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.