| The past, present, and future of cell phones | | | | dime, then two dimes), knowing how to make |
| | | | collect calls, and finding pay phones in new |
| Just in the last few years cell phones | | | | cities were frequent logistic challenges. Not |
| (usually called mobile phones outside the US) | | | | to mention the inconvenience of not being |
| have become de facto standards for most of | | | | able to get access to those you need at any |
| the population. What once used to be a luxury | | | | time. |
| item for a select few that was carried around | | | | |
| in a large leather bag and was the size of | | | | At this point, corporate employees, sales |
| the brick, is no longer. | | | | professionals, parents, young adults, and |
| | | | anyone in industries where communication |
| Technology has advanced the mobile phone | | | | among many is critical could hardly imagine |
| industry to the point where the phone is a | | | | life without the benefits of mobile phones. |
| mere commodity for vendors, meaning that's | | | | |
| not where they make the real money. It's in | | | | As technology matures, ringtones, cameras, |
| the service plans, which require 2 year | | | | GPS features, music, and multiple other |
| commitments usually, where companies like | | | | features will be added to the hardware. And |
| Sprint, Nextel (now Sprint Nextel), AT&T | | | | the software on phones will progress to |
| (now Cingular), Cingular, Verizon, and | | | | include easier web access, advertisements, |
| T-Mobile make the revenues that enable the | | | | news downloads, and easier chat and email |
| cycle of technology innovation and marketing | | | | features - becoming the only piece of |
| to continue. | | | | technology most use. In fact, in many |
| | | | countries in South Asia (where the industrial |
| While the downsides of cell phones have | | | | revolution never occurred) they have gone |
| focused primarily on the annoyance of public | | | | from agricultural industries right to |
| conversations and the small possibility of | | | | technology, bypassing an entire type of |
| brain damage due to cellular coverage near | | | | economy. It is in these countries where the |
| the ear, these pale in comparison to the | | | | cell phone is an essential tool, enabling |
| benefits derived from cellular technology. | | | | communication among millions who don't own a |
| For those who have had cell phones most of | | | | computer. |
| their lives (think anyone under 25), it's | | | | |
| hard to imagine life before cell phones. | | | | As technology advances, and people respond |
| Writing down numbers in a paper directory, | | | | positively to resulting changes, we will all |
| having change on hand (first a nickel, then a | | | | benefit. |