Conclusion

I think it is pretty self-explanatory how cell phones have changed the world.  Let’s look at it this way, how many people reading this post DON’T own a cell phone?  I can probably guess that everyone owns and uses a cell phone regularly.  The idea of mobile is something keeps us intrigued.  Whether it’s cell phones, music players, computers, we like the idea of being able to multitask and cell phones gave us freedom.  We were able to free ourselves from the cord that kept up home or in the office.  In the beginning the technology was reserved for a select few that were able to afford the luxury the cell phone provided.  As time progressed so did technology and with the progression came affordability.  It turned out the idea of being connected all the time was pretty popular and for a lot of reasons.  It allowed users to stay in touch, conduct business, and call for help in emergencies, all great things.

The technology also grew up fairly quickly from a primitive radiophone that transmitted voice phone calls at relatively short distances than what we re used to today.  From the 1983 mobile “brick” to the status update I can make from my iPhone I don’t think many other technologies have advanced as quickly as the cell phone.  Of course I talk about the cell phone in its modern form, I didn’t mention the different incarnations it has taken since the idea for them was born many years ago.  If we sit and think about how in the early days we used CB radios in cars it seems elementary that such a technology existed.  But with out these early technologies new ones cannot be invented.  As much as we rely on cell phones sometimes they just don’t work, “no signal,” in which case we turn to the tried and true older technologies like two way radios or “walkie talkies” which people still use regularly and law enforcement rely on to keep in contact with officers on the job.

This technology along with others such as email and the Internet, which can be used on cell phones, has also contributed to globalization.  Being connected twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week make made the world smaller.  GSM technology also makes cell phones functional pretty much anywhere on the globe not to mention that we can call anywhere in the world at any time, for a premium charge of course.  This is another example of how far the technology has come in so little time.  Originally when these devices were made commercial they worked only in certain cities and at short distances.

Thanks to cell phones we also have new industries that have emerged that will help advance the technology even further.  Smartphones and the applications available for them have been a breakthrough in the way people use these devices.  Cell phones have also led to plenty of legal issues that have risen along with them.  I discussed them in detail in my posts but one of the most pressing is using them while driving.  With any new technology there are always legal issues, even more so when the technology advances as quickly as cell phones.

We use them for everything from web browsing to tweeting, from texting to the occasional phone call which is usually with someone who really doesn’t know how to text.  Because no one calls anyone anymore right?  In fact no ne really talks anymore not even when they’re in the same house.  Why would you when you can text?  Maybe the cell phone could hinder our ability to have actual human contact while our typing abilities will become instinctual.  I sometimes imagine an evolved human whose fingers come to a point so that they can more easily use them to type on the small keyboards that are built into modern cell phones.  It is a very imaginative and kind of disturbing thought but one never knows, probably won’t happen for thousands and thousands of years and who knows what kind of technology will be around then.

As for the near future of cell phones we have 4G to look forward to. I have a new iPhone to look forward to, one that may include video chat.  Of course I have wait until next year when my two-year contract is up and I’ll be eligible for an upgrade.  I posted a link to leaked photographs of the next generation iPhone that includes a camera on the screen side.  3G technology has really improved the speed and functionality of cell phones and I can only imagine what 4G has in store.  As I mentioned in my other posts Sprint, a cell phone carrier, is already promoting 4G phones in TV advertisements.  4G technology allows mobile ultra broadband, which is able to transmit data at gigabit speed; it is also based completely on IP or Internet Protocol.  This technology will allow cell phones to accommodate HDTV, mobile TV, and video chat, hence the second camera on the next generation iPhone.  4G has been in the works since 2002 when the vision for it was laid out.  Sprint was one of the main investors in building 4G technology or WiMAX as it is also called investing $5 Billion into it in 2006.

Once 4G is impended across the spectrum of cell phones it will be interesting to se how the content delivered across the medium will change and well as how the device is used.  We’ve become so attached to our phones it’s only natural to try and converge all the technology we use on a daily basis into one easy to use, portable device.  4G will probably allow us to watch TV in HD on right on our phones.  It will make data transmission a lot faster, which will allow larger chunks of data to be transmitted.  What is most interesting to me is that we will probably be able to talk to each other and see each other on our cell phone screens through video chatting.  Which has become quite popular thanks to software such as Skype.   4G will also bring into light a whole new set of legal and privacy issues, we’ll just have to see what’s in store, which I’m sure will be LOTS.

References

1. Author unknown, 4G, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G. May 5, 2010

Apple’s view on Flash

I read this on Apple’s website and found it to be very relevant to that last two posts.  It’s about Steve Jobs’ view on Flash and why it isn’t compatible with their products.  It also mentions how Apple’s new technology might eventually become the standard for mobile web browsing.

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash

Cell Phone Technology

Cell phone technology is one that had grown, improved, and advanced pretty rapidly.  As mentioned in the other posts the cell phone has become a kind of mini computer.  People use them for everything AND phone calls.  Cell phones have become gaming consoles, music players, web browsers, televisions, cameras, and in some cases even a compass.  They are the epitome of convergence, the device has managed to meld together several gadgets into one and although it has done so almost effortlessly there are limitations that require us to still own computers, playstations, and sometimes landlines.  Each of the technologies used to deliver content to the phone has a limitation that doesn’t allow the cell phone to fully function as a full sized laptop or desktop computer.  SMS, MMS, and mobile Internet, all have limitations some of which have had been compensated for with remedial technologies.  Users have used cell phone technology very creatively and sometimes unintended and even abusive uses have been adopted.

Looking at cell phone’s limitations can be a daunting task most would think that it has none but we’ve become spoiled by technology that we use and have become savvy to the way technology functions together and separately.  One of the most basic limitations of SMS is its inability to send text messages longer than 160 characters.  The limits, however, are for a reason; if messages were allowed to be longer than the networks would have a harder time sending and receiving the text messages.  MMS also has its limitations with its many compatibility issues among different model phones.  But where the limitations really come to the forefront was in the mobile Internet.  In the early days of mobile Internet it was very limited mostly to some specialized service provided by the carrier for example, I had a Nokia that had a very limited Internet service.  As technology improved so did the access to the Internet the problem was that websites weren’t formatted for phones and when viewed on a cell phone they were unformatted and mostly text based.  Today the iPhone has a full functional browser, Safari, which can load pages exactly how they appear on a laptop or computer.  The issue was that these sites were formatted for a computer screen and when viewed in a small cell phone screen it appeared very small of course the iPhone compensated with the zoom feature.  Unfortunately not all cell phones are the iPhone and their technology may not work the same way.  Another limitation some phones have is the inability to display Flash content, a program that is used to create rich and dynamic web pages.  In my opinion this is one of the most limiting aspect of the cell phone.  A lot of websites use flash and since phones like mine cannot open them I still have to turn to the computer to view certain sites.  Not having flash on the phone is a small price to pay but as mentioned before technology has spoiled us.

Websites have remedied the problems associated with websites on small cell phone screens by creating mobile sites.  These mobile sites run parallel to the full sites and are made specifically for cell phones.  They are aesthetically pleasing and fit into the screens perfectly without comprising content.  Websites have also adapted their technology to work with cell phones for example YouTube uses flash to display videos but have adapted their method to work with the iPhone.

Another problem cell phones face is the use of them while driving a dangerous distracting task.  One shouldn’t be text, browsing, or dialing using a cell phone while they are driving but unfortunately it still happens.  Legal action has been taken and still people sneak in a text or call without being caught.  The remedial technology that has been invented is Bluetooth, a technology that allows compatible devices to communicate with each other wirelessly.  There are a variety of different devices from headsets to car kits that are available to keep drivers hands on the wheel and off their cell phone.  Cars have the option of having Bluetooth technology built in to the car which allows users to scroll through contacts, make voice activated calls, and even sent text messages without even looking at the phone.  Bluetooth is probably a technology that wasn’t specifically invented for use with cell phones but became one of the most important accessories and technologies to compliment the cell phone.  Bluetooth has humanized the technology somewhat because it allows you keep your hand free of the device for other tasks, much better than holding the phone to your ear with your shoulder.  It also makes cell phone use while driving safer, even though it should be avoided.

Cell phone technology has definitely improved drastically throughout the years and there is still plenty of room for improvements that will make the medium even better.  The cell phone also doesn’t have any direct competitors instead it competitors with different devices that aren’t cell phones.  These devices have managed to converge many different types of devices such a computers, cameras, music players, DVD players; the list can go on and on.  The competitors would be the companies making just a camera, or just a music player, and maybe even companies making just a laptop.  The cell phone has managed to wrap all these different devices into one portable device.  There aren’t many if any technologies that can compete with smartphones.  For example a Nikon digital camera cannot make a phone call but then again a cell phone camera may not take the best quality pictures.  People make the compromise just to make their own lives easier, isn’t that what technology is supposed to do?  But consumers will be consumers and also tend to buy the phone and still but the camera.

Cell phone companies also compete with each other with hundreds of different phones on the market.  Some may have features that others don’t some may not be capable of certain task while others are.  It’s a constant battle of technology but the iPhone really has set the standard for all new cell phones being developed.  The touch screen, applications, iPod, camera, and Internet capabilities make it one of the most advanced phones on the market, one couldn’t expect anything less from a company that builds actual computers.  I will admit I am partial to the iPhone because I own one but most won’t argue that it is one of the best inventions of our time.  IT has managed to change the world of telecommunications altogether and it’s been on the market 3 years.  Other companies have scrambled to catch up and are just starting to gain some ground in the cell phone competition.

References

1. Author unknown, SMS, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS. April 28, 2010
2. Author unknown, Multiple Messaging Service, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia_Messaging_Service. April 28, 2010
3. Author unknown, Answering Machine, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answering_machine. April 28, 2010

Cell Phone Content

In the early days cell phones were devices developed to facilitate communication between parties.   All they were capable of doing was allowing the user to make and receive phone calls wirelessly, and from anywhere.  It was a fascinating technology that made life a little simpler, perhaps even safer.  It has only been about 26 years since cell phones first came into market and in this short time the cell phone has become one of the primary content deliver y systems in use today.  Today, we can use the cell for practically any type of communication activity; it is the device that keeps us connected.

The first kind of content cell phones were developed to deliver was the phone call.  Content was exchanged between two people speaking to each other on the device.  These early phones were mostly used by businessmen to exchange important business information.  Information that prior to the existence of the phones would be delayed if one party wasn’t near a landline.  The idea of being anywhere and receiving a phone call crossed over to the mainstream quickly, the technology developed rapidly, and became affordable for everyone.  The cell phone back then became a new way to deliver content and that content has evolved into something much more that a voice using the phone as a medium to deliver the message.

Answer machines have been in existence for many years, they can be considered a type of content delivery system.  If one was away from the phone or simply couldn’t take the call the answering machine would do it for you.  People could record the content they needed to deliver and the receiver could listen to it at his/her discretion.  In the analog days these machines used magnetic tape cassettes to record and playback messages.  In the digital age the cassettes were replaced by memory chips and hard drives.  Since people were using cell phones more often sometimes they weren’t able to take calls on them the answering machine was transformed, thanks to the digital revolution, voicemail was born.  It was a different kind of content that cell phones were able receive besides the phone call.

The digital age has really been a key factor in how content is delivered, viewed, and sent with a cell and with all mediums.  Digital converts the transmission to the cell phone into binary code making the message more easily delivered and allowing for larger more complex messages.  Voicemail was very convenient for cell phone users, it allows the to receive the message at their convenience.  In 1993 the first SMS or Short Message Service, also known as the ubiquitous Text Message was typed and sent using a Nokia phone.  Interestingly enough, the first text message I ever sent probably around the year 2000 was with a Nokia phone.  SMS messages let users send text messages from mobile to mobile of 160 characters or less.  It had a slow start because of compatibility issues across different networks but has become one of the most popular applications used on cell phones with 2.4 billion users worldwide, in 2008 4.1 trillion text messages were sent.  SMS messages have also become big business globally with the average text message costing $0.11.  SMS has become a very popular way to deliver content using cell phones but it has its limitations and weaknesses.  For example, messages are limited to 160 characters, it one goes over the limit a message it must be divided into separate messages.  Another weakness is that SMS can become susceptible to security breaches and fraud.  When users are roaming content can pass through different networks including the Internet thus making the SMS vulnerable.  SMS fraud called “spoofing” involves someone manipulates information to impersonate another user from a different network.  In other words someone hacks into the system and can take control of a phone and send messages as if it were from the specific phone that was “hijacked.”  The SMS system may have its faults but the system’s advantages far exceed its faults.

Now users were able to talk, leave messages, and send written messages to one another with their cell phones.  As networks became faster and cameras where introduced to phones, the phones we creating more content that must be shared and the MMS or Multimedia Message Service was introduced.  MMS messages allow multimedia content to be sent to and from cell phones.  Multimedia content includes pictures, video, audio, text, and ringtones.  With songs being converted to ringtones they became content that users can purchase, download, and share through MMS.  OF course MMS isn’t perfect and compatibility and transmission issues have occurred.  For example content from one type of phone maybe not be received as intended on another brand of phone.  I experience this first hand with my iPhone that on occasion doesn’t display messages correctly when they’re from other phones, nonetheless people keep sending MMS messages.  Both SMS and MMS have also become ways for marketers to reach their audience and deliver content creating another outlet for advertising.

The latest cell phone technology has really made the cell phone a force to be reckoned with when it comes to content.  High-speed networks such as 3G have turned cell phones into more than just phones they act as mini computers.  Not only can users send SMS and MMS messages they can check their email, browse the web, even get directions, this makes the content it can deliver almost limitless.   Technology has made the cell phone the ultimate content delivery system.  They have the ability to display everything from websites to television to email attachments but not without limitations.  Compared to computers and laptops, cell phones are very small and so are their screens.  Many websites are designed to be viewed on large screens causing cell phones to display websites incorrectly or not display them at all.  For every positive there is a negative but again it doesn’t stop people from sending and receiving all kinds of content with their cell phones.

A certain type of phone has taken all the capabilities of cell phone technology and taken it to another level, smartphones are one of the vehicles for convergence.  Not only do they have Internet access they have allowed third parties to develop all kinds of applications for use on the phone.  These applications have really opened the floodgates for content through a cell phone.  With companies developing applications to market their products and other companies developing applications specifically for use on the cell phones.  Applications range from productivity applications to games, to music applications that allow you to listen to streaming radio with your phone.  The phone has become the go to device for content from news, to entertainment, to social networking, and of course phone calls.  The content that can be delivered through the device has become endless.  With endless possibilities can come objectionable content as well but in the end the cell phone user controls what content is delivered.  Since most of the information on cell phones is available because of the Internet theirs is practically free reign on the content.  Censorship may be present is at the online stores where users can buy and download applications.  Since the store is normally available through the cell phone manufacturers they realize that there isn’t an age limit to who can own a smartphone so objectionable applications are not accepted into the store, a specific example of on the these application stores is Apple’s App Store which is the most popular.  Originally the cell phone was developed to be able to make phone calls from anywhere.  During a phone call all kinds of content and information can be exchanged including questionable statements that may seem endangering to others.  After the events of 9/11 the country became more vigilant about what was going on around them but had no control over what was being communicated over cell phones.  The Government implemented a law that allowed them to be able to tap into conversation if they felt the content and the person delivering it might be involved in criminal activity.  Although this isn’t exactly censorship it falls into the same category.  Invasion of privacy is illegal and there has been heavy debate about the laws that allow the government to “eavesdrop” on individual’s phone calls.  By enforcing these laws the government inadvertently censors the content that can be delivered over the cell phone.  It is indirect but to a certain extent is can be considered censorship.  Invasion of privacy may sound bad but with people becoming more comfortable with sharing information it loses it bad stigma.  The government may be able to listen in on phone calls but they do it only for the good of the people they serve, or at least that what they’re supposed to do.  I don’t recall a moment where I feel that content has been censored on my cell phone.  I do however notice that as “smart” as my phone is it is still just a cell phone and there are limitations to how it can be used.  I’m sure with time those limitations will diminish but new ones will arise that’s the way technology works.

References

1. Author unknown, SMS, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS. April 28, 2010
2. Author unknown, Mobile Marketing, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_marketing. April 28, 2010
3. Author unknown, Multiple Messaging Service, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia_Messaging_Service. April 28, 2010
4. Author unknown, Answering Machine, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answering_machine. April 28, 2010

Cell Phones Economic/Business Factors

Looking at cell phones from an economic and business perspective one realizes that it has become a very lucrative and profitable invention.  From the actual cell phone to subscribing to the service, to accessories sold for the handsets.  The wireless telecommunications industry has become a multi-billion dollar industry that has led to new jobs, and new opportunities for a variety of companies to bring to market new and useful technologies. The first commercially automated network was launched in Japan by NTT in 1979.  The coverage area included all of Tokyo’s metropolitan area and its 20 million inhabitants, five years later this network covered all of Japan. In the beginning it was a small industry with a handful of users and limited to major cities across the globe.  It wasn’t until 1983 that the first analog cells network was introduced in the US in Chicago by a company named Ameritech.

Since this time many companies have emerged as the leaders of the industry that has two sides.  The first side is the side that makes the devices the second is the side that provides the service.  In both arenas there are a multitude of companies that provide services and phones to customers.  The companies that manufacture the phones normally do not sell directly to end-users.  Instead the sell their products to particular service providers that in turn cell the devices to customers along with the subscription to their particular service.  The service providers sell the phones at special rates as long as you subscribe to their service.  Otherwise the devices can get extremely expensive when purchased without a service contract.  The service provider requires the customer to sign a binding contract that usually states that you must be a customer for a minimum of two years at which time you may sign another contract or choose to not renew.  As with all contracts there is always fine print and customers must be ware of what it is they are signing before doing so blindly.

Here is the US we have a many service providers from Sprint, to Nextel, to T-Mobile, but the two largest are Verizon and AT&T.  All offer the same services the only difference being the options for minute usage, text message quantity, and with the popularity of the Smartphone data usage.  All of their rates differ as well as the devices they sell to customers.  Not all carriers sell the same devices; a very obvious example would be how AT&T is the only carrier that offers Apple’s iPhone while Verizon is the only carrier that sells Motorola’s new Droid phone, which is considered a competitor for the iPhone.  Service providers aren’t as concerned with making a profit on the phones as they are with getting customers to sign with them and pay monthly usage charges for their service.  They entice customers by exclusively offering different phones with different features as well as with their competitive rates.  Being a subscriber of AT&T I can tell you that there are a few things that have kept me a loyal customer.  They are the only service provider that lets users surf the web and talk on the phone at the same time. They also have something called rollover minutes which are unused minutes left over from the previous billing cycle that carry over into the current billing cycle, an excellent feature not offered by other providers.  Verizon boasts the largest 3G network and now Sprint is talking about 4G a newer faster network that has yet to catch on.  Each provider has their own angle to try and get you to sign with them.  The companies that make the devices have their devices to bank on, by only allowing certain service providers to sell their device. These manufacturers most likely offer deals to the providers carrying their phones based on the quantity of cell phones sold.  However, they may limit themselves because some people may be tied to contracts and cannot switch service providers although they would like to purchase a certain phone. Then again those customers that already subscribe to a certain service may be eligible for an upgrade, which is a way service providers get customers to sign a new contract with them by offering them a new phone at a discounted price or for free in which case the manufacturer will still be able to sell their product.

There are many companies that make cell phone handsets but Motorola was an innovator in the field of mobile phones designing the first hand held phone, the Motorola DynaTAC.  Since there have been many other companies that have emerged as leaders in the field.  Nokia, of which I was a loyal user until the iPhone, which started off as a rubber company long ago was producing 0G radio phones for commercial and military use since the sixties.  IT first commercially successful phone came when Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev was seen using their Mobira Cityman.  Other companies such as Sony, Sanyo, as well as a variety of others have also been involved the cell phone business but weren’t as innovative as Motorola and Nokia were in the early days and for years to come with newer, smaller, phones being produced consistently.  In more recent years there have been two companies that have really changed the way people use their phones.  What happens when a computer company decides to get into the cell phone business?  They revolutionize the industry again.  Although Apple’s iPhone hasn’t been around that long it has changed the climate of the cell phone market drastically for both cell phone manufacturers as well as service providers.  The second company is RIM or Research In Motion the creators of the Blackberry or “Crackberry” as it is lovingly referred to by users.  Both of these companies have changed the way we use our phones forever with the creations of their Smartphones.

Although Blackberries have been around longer than iPhones Apple has changed how people use mobile phones by successfully converging different technologies and devices into one elegant and user-friendly device.  Other companies have scrambled to catch up to the technology that Apple has innovated such as the touch screen.  Apple is also the only company that also sells its product directly to the public through their own retail outlets with a service contract to AT&T of course.  The iPhone is the first device that has successfully implemented mobile web browsing by using it’s own OS technology in it’s phone which let’s the phone load website just as they would on your PC or laptop.  It also adds an iPod to the mix for music listening, email, texts, and the newest cell phone game changer, APPS.  Research in Motion’s Blackberry was one of the first phones that started the smart phone craze.  Their product is very different than the iPhone but according to them it is the number one selling smart phone in America.  The Blackberry is a more business oriented device although it has crossed over from the business worked to normal life with it’s version of apps as well as it proprietary technology, Blackberry Messenger, an app similar to an instant messaging application used on the computer.

Cell phones have always had parallel industries that have sprung out such as cell phone accessories.  New technologies were even born and have been implemented into modern day use of cell phones such as Bluetooth, a technology that allows wireless communications between two devices at very short distances.  There is also the accessory micro-industry that provides all kinds of protective cases and peripherals such as headsets, car chargers, for all the devices that are on the market.  None, however, have made the impact the Apple’s Appstore has.  The store that can be accessed directly through the phones has sprung an entire software development industry devoted to the creation of applications for use on the iPhone.  This industry has the potential to become a billion dollar industry in and of its self.  Similar stores are available for other smartphones as well and companies have to start rethinking website designs and integrate sites that will load on these devices as well.  More and more people are relying on their phones to access the Internet and use the phone as a web browser.  The cell phone is no longer just a phone, it’s a device used to communicate, listen to music, navigate, watch movies, play games, and the list goes on.  What once required many different devices has now converged into a single device.  Economically many have benefitted from the advance of the technology.  In the beginning cell networks were small as they grew so did the number of jobs from engineers, to salesmen, to customer service representatives.  The more the industry and the technology advanced made room for new industries that in-turn offered new jobs.  As the industry grew so did the profits but the pros of cell phones and the industry they started have by far out numbered the cons.  It is a multi billion-dollar industry that will continue to grow and profit for years to come.

References

1. Author unknown, History of Mobile Phones, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_mobile_phones. April 22, 2010
2. Author unknown, Blackberry, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry. April 22, 2010
3. Author unknown, iPhone, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone. April 22, 2010
4. Author unknown, Motorola Droid, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_droid. April 22, 2010
5. Author unknown, Nokia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia. April 22, 2010

Cell Phones Political/Legal Factors

With new technology arise new rules and no other technology has required more regulation and political intervention than cell phones.  The most prominent organization involved in the regulation of this technology has been the FCC (Federal Communications Commission).  This is an independent government organization established by the Communications Act of 1934.  It was the successor to the Federal Radio commission and is in charge of regulating all non-government use of the radio spectrum.  The purpose of the Communications Act of 1934 was to:

“regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States a rapid, efficient, nationwide, and worldwide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges, for the purpose of the national defense, and for the purpose of securing a more effective execution of this policy by centralizing authority heretofore granted by law to several agencies and by granting additional authority with respect to interstate and foreign commerce in wire and radio communication, there is hereby created a commission to be known as the “Federal Communications Commission”, which shall be constituted as hereinafter provided, and which shall execute and enforce the provisions of this Act.”(2)

The FCC’s current mission that was amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is to:

“make available so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication services with adequate facilities at reasonable charges.” The Act furthermore provides that the FCC was created “for the purpose of the national defense” and “for the purpose of promoting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communications.”(1)

The FCC’s currently has a strategic plan, which outlines the following:

Broadband: “All Americans should have affordable access to robust and reliable broadband products and services. Regulatory policies must promote technological neutrality, competition, investment, and innovation to ensure that broadband service providers have sufficient incentives to develop and offer such products and services.”

Competition: “Competition in the provision of communication services, both domestically and overseas, supports the Nation’s economy. The competitive framework for communications services should foster innovation and offer consumers reliable, meaningful choice in affordable services.”

Spectrum: “Efficient and effective use of non-federal spectrum domestically and internationally promotes the growth and rapid development of innovative and efficient communication technologies and services.”

Media: “The Nation’s media regulations must promote competition and diversity ^{[disambiguation needed]} and facilitate the transition to digital modes of delivery.”

Public Safety and Homeland Security: “Communications during emergencies and crisis must be available for public safety, health, defense, and emergency personnel, as well as all consumers in need. The Nation’s critical communications infrastructure must be reliable, interoperable, redundant, and rapidly restorable.”

Modernize the FCC: “The Commission shall strive to be highly productive, adaptive, and innovative organization that maximizes the benefits to stakeholders, staff, and management from effective systems, processes, resources, and organizational culture.”(1)

This government organization is what controls the airwaves, the same airwaves used by our cell phones.  IT has been there since the beginning of the cell phone revolution and will probably be here as the technology advances further.  One of the major issues that come with cell phones regarding privacy, and homeland security is that certain law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the US and the UK have technology that can turn on microphones in cell phones remotely and listen in the users life.  The phones can also be tracked and used to create location data, something that is becoming more and more common with smart phones and the various applications available for them.  Some may argue that this is invasion of privacy but more and more people are getting used to the idea of having personal information made public, think Facebook and Twitter, two websites that are hugely popular and also available through cell phones.  Years ago privacy is something people took very seriously, no one gave out information for the sake of giving it away.  Telephone numbers, names, and addresses were data that was given to trusted parties not just anyone.  Some Cell phones have the capability of giving people that information automatically and some people out there don not agree with the liberal way private information is treated today.

Another issue concerning cell phones is unsolicited calls made to cell phones such as telemarketing companies looking to sell over the phone.  The FCC has created a registry, the “Do Not Call” registry that prohibits telemarketing calls to telephone numbers on the list numbers include cell phones as well as land lines.  The catch to this list is that it doesn’t apply to companies whom which one has established a business relationship.  This could mean if one voluntarily gave their information by filling out an online questionnaire or participated in a survey they may have also voluntarily given the company the right to solicit them.  With people being more lenient about how they share info this list could become ineffective in keeping phone numbers private.

At one point in the evolution of the cell phone fraud was a serious problem it may still be around today but I remember it being a big issue in the nineties.  Two major kinds of fraud were subscriber fraud where someone assumed the identity of another and used it to purchase a cell phone with the assumed identity.  This type of fraud is still a problem today not only in the cell phone world but with identity theft in general.  Once again, we live in the information age and when it (information) is easily available fraud is eminent.  The second type of cell phone fraud is cloning fraud, in which the unique ESN and MIN are cloned and used on another device.  For example, if one person buys a phone someone could clone that phone’s ESN and MIN and use it on another device while the person owning the original device is being charged for calls he/she never made.

All these issues are obviously legal issues and the government has taken the proper steps to try and prevent fraud, unsolicited calls, among other issues that affect cell phone technology.  They of course have also taken the liberty to overwrite certain privacy laws when it deals with national security, and I do not see a problem with it.  Government has helped a great deal in the advancement of cell phone technology.  Through the FCC which has allowed the expansion of bandwidth and frequencies that have allowed cell phones to become the device they are today.  This technology is one of those technologies like the microwave that revolutionized kitchens; the cell phone had revolutionized communications.  Hindering it would be disservice to both the government, which can use it to monitor illegal activity, and to the people who rely on these devices to stay in contact.

As convenient and commonplace as cell phones are they can also be looked at as quite a distraction, especially when driving.  This is probably the most prominent and current issue facing cell phone use today.  Driving is an activity that requires the driver to be focused, alert, and aware of hi/her surroundings, a ringing cell phone and subsequent conversation can be a major distraction.  The manufacturers of the devices with handsfree earpieces and microphones addressed this issue. Another distraction which is even more dangerous is the text message which requires the driver to look at his phone and read not to mention type a reply with one hand while driving a car with the other.  As texting has become more popular especially with younger people it has, in a way, replaced the phone cal as a way of communicating.  Young drivers are still learning to drive and sending a text message can be very dangerous to them, maybe even deadly.  Laws have been put into effect t the local level to try and prevent talking and texting while driving.  I experienced first hand, TWICE, these laws and I’m not going to say that I’ve completely stopped texting but I have cut it down.  AS for phone calls I purchased a Bluetooth device and use it while I drive, this allows me to keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road.  Most new cars already come equipped with Bluetooth technology adapting to the way people use their cell phones.  This is definitely one of the bigger issue s concerning cell phones but with proper laws put in place and new devices and technologies surfacing all the time in the future it may not be the problem it is today.  One issue that may require a new act of Congress in the future is the issue of information and cell phones and applications that give away your information freely.  With apps, social networking, and GPS big brother always seems to keep an eye on you and privacy may go the way of the dinosaurs.

References

1. Author unknown, Federal Communications Commission, Wikimedia Inc., 2010, 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission. April 22, 2010
2. Author unknown, Communications Act of 1934, Wikimedia Inc., 2010, 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Act_of_1934. April 22, 2010
3. Author unknown, Cell Phones, Wikimedia Inc., 2010, 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_phones. April 22, 2010
4. Author unknown, Cell Phone Fraud, FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 2008, 
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cellphonefraud.html. April 22, 2010
5. Kevin E. McCarthy, Legal Issues REgarding Unsolicited Calls to Cell Phones, Connecticut General Assembly, 2005, 
 http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/rpt/2005-R-0197.htm. April 22, 2010

How Cell Phones Function

Mobile phones technology is based on a technology that has been around a long time, radio technology.  Mobile phones use radio signals to transmit voice and data through the air.  This sounds simple enough but there is more to it than radio waves.  In the beginning, before the cell phone there was something called the radio-phone.  These were installed in cars and used one central antenna per city.  Each antenna had around 25 channels but since there was only one antenna it meant that the radio had to have a powerful enough transmitter to be able to send the signal to on of the channels on the antenna.  This system worked well however, since channels were limited it meant that not everyone could use the radio-telephones.  Cellular technology is able to divide the city into smaller cells shaped like hexagons that allow frequencies to be reused at shorter distances.  The cell phone is a full duplex device, which means that it receives and transmits two different frequencies simultaneously.  This gives the users the ability to speak and listen at the same time like a normal landline.  Half-duplex technology uses a single frequency meaning only one person could talk while the other listened.  Some devices that use this technology are walkie-talkies.  These devices can only operate with one mile, which makes them limited.  Since cell phones operate in the cell pattern they have the ability to switch cells as they move around.

The first cell phone system was an analog system that was made up of a carrier that receives around 800 frequencies.  This system called AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) was approved in 1983 and was first used in Chicago, Illinois.  These frequencies are divided over the cell layout over the location.  The cells are typically around 10 square miles is size and are shaped in the hexagonal shape mentioned before.  The cells contain a base station worth a tower and small building that houses radio equipment.  Analog systems also known as 1G are the first generation of cellular technology.  In an analog system each cell has about 56 voice channels per cell this mean that at any given time there can be 56 people talking on a cell phone at the same time.  A number that sounds quite small by today’s standards.  Cell phones use low power transmitters typically they have two signal strengths .06 watts and 3 watts.  The advantages to this are that since transmissions do not travel very far they can be reused in nearby cells without interference.  The second is that low power translated to small batteries, the small batteries are part of the reason these devices exist.

All cell phones obviously have a number that we dial in order to communicate with what makes this possible is a set of codes associated with each device.  First is the SID code or System Identification Code, which is assigned to each transmitter or phone by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and is made up of five digits.  When a cell phone is turned on the listen for SID code through a special channel it uses to communicate with the base station.  The infamous “no service” notice on a phone happens when the phone cannot find a channel to communicate with.  On top of this the phone send a registration request to the MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office).  This allows the MTSO to keep track of what cell a device is in so it knows how to find it when it trying to connect a call.  As a phone moves through a cell and the signal diminishes another cell picks up on the frequency and the MTSO sends a signal to the phone to switch frequencies and the call gets transferred to the next cell without interruptions.  Something that isn’t as prominent as it was in the early days is Roaming.  Roaming meant when a device switched to a cell operated by another carrier the call would transfer over and the user could be charged very high rates for using a cell that was out of their coverage area.  As cell phones become more and more mainstream roaming is almost non-existent meaning you can be anywhere in the US and not be charged a premium for roaming as long s you’re in the US, international roaming usually still applies.

The advent of digital technology brought well-received changes to this medium.  Digital cell phones or 2G is the second generation of this technology.  It uses the same radio frequencies but differently than the analog phones.  Analog phones don’t fully utilize the signal between the phones and the cellular network because it can’t be compressed like in digital signals.  Digital systems are much more efficient than analog because of the ability to convert signals to binary code which compresses it and allows more phones to be used.  Approximately three to ten phones can use the same space as an analog phone.  Most digital cell phone systems use FSK (frequency-shift keying) to send data back and forth through AMPS.  FSK technology uses to frequencies; one for ones and the other for zeros alternating rapidly between the two to transmit data from the phone to the tower.  In order to accomplish this cell phones need a lot of processing power and this technology has also advanced through the years.  There are a few different kinds of technology used by 2G phones to transmit data, FDMA, TDMA, and CDMA.  FDMA (Frequency division Multiple Access) puts each call on a separate frequency.  TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) assigns each call a certain portion of time on a designated frequency.  CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) gives a unique code to each call and spreads it over the available frequencies.  There are also GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) phones which utilize TDMA technology but on a different manner.

The newest technology is third generation technology or 3G, which is widely used today.  This is the technology used for multimedia phones used today such as the iPhone.  These phones offer more bandwidth and faster transfer rates make it easy to send and receive multimedia data such as web applications, videos, and audio files.  3G can accommodate transfers speeds up to 3 Mbps much faster than it’s 2G predecessors, which only had the capability of transferring 144 Kbps.  TO put it into perspective a megabyte is made up of one thousand kilobytes.  This means that 3G technology can transfer up to 3000 Kbps about 20 times the amount of data transferred through 2G.  3G uses multiple technologies some of the most common are CDMA200, which is based on the 2G CDMA, WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access).  These technologies are based on the older counterparts but use different compression methods to achieve the high speeds.  While people are now enjoying the benefits of 3G much more than a just a couple of years ago the truth is that 4G is already on its way.  Sprint is one carrier that is already offering it although most likely the capabilities are probably still limited to certain areas where the technology is available and being tested.

Cell phones functions and communicate using all these various technologies but this doesn’t leave out the technology used to make the device.  The guts that make all of this possible include antennae, microchips, memory, batteries, speakers, and microphones.  All of these components give this small device the functionality they provide to people.  One of the main parts of the phone are the analog to digital and digital to analog chips located on the circuit board.  These chips allow voice or incoming signal from the microphone to be converted to digital while the other converts the digital incoming signal to be converted back to analog for output through the speaker.  The circuit board also houses the microprocessor that allows the phone to function.  In the early days this meant the phone’s functions such as dialing, contacts, etc.  Today this processor allows the phone to do much more including surf the Internet and take pictures.  Memory in the phone has also increased drastically to store not only data such as contact but pictures, music, and videos.  Displays were once comprised of LCD (liquid Crystal Display) screens, now phones come equipped with large full color high-resolution screens.  Batteries have also changed throughout time allowing more talk time and higher use of the cell phone’s features.  Although the technology has evolved and improved drastically the basics remain the same.  All phones need a speaker, and microphone, and now a new subsequent technology called Bluetooth.  It lets users keep the phone in their pocket while using a device that transmits a signal to the phone that contains audio from a speaker and a microphone.  In some states drivers who use their phones require these “hand free” devices.  These are the components along with the device’s ability to transmit radio signals that make this technology one of the most influential of our time.

References

1. Author unknown, How Cell Phones Work, How Stuff Works, 2010,
   http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone.htm. April 22, 2010

McLuhanLAB

Marshall McLuhan known as the first Pop Philosopher was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada July 21, 1911.  He is most famous for his theories about communication and his quotes such as “the medium is the message.”  McLuhan studied at the University of Manitoba and at Cambridge University for graduate studies.  His major works include The Mechanical Bride, The Gutenberg Galaxy, and his most famous work, Understating Media.  Understanding Media is where McLuhan explains his theory about the medium being the message.  In this work he also explains his theory describing the difference between “hot” and “cold” media.  “Hot” meaning that the medium intensifies a single sense such as television and a “Cool” medium requires one to be more involved such as a book which leaves much to the imagination.  In other words “hot” mediums require less attention while “cold” mediums require more.  McLuhan’s theory on the medium being the message implies that the actual medium determines the content delivered.  One example he uses is that of the light bulb; he explains that a light bulb while not actually an informative medium changed how people lived when it was invented.  Before the light bulb when it got dark, it was dark, with the advent of the light bulb people were able to extend the day and nightlife was born.  People came up with ways to spend their nights because they now had artificial light.  McLuhan was very influential in the world of media and communications his theories are still studied and analyzed today.  He was ahead if his time when it came to the study of communications.  He predicted mediums in his day that are in use today, such as the internet, and even video chatting.  By video chatting I mean he communicated through a camera and a screen with someone who wasn’t in the same room.  Athough he was around long before the internet and cell phones he saw these mediums coming and his theories about them are as relevant today as they were innovative back then.

References

1. Author unknown, Marshall McLuhan, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010,
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan. April 15, 2010
2. Author unknown, Marshall McLuhan, The Estate of Marshall McLuhan.,
   http://www.marshallmcluhan.com/main.html. April 15, 2010
3. Author unknown, McLuhan, the Man and his Message., 2009,
   http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342/. April 15, 2010

History of Mobile Phones

Cell Phones may seem like a relatively new technology but in reality these devices originated in the 1920’s only they were known as radios.  These were mostly push-to-talk type devices like walkie-talkies but served as wireless communication devices nonetheless.  A few years later different features were implemented into these devices and police began using them all over.  Like most new technologies these were also developed for military use at first but crossed over because it provided a way for people to communicate while on the move.  The idea for the cellular phone came from the mobile car phone and originated in 1947 and was first produced at Bell Labs.  This technology really came to the forefront in 1973 when Martin Cooper of Motorola used the technology from the car phone and helped create a portable device.  This device was introduced to market in c.1984 but was rather bulky and very expensive. The adoption of this technology happened slowly over time because of price.  At first cell phones were seen as a luxury something only a wealthy businessman, like Gordon Gekko from the movie Wall Street, would own.  The first commercially available devices were analog; digital came later, the digital revolution within this technology allowed it to work more efficiently. Around this time the FCC approved AMPS (Analog Based Mobile Phone Service) and assigned frequencies in the 824-894 MHz band.  This was also the time when the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association was founded as well.  IT is a non-profit, membership-based organization that represents the wireless communications industry.

Before cell phones can function they need adjacent technologies to be in place, this technology came from the ideas of Douglas Ring, W. Rae Young, and Phillip Porter.  They proposed a system of hexagonal cells and Porter proposed to place the antennas at the corners of these hexagons.  Hexagonal Cells refer to the imaginary grid that is laid out in areas where there are cell phones in use today it means mostly everywhere.  The cells are shaped like hexagons and each have an antenna in it preferably at the corners but sometimes they are placed in the center.  These antenna towers transfer frequencies between on another bouncing the signal as the device moves in an out of different cells.  The old analog systems allowed one phone to use two frequencies per call but each cell only had about 56 voice channels, this means only 56 phones could be in use at a time.  Today I’m sure that number is much larger thanks to the onset of digital technology that have made phones more efficient and even more powerful.  Digital technology was first introduced in 1991; a year after the FCC approved Digital AMPS.  Digital technology allowed more features to be included and new services to be provided such as text messaging which made its first appearance around 1993.  Around this same time Bell Labs changed the landscape once again with the development of the DSP1616 chip it was a digital signal processor that was used in millions of phones.  By 1996 there were 38 million cell phones in use, and in 1997 over 50 million were subscribing so a cellular service, 1998 saw the average consumer use the phone for 122 minutes per month.  BY this time the cell phone had already caught on, prices were more affordable and it became a service and a device that almost everyone could purchase.  I bought my first cell phone in 2000, a Nokia 6250.  I remember text messaging was just starting to catch on and my phone was one of the few with the capability.  I chose to subscribe to AT&T Wireless because this was the service my parents used at the time and had been using for a few years.  They’ve switched carriers since then but I remained loyal and stuck with AT&T, then Cingular, and now back to AT&T.  Good thing too because what would happen down the line would change mobile phone technology forever.  By the year 2000 there were over 100 million wireless subscribers in America, the cell phone had come a long way since its luxury status in the 80s.  This year also marked another major milestone in the technological advancement of cell phones; the digital camera was integrated into the phone and introduced in Japan. The convergence of digital cameras and the cell phone was revolutionary, this technology is practically standard on most phones today.  By this time analog was on its way out as well, there were more digital users than analog. This booming industry also created new jobs for Americans, close to 1 million people were either directly or indirectly employed by some type on wireless telecommunications company.  The network technology had come a long way as well, by now enhanced digital wireless data and voice networks had been introduced, also known as 2.5G.  Around this time average monthly usage for consumers increased to 320 minutes per month per person.

Of course none of this came without laws and regulations and in this case some de-regulations.  When something is new and becomes this popular is a relatively short period of time things can get out of control fairly quickly.  The Telecommunications Act of 1996 became law; it was a revamping of the Communications Act of 1934.  The objective of the Act in 1996 was to open markets to competition by deregulations.  Up until then things were almost monopolized and this law opened up the wireless telecommunications industry to more competition in the free markets.  This act did not only pertain to the wireless industry it pertained to all communications industries including but not limited to telecommunications, broadcast, and cable services.  The tipping point for cell phone technology and use came after this Act was made into law.   There were already a large number of Americans using cell phone but that number grew exponentially afterwards.

By 2003 we were celebrating the 20^th anniversary of Commercial Wireless Communications.  In 20 years this technology went from obscure and expensive to mainstream, affordable, and highly advanced.  Today there are over 162 million subscribers in the US, the wireless industry is worth billions and landlines have become optional in some cases.  Cell phones today also do much more than just make calls they’ve become almost mini-computers that allow users to surf the web, get directions, watch TV, the list goes on and on.  The smartphnones such as the Blackberry and the iphone make all this possible.  Theses devices keep us connected to everyone all the time whether it’s work, family, or friends.  They proved to be very useful, almost essential at this point.  There is a down side to it as well the cell phone, like the computer, has become a type of barrier between us.  As much as it connects us to each other it also allows us to avoid each other.  Some might think it that it’s replacing actual human interactions.  Emails, texting, and social networking have become the normal way we communicate.  Before these cell phones existed we actually had to make a real effort to interact with one another.  For example we wrote letters, made phone calls, and actually visited each in person. When cell phones first started to make an impact they were used for very specific purposes such as emergencies, or pressing matters.  As the technology became more affordable we used them to keep in contact with close family and friends.  The more affordable the more we used them and the more we used them the less face time we needed.   Now we screen calls, text rather than talk, and write status updates to tell people what we’re up to. All of this can be done from the same device, the modern day cell phone or mobile phone as some call it.  We’re connected all day everyday the phone has become an almost like an extra appendage.  I sometimes think back to the days when cell phone didn’t exist and think; how did we live without them?  I guess since we didn’t know about them it didn’t matter.  Something that always comes to mind id the fact that as a kid my parents let me play outside and had no problem with it.  Nowadays kids as young as ten have cell phones so their parents know where they are at all times.  Don’t get me wrong I think it’s great that one can call their children and make sure they’re safe but does this make parents bad parents by today’s standards, I thought they were great, they trusted me enough to let me out.  With all technologies there are good bad features to them.   New technologies also have the power of changing or reinventing societal norms; the cell phone is probably one of the technologies that have had the most influence on our lives.  As I am writing this, my cell phone has rung, beeped, around 6 times letting me know I have a new text, a voicemail, and a new email. The cell phone has brought us so close together that it can become borderline annoying.  Who knows what the future of cell phone technology holds, I’m thinking video communication should be on its way.

References

1. Jesus Diaz, The Analog Cell Phone TImeline, Gizmodo, 2008,
   http://gizmodo.com/357895/the-analog-cellphone-timeline. April 15, 2010
2. Author unknown, Cell Phone History, Thinkquest.,
   http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/02001/home.htm. April 15, 2010
3. Author unknown, TImeline of Cell Phones and Wireless Communications., 2010,
   http://www.cell-phone-accessories.com/timeline-cell-phones.html. April 15, 2010
4. Author unknown, Communications Act of 1996, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_Act_of_1996. April 15, 2010

TechLAB: COMPUTERS

The world would be a much different place without computer, at least for me it would be. For starters I probably wouldn’t have a job, I work in advertising and have no idea how to create layouts for ads without the help of a computer. In fact many things would be different take the world of Finance, which relies heavily on computers. Stock tickers would still be printed on actual tickertape. It would be a very different world that would probably not be as advanced or as small as it is today. Computers have always been around in my lifetime; in my household we had one with Internet access in the early 90s. Back then it we used it for games, business things my parents would use it for, and a cd-rom encyclopedia for school. The Internet part of it wasn’t as advanced, to me it seemed like a novelty at first. I heavily rely on computers in all it’s forms, desktop, laptop, and now smart phone.

As different as the world has become with computers perhaps life would’ve been simpler and more personal without them. We wouldn’t have laptops to surf the Internet when we’re bored, or keyboards to type messages rather than speaking them face-to-face. Maybe there would be more jobs available for people most likely for a lesser pay and a lot of human error. But we wouldn’t have known anything else so would it have made a difference?