Everything mobile

Cell phones, iPhones, PDAs, notebooks...

Great gadgets for the tech-savvy wanderer

The cell phone is the most ubiquitous personal electronic device in the world today, providing more than a billion people around the globe with a quick, easy and cost-effective means of communication. But mobile phones are just one part of a fast expanding assortment of wireless devices, from PDAs to notebook computers, that are putting information and the ability to communicate at people's fingertips no matter where they are.

Mobile devices are rapidly replacing fixed-line communications - today, in the United States and internationally, more people have cell phones than traditional fixed-line services - and as technology and wireless networks improve they will become the predominant method of communication, not just for speech, but for text, images, video and multimedia applications.

Currently 65 percent of the population of the United States have a cell phone, a penetration rate that rises to 90 percent in most of Europe, while in some countries such as the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Hong Kong there are now more cell phones than people. Mobile devices such as notebook computers and PDAs have also grown increasingly popular, while phones have started to become more and more like computers themselves.

Popular brands & devices

The iPhone launched by Apple in 2007 has come to characterize the new generation of cell phones that maybe should no longer be called phones at all. These "smart" state-of-the-art mobile devices can take photos, play music, organize your schedule, connect you to the internet and send text messages and e-mails, blurring the boundaries between the humble cell phone and the portable personal computer and combining the best of both worlds in a compact, easily transportable package.

For all the hype over the iPhone, however, it is merely one member of a growing generation of smart phones coming onto the market that have multiple capabilities.   

Popular smart phones include Nokia's E61, 8800 Sirocco, N73, N95 and the N95 with 5 megapixel camera. The Sony Ericsson K800i is also a big seller at present, especially the model with a 3.2 megapixel camera, as too is the Sport Walkman W710i, while the company's W850i is even more attractive. Motorola, meanwhile, is offering the A1200, KRZR K1, and the V3 MAXX.

The growth of the internet and particularly of specialized online stores, such as Koolphone, PC MicroStore and Vavolo Fine Products, has meant many of these phones can be offered at cheaper prices than if sold through traditional high-street retailers.

With wireless networks now readily accessible in most areas of the world, PDAs and notebook computers have also become must have items for anyone on the move, from high-flying business executives to tourists looking for information on the spot. Once again, buying devices and accessories from an online store can offer significant savings.

Big brand names apart, the growing demand for cell phones and smart mobile devices has led to the emergence of smaller companies targeting niche markets. Helio Cell Phones, for example, targets its competitively priced products toward the "young and hip" crowd. Indeed, cell phones and mobile devices are not just a communications tool but they have also come to be seen as making a statement about who you are. They have, in essense, become fashion accessories.

Personalization & Accessories

Most cell phone manufacturers offer a diverse array of modifications for their products, including new covers, straps and cases, while independent manufacturers have sprung up to offer all sorts of accessories to help people personalize their phones. The accessories run from the mundane and the practical to the more unusual, such as straps and covers plastered with Japanese Anime, Sanrio and Hello Kitty, to methods for "pimping" cell phones with crystals and rhinestones.

PDAs can also go in for personalization treatment with a variety of exterior accessories and hardware and software enhancements.

Ringtones & Games

Ringtones are another popular method of personalizing cell phones and enhancing the user experience, so much so that an estimated five billion were sold in 2006 alone. Thousands of different tunes and songs are available on the internet, while some people even come up with their own using downloadable software.

One application that is particularly appealing to anyone with a big music collection who wants to hear their favorite song - or a combination of songs - when their phone rings is Ring Factory, an application that allows users to use MP3s and CDs from their music collection to make custom ringtones for their phones.

One feature of the enhanced computing power of cell phones and other compact mobile devices is their ability to play increasingly more complex and graphically appealing games. Long gone are the days of snake and tetris on a tiny black and green screen, modern devices offer full color and larger screens that have helped propel the mobile gaming industry. Costs have also fallen. Whereas previously users could expect to pay around $5 a game for every game they downloaded, today it is possible to obtain unlimited downloads for as little as $9.95 with companies such as Game2cell.

Messaging & Photos

Second to voice calling, sending text messages is the second main way in which cell phone owners use their phones. SMS messages combine the convenience of e-mail and instant messaging with the easy portability of the device, making "texting" a big hit with users, so much so that in many countries it has led to the development of its own sub-culture and writing style. In the United States alone more than 100 billion SMS messages are being sent each year.

Besides a means of communication, text messages are also becoming an important and cost-effective method of information exchange, allowing users to access information that interests them regardless of where they are. An increasing number of services are utilizing location-aware technology to provide users with pertinent information, helping them, for example locate a hospital or obtain advice about a good restaurant. For a small fee, users can obtain personalized information on everything from weather forecasts to daily horoscopes.

The incorporation of increasingly high quality digital cameras into mobile phones has also put digital photography in the hands of many people who may otherwise not have picked up a camera. The exchange of photos between cell phones and mobile devices and uploading these to internet photo sharing sites is becoming increasingly popular. This, in turn, has led to the need for advanced software to exchange multimedia content.

Mobile data storage

All of these added features, from games and ringtones to photos and business applications, nonetheless face the constraints of the limited memory capacity of mobile devices. One solution that is being turned to not only by business people who need easy access to documents and files, but also normal users overloaded with multimedia content are online storage facilities. These services allow users to access their files anytime, anywhere from any mobile device. Box.net , which has so far obtained over a million users, offers one of the best online storage services that can be tried first through a 14-day free trial.

Batteries & Power

Although the battery technology used in mobile devices has progressed rapidly in recent years from the days when users constantly had their conversations cut short due to failing power supplies, batteries remain a constant headache for many users. Some of the problems can be avoided by obtaining a second power supply or upgrading your devices battery to one with a greater capacity.

One company, Voltaic Systems, has come up with an ingenious solution to mobile users' power problems. They have developed a Voltaic Solar Bag that uses embedded solar panels embedded to charge cell phones, PDAs, iPods, cameras and a range of other devices.

Networks & Location

Besides battery power, one of the principal obstacles that, ironically, constrains the mobility of mobile devices is the differences in the networks used to provide cellular coverage around the world. Phones bought in the United States don't generally work in Europe, for example. People in need of mobile communications have often got around this when abroad by renting a phone in the country they are traveling in. However, there is a cheaper solution. With the cost of mobile technology constantly coming down it is now cost-effective to buy a phone that works outside of the US for as little as $49, or to acquire one that works everywhere for just $99. Both are offered by Mobal World Phones.

Signal coverage

Although signal coverage from different cellular networks has greatly improved all around the world in recent years, the quality of the signal in many places can still be patchy, particularly in rural areas. There are, however, methods to improve signal coverage. The cell phone signal booster, for example, is a passive device designed to capture stray radiation within the phone and re-radiate the signal to improve the cell phone's signal performance.