able to obtain information from VoIP service providers about: the features offered by a VoIP service the equipment you require to access the services the costs related to the service any limitations of the service what your rights are if you want to complain about any aspect of the service. This section of ACMA’s website outlines some of the advantages VoIP services may offer consumers, and also some of the unique features and potential limitations of some VoIP services when compared with a regular fixed line phone service. This information is intended to complement the information that is normally supplied by VoIP providers. For further information, you can also download the Communications Alliance consumer booklet So you want a VoIP phone Service?. Potential advantages of VoIP VoIP services offer an alternative to regular fixed line phone services that may provide benefits to consumers. The main benefit of VoIP is that some providers offer free calls between their VoIP customers, and very low cost calls to other numbers including long distance and international calls. Examples of charging structures for VoIP include: free calls, usually between users on the same service a one-off charge per connection connection flagfall plus charges for time connected charges per second or minute connected subscriptions that offer a set amount of minutes or calls per month VoIP calls are cheaper than calls made on the normal telephone line for a number of reasons. Calls made using a PSTN phone line take up the full capacity of two phone lines, the caller’s and the person’s called, for the duration of the call. The line is in use even when one party is listening and nothing is being transmitted from his or her end. In a VoIP call the conversation is split into data packets which are then transmitted across the network and reassembled at the receiving end. This uses capacity on the lines more efficiently which translates into savings for the consumer. Extended features Many VoIP services provide additional, and easier to use call features without the additional costs that are sometimes incurred if these features are enabled using a regular fixed phone line. These may include: voicemail electronic notification of voicemails opportunity to block calls from certain numbers conference calls routing to a selected phone number instant messaging video calls file transfer ability to send text or visual information during a conversation ability to send files, such as a photo or document to the person with whom you’re speaking higher definition voice conversation ability to use your VoIP phone number no matter where you are making and receiving VoIP calls over any broadband internet connection presence indication where you can tell if the person you want to call is available ‘follow me’ where the facilities are the same wherever you are logged on. Some features of VoIP services may only be available if both the person making a call and the person receiving a call are users of a PC-based VoIP service or are using the same provider. This means VoIP services may offer instant messaging, video calls and file transfer integrated with the voice service. These features may be useful if you want to send textual or visual information during a conversation or to send files, such as a photo or document to the person with whom you’re speaking. Some VoIP providers can offer a higher fidelity voice conversation than that provided by a regular PSTN service for calls that only use the internet. This is because these VoIP providers can make use of the greater capacity available on a broadband internet connection to provide sound quality approaching that of a compact disc. Some VoIP services offer the opportunity to use your VoIP phone number no matter where you are. This is often called follow me services. You can make calls and receive calls over your VoIP service anywhere a broadband internet connection and relevant equipment is available, including other states or countries - for example, from an internet cafe when you are travelling. Not all VoIP services provide the capability to make calls to normal phone numbers. And not all VoIP services give you a phone number so you can receive calls from PSTN phone lines. Some small businesses have benefited from the data characteristics of VoIP, using their VoIP service to transmit both voice and data. Types of VoIP services There is no one type of VoIP service. There is considerable variation among VoIP services as to the features they offer, the equipment required to operate them, and the way they operate. Almost all VoIP services require a PC for setup of the route to the VoIP service provider. Some VoIP products then depend on the use of a PC with headset for making and receiving calls, while others use a small device known as an Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA) to connect existing telephones, Recently specialised WiFi connected handsets have become available which enable cordless connections directly from a router connected to the broadband modem. Broadband While it is recommended that a broadband connection is used for VoIP, it is still possible to use VoIP over a dial-up modem connection. Dial-up connections with a maximum speed of less than 56Kbps will have significantly poorer voice quality but will still work. A broadband connection such as ADSL, cable modem or wireless will provide sufficient capacity to provide voice quality at least as good as the PSTN but may still be affected by other simultaneous traffic such as downloading large files, for example videos or music. The other equipment you will need to access a VoIP service depends on the method of service provision offered by your VoIP provider. It may include any or all of the following: a router possibly with a WiFi ethernet connection an Analog Telephone Adaptor to connect traditional handsets a microphone and speakers or headseat for PC connection a free standing WiFi VoIP handset.

SERVICES

New mobile phone technologies and services are developing faster than ever. It can be confusing trying to find your way through the maze of information to determine what service features you need. Outlined below are some new telecommunications technologies and features. Short message service Short message service (SMS) allows you to send and receive text messages using your mobile phone. Messages can be sent by keying in letters or numbers on the keypad. Up to 160 characters can be sent at a time. Most mobile phones can be used for SMS. Check with your mobile phone company to see if you can use SMS with your mobile phone. Third generation mobile telecommunications services Australia is currently using what is known as second generation mobile telecommunications technology. Carriers are building third generation (3G) mobile networks for use in the future. First generation-analog technology, such as the advanced mobile phone system (AMPS) used by the analog network in Australia that closed in 2000. Second generation-digital technology, including the global system for mobile communications (GSM) and code division multiple access (CDMA) technologies. Third generation-technologies bringing together voice and data transmission, such as the universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS). Wireless application protocol Wireless application protocol (WAP) is a technology that allows users to access and interact with information and services instantly on their mobile handset. WAP works in a similar way to a computer accessing the Internet, allowing you to use services including email, chat rooms and Internet banking and information services such as weather, shares and news. However, you will need a handset that uses WAP. Your mobile phone company will be able to give you more information about WAP. General packet radio service General packet radio service (GPRS) allows mobile phone users to access and interact with information and services, similar to using WAP, but with one major difference. WAP requires you to dial up services when you wish to access them, whereas GPRS is 'always on', which should result in quicker access to services. Mobile phone commerce Mobile phone commerce (M-commerce) is the buying and selling of goods and services over the Internet using wireless handheld devices such as a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The technology behind M-commerce is based on WAP and enables users to make Internet-based transactions anywhere, book and pay for theatre tickets, airline flights and even cans of soft drink from a vending machine using your mobile phone. Roaming Roaming enables a mobile phone connected to one network to operate on another network. Domestic roaming is roaming on another network in the same country, whereas international roaming refers to roaming on a network outside the country of origin. A commercial agreement must be in place between the customer's network and the network to be roamed on before roaming can occur. Talk to your mobile phone company if you require roaming. Emergency calls You can make an emergency call to police, fire or ambulance from your satellite, CDMA or GSM digital mobile phone by calling the standard emergency call service number 000. Because GSM is an international standard, if you are using a GSM digital mobile phone you can also be connected to police, fire or ambulance by dialling the international emergency call number 112. The international emergency number 112 can be dialled: from anywhere in the world where there is GSM digital coverage-the call will automatically be transferred to that country's emergency number; in any area covered by GSM (for example, when you are out of your mobile phone company's coverage area but in another mobile phone company's coverage area, your call will be carried on that other network); and when your mobile handset is PIN-locked. Note: When dialling the emergency call service from a mobile phone, you will need to state your exact location to the operator. Handset features Handset features may now include dual- or even tri-band (that is, the ability to work in multiple radiofrequency spectrum bands, which is useful if you are travelling overseas to areas that use different bands), vibration alert where the phone vibrates when called, predictive text which recognises frequently used words and infra-red ports which allows wireless connection to other devices. New features being added to handsets include WAP browsers, voice activation and colour screens. Handsets are becoming thinner and generally smaller. PDAs and laptop computers are also being used as wireless communications devices. The most widely discussed technological development on the horizon is Bluetooth. This is the name of a wireless standard industry specification that describes how mobile phones, headsets, computers and PDAs can easily interconnect with each other and with home and business phones and computers using a short-range wireless connection instead of cable connections.