Using a Mobile Phone
As well as offering the ability of being a telephone, mobile phones also offer a number of additional services and accessories, depending on the brand of mobile phone you use. These include SMS messages, e-mail, internet access, gaming, Bluetooth, infrared, cameras, MMS messaging, music players, radio, GPS and a number of other features.
The first of these hand held phones weighed in at two kilos and was created by Martin Cooper of Motorola in 1973. By 1990, 12.4 million people across the world had a mobile phone subscription with 2009 seeing 4.6 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide, meaning the 1990 figure had increased 300 times in twenty years.
Each mobile phone has a number of features in common, however many manufacturers differentiate their products from others by implementing additional functions that make them individually more appealing to customers. The common components featured with every mobile phone is: a rechargeable battery, input mechanism (keypad, touch screen, etc.), calls and text messages, SIM card, IMEI number.
Feature Phones
At the low-cost end of the mobile phone spectrum sits the feature phone, a basic low end model of phone. A feature mobile phone has considerably less computing ability in comparison to a smartphone, and do not have the same connectivity.
Feature phones can generally support a number of applications that depend upon Java ME or BREW programming, however they also feature less advanced programming APIs and is unable to run native software that is specific to smartphone platforms. 2009 saw figures that stated 83% of all mobile phone sales in the US were feature phones.
Feature phones are often considered to be the best choice for those who don't need the fancy features of a smartphone, however many people own a feature phone and smartphone. This can be hugely beneficial, as you can take a feature phone with you when there is a risk that your smartphone will be damaged or stolen, such as during exercise or at a music festival. This could be an option you should consider carefully.
Smartphones
Smartphones are the latest in mobile phone technology and have taken the media and consumer world by storm. Smartphones offer more advanced computing ability and connectivity than feature mobile phones, allowing the user to install and run more advanced applications.
These mobile phones run a complete unique operating system that can provide a platform for application developers. Smartphones have often been considered to be thought of as a handheld computer that is integrated within a mobile phone, which is a more accurate description of what a smartphone is. They have increasingly powerful processors, abundant memory, larger screens and operating systems.
Over 45.5 million people in the US own smartphones and it is the fastest growing segment of the mobile phone market. Smartphones often feature e-mail access, internet access, organiser, a touchscreen, camera, music player, video player, games and various other applications, or “apps”. Smartphones are the best in portable devices, however they can be costly to both purchase and run.
iPhone
Perhaps one of the most revolutionary smartphones, the Apple iPhone has taken the world by storm. The iPhone hosts a range of great features including a camera, a portable media player, an internet client allowing you to access e-mail, web browsing and Wi-Fi connectivity.
With many faster and better models of iPhone being released, including the new iPhone 4 that boasts video recording and editing software, the iPhone is simply growing and growing in style and popularity.
Mobile Phone Operators
Mobile phones are available from a number of operators on a pay monthly contract basis or, alternatively on a pay-as-you go basis. Which one you choose depends entirely upon your budget. Once the most popular choice was the pay monthly option, where your bill is sent and you get many free features such as texts, calls and even a phone itself.
However now as more companies are offering a range of great bonuses on pay-as-you-go such as unlimited internet and texts, this is becoming the more popular option. Mobile phone operators include Orange, O2, 3, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Vodaphone, amongst others.
Each one offers something different in the way of services, however you must have one to operate a mobile phone as without one you cannot make calls, access the internet or send SMS messages, as well as any other cellular or internet options.
Mobile Phone Manufacturers
There are a number of manufacturers of mobile phones each specialising in a different field. It seems that Apple has dominated the smartphone market, but it remains a costly option that a lot of people cannot afford. However there are a number of mobile phone manufacturers who can provide you with a competitive service, particularly if you are focusing on a certain feature you want your phone to have.
Amongst the many manufacturers include Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, LG, HTC, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Samsung and several other reputable brands. Many people claim that the best phone for music playing is the Sony Ericsson, whereas some people believe Nokia is the best for games, then again people believe that LG is the best for cameras.
Whatever you think you may have to do thorough research into what is being offered by each brand before you make your purchase. There are a huge number of places where you can purchase mobile phones, including supermarkets, technology shops, mobile phone operator shops, general retailers and mobile phone manufacturer shops, amongst a host of others. Now, if you want to dispose of your mobile phone, there are a number of environmentally safe ways to do this.