Cell Phones and Other Useful GadgetsAn overview of new features and add-ons for all the latest pocket-stuffers.

You’re Going to Need More Pockets • Phones

• MP3 Players

• Integrated PDA (Handspring)

• Blackberry

• Garmins and GPS systems

• USB Drive

Times, They Are A’Changin’

• [Teenagers’] thumb dexterity has improved so much that some teenagers now point and even ring doorbells with their thumb instead of their forefinger. The use of these two-way text messaging devices has also resulted in "generation text," a language of abbreviations that is understood by the young all over the world.

-- On the Mobile, Motorola report on cell phone use

Times, They Are A’Changin’

Can you figure out these text messages:

• I 1ly av Iyz 4U

• Dis msg wz sent exclusively 4 D hansom n D btifl. We av obviously sent it 2 D rong No.

• TaK my advC , I dnt Uz it Nyway

Times, They Are A’Changin’

• Japan is introducing cell phones with smart cash chips; you pay for purchases by waving the phone close to a sensor.

• “Text your vote to…”

• Wireless coffee shops, bookstores, etc.

Let’s Play Cell Phone JEOPARDY!!!!The person who answers the most questions

correctly wins 1 MILLION DALLARS!

Winners must be present to collect their prize!

READY???

1. What does cell phone number portability mean?

A: I can take my phone on board a ship and use it at different ports

B: My phone number can be re-used by me after I switch to another carrier

C: Say what?

2. What percent of cell phone users switched carriers in 2003?

A: 37%

B: 68%

C: 9%

3. Which cell phone provider has the highest customer satisfaction?

A: T-Mobile

B: Cingular

C: Verizon Wireless

4. Which cell phone provider has the highest share of the market?

A: AT&T Wireless

B: Nextel

C: Verizon Wireless

And the answers are:

1 - B: My phone number can be re-used by me after I switch to another carrier

2 - A: 37%

3 - C: Verizon Wireless

4 - C: Verizon Wireless

Things to Think About: Attributes• Size

• Shape (clamshell, thin profile, swivel, slider)

• Durability

• Ease of use

• Color/screen size

• Battery life/options

• Disposable?

Things to Think About: Features• Text (SMS)• Wireless Internet (3G)• Voice Dialing• MP3• Ringtones• Push-to-talk• Games• Photo/Video• Headsets (Bluetooth)• Chargers

Things to Think About: Plans

• Coverage

• Length of service / Evaluation Period / Cost of Cancellation

• Roaming / Long Distance

• International Coverage (GSM)

• Analog (remote areas)

• Hidden/extra charges (How do I know when I’ve used up my minutes?)

• Pay-as-you go

Ringtones for phones

• Nokia, Sprint PCS, Motorola, Sony & Ericsson phones have this feature

• Not all phones have this option

Phone/PDA

• Combines Phone and PDA features

• Small screens can be annoying

• Look for a keyboard

• PalmOne (Handspring) Treo 600

• Motorola RAZR v3

• Coming soon: cell/WiFi phones

Cell Phone Nirvana

All-in-one devicevs…

It’s ringing. How do I answer it?

MP3 players – what are they?

• Name comes from type of file (MPEG), audio layer three – MP3

• Key to popularity is file compression

• Some phones have MP3 play back capability

• Usually separate units

Blackberry devices

BlackBerry 7780™ features:

• Phone, email, SMS, browser and organizer applications • Large, high resolution screen to provide ample workspace • Display supports over 65,000 colors • Java™ development platform• Integrated attachment viewing

• Tri-Band handheld, operates on GSM/GPRS wireless networks, allowing for international roaming between North America, Europe and Asia Pacific

$550

So what’s a BlackBerry?

Better question – what isn’t it (the list is probably shorter)

• Single, integrated handheld • Access your existing email wirelessly. • Integrated phone, SMS, browser and organizer

applications. • BlackBerry ‘push’ technology means you don’t have to

retrieve your email or data - it finds you. • View email attachments in popular document formats. • Choice of handhelds, networks and service providers. • Operates on fifty networks in over thirty countries • Advanced security for enterprise and government

organizations.

Meet Bridget

iQue 3600 features:

• Fully functional Palm handheld(calendar, contacts, MP3s, etc.)

• GPS device

• Base maps for North America, detail maps for Los Angeles (extra card required for more storage)

$550

USB Drives

• For storing and transferringfiles, MP3s, photos, applications

• Use in any (less than 3 yrs old) computer

• The new floppy disk

• 64Mb – 512Mb, $20 - 100

• Security?

Resources

• http://www.cnet.com/• http://cellphones.about.com/ (Take the cell

phone test)

• http://www.deadcellzones.com/

• Consumer Reports