What's the deal? [Handphones]

Emmm... you know, these days I see people listening to music more on their mobile phones than their mp3s, iPods and such. Mobile phones these days are truely incredible, you can take pictures, watch tv, videos, movies, download music, play games, browse the internet and to top it off, you can CALL PEOPLE ON IT! XDXD

But you know, whats the deal with it? One of my firends said he doesnt believe in mobile phones, or handphones as it is better known in Malaysia cuz it is too common. I know what he means~ The people of this generation can't even live without their handphones, they want the best, latest, high technology ones, and ironically, most people dont really use it to actually TALK on it anymore.

So really, whats the deal with handphones? Follow me deep (ok, not so deep la :P) into the rabbit hole to find out more about this lovely device~

The History of Handphones
(Simple one.. I wont bore yourself~ XD)

(I skiped all the nonesense on wiki... too much!! =_='')

1G (First Generation): Refers to the name given to the first generation of mobile telephone networks. These systems used analogue circuit-switched technology, with FDMA (Frequency Devision Multiple Access), and worked mainly in the 800-900 MHz frequency bands. The networks had a low traffic capacity, unreliable handover, poor voice quality, and poor security.

2G(Second Generation): Mobile telephone networks were the logical next stage in the development of wireless systems after 1G, and they introduced for the first time a mobile phone system that used purely digital technology. The demands placed on the networks, particularly in the densely populated areas within cities, meant that increasingly sophisticated methods had to be employed to handle the large number of calls, and so avoid the risks of interference and dropped calls at handoffs. Although many of the principles involved in a 1G system also apply to 2G - they both use the same cell structure - there are also differences in the way that the signals are handled, and the 1G networks are not capable of providing the more advanced features of the 2G systems, such as caller identity and text messaging.

See also 2.5G (Second Generation Enhanced)

3G (Third Generation): Mobile telephone networks are the latest stage in the development of wireless communications technology. Significant features of 3G systems are that they support much higher data transmission rates and offer increased capacity, which makes them suitable for high-speed data applications as well as for the traditional voice calls. In fact, 3G systems are designed to process data, and since voice signals are converted to digital data, this results in speech being dealt with in much the same way as any other form of data. Third Generation systems use packet-switching technology, which is more efficient and faster than the traditional circuit-switched systems, but they do require a somewhat different infrastructure to the 2G systems.

Compared to earlier mobile phones a 3G handset provides many new features, and the possibilities for new services are almost limitless, including many popular applications such as TV streaming, multimedia, videoconferencing, Web browsing, e-mail, paging, fax, and navigational maps.

4G (Fourth Generation): As the limitation of the 3G, people are try to make new generation of mobile communication, this is the 4th generation. This 4G system is more reliable, fast and easy. Nowadays, some companies have started developing the 4G communication system, this technology can have a high uplink rate up to 200Mbps, more data can transfer in the mobile phone. So the 4G mobile can have more function such as work as the television. Some telecommunication companies claimed that they would applied this 4G system to the business and it will bring more convenience to people
(Source: ieeemacau.org)

Technological Development of Handphones

Ok, so from what I've written above, we learn that handphones just keep getting better and better. Compared to the very earliest chunky walkie-talkie one and the slim beautiful sexy ones we have now, you can see (a gigantic) difference in the design, technology and so on~

Functions featured in mobile phones are getting more sophisticated and more useful. Mobile phones now are not only for communication. The simple communication device now has converged into a multi function device. Many mobile phones now are developed into PDA-like (Personal Digital Assistant) phones with OS (Operating System) that enables the communication device to operate as if a mini computer(Dornan, 2000).

Bluetooth, a form of wireless short range connection also changed the way mobile phone operates. Bluetooth is co-developed by mobile phone developers such as Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and some computer/electronic developers.

Entertainment on mobile phones has also been a development for many developers. Mobile phone gaming (such as Java games, the most popular game platform), camera functions, media player (playing MP3 and short films) are now engaged among 2.5G and 3G mobile phones. Laptops can also get access to the internet using the 2.5G or 3G mobile phone as the modem. Emails can also be accessed via these mobile phones.

Mobile phones can also become an information centre. Information from weather reports, latest news, share market status etc can all be gathered from small mobile phones. Before WAP or GPRS were well developed, users can gather the above information from the system operator (depending on the system operator, not all provide these services).

Read more about this

(Source: wiki.media-culture.org.au)

How Handphones Work

Here is a diagram that shows how handphones actually work, followed by a nice video, just in case you got lost~ ^^

Watch another video

Types of handphones and their functions

Well.. are you wondering which phone is best for you? Kids theses days (emm, including myself, im not so old you know.. >.>) prefer something where music is essential, and want something that can store and play music beautifully... or maybe something else? Here's some options for you~

Hectic life? Need information at your fingertips? Always rushing from one appointment to another? If you do then you should consider a purchasing a smart phone. A smart phone will let you synchronise your valuable data with you PC, meaning whatever you have in the office, you can potentially have with you on the move. Phones such as the Nokia N95, the Blackberry Curve and the Sony Ericsson P900i are phones that are more than capable of offering this kind of output.

Like music? If you are then a mobile phone with a dedicated built in mp3 player is the kind of phone that you should be looking to choose. For this there is none better than the Sony Ericsson walkman series. For sound quality and reliability they really do beat all the rest. The Sony Ericsson W960i has a huge memory capacity and a very sexy touch screen. Another option might be the Nokia N81, this made more interesting when Nokia release their music site later this year.

If it's photographs you want to take then definitely go for the Sony Ericsson K850i. This has a great flash and lense and comes with a 512mb card to store all your photographs on. The durability of this phone is also brilliant, something that we have come to expect from the manufacturers. Overall choosing a mobile phone will depend entirely on what you want to use it for.

(Source: ezinearticles.com)

There's also a basic phone or conventional phone, for those on a budget, where you have the simple and main features of a phone. Many have basic cameras and support for wireless Bluetooth headsets for hands-free communication.
(Source: consumerreports.org)

Impact on the Way Business Transactions Are Carried Out

Future of Retail Banking - impact of mobile phones, RFID and alternative payment systems, online banking and financial services trends

Businesses can enhance the capability of the technology to advertise, to sell their merchandise, stories downloads, music, films and movies to the individual on the move, where ever they are.

Smart phones with bio-security can be used as an Electronic Wallet, to pay for things such as drinks and snacks from vending machines, transport fares, ticket bookings, and information search for facilities and amenities. For example, on emergency, you are looking for the nearest public toilet, the mobile phone can identify your location via GPS, and direct you to the nearest LOO.

Phones with Wi-Fi features enable the user to access the Internet, read emails, send replies and surf the Web while on the move. For dynamic and fast changing information such as Forex Exchange Rates, Stock Exchange Reports, share prices and company search are all available on the finger tips so to speak. The best part of all, is that is free by Wi-Fi, not through the phone line.

The future of communication system and e-business is the one-to-one interaction. The broadcasting method will slowly evolve into Uni-casting, and television shows, news broadcasting will be as Video-on-demand.
(source: resources.alibaba.com)

Impact on the Culture of the Community

watch part 2
watch part 3

Hand phone at this time is no longer considered to be luxury goods or goods in a foreign society, almost everyone knows and has a hand phone from a small child until the parents. Place hand phone sales or anything related to the hand phone can be encountered in almost every corner of the city, and there are in every shopping center, this indicates that the mobile phone has become a popular culture, because in addition to its distribution reach all sections of the community promotional activities are also great primarily through print and electronic media, but even though mobile phones are very famous or popular in the community still have some of the people who do not have a hand phone even though they should have had a hand phone.
Read more
(source: http://www.kumpulanskripsi.com/en/skripsi/psychology/deprivacy-relative-the-impact-of-a-mobile-phone-as-popular-culture.html


Benefits and Disadvantages

Advantages :

• The more you talk, the more you know how to talk and the better your communication skills become. This is applicable if you’re a sensible person and keep note of your interacting habits over the phone. It can be a communication tutorial!
• Nothing more than a cell phone comes to great help in emergency. You are driving by the freeway and the vehicle jams and cell phone comes to your rescue. You are stuck in a lone place, again call somebody and ask for directions.
• Parents can be a little less worried about their kids by being in constant touch with them.

Disadvantages :

• Nothing more can be a distraction for a teached in the classroom, when a student’s phone rings. Cell phones are increasingly becoming a problem for the schools during classroom hours and are becoming a means of cheating during examinations and other kinds of ability tests. All this is really bad and does hurt the future of the student, who doesn’t realize that he/she is him/her-self responsible for it.
• Health of those living in the vicinity of cell phone towers is becoming a growing concern. Towers result into an area with concrete development along with destruction of natural features (vegetation etc) around the place. The towers also emit strong electromagnetic signals, which can be health hazard for those living nearby and who are getting exposed to strong radiations continuously during a good span of their lives. Read more here
  

Future Directions

Article: Cell Phones Of The Future
Article: The Future of Cell Phones


Ok, so, to sum it up, phones are pretty cool, and convenient. They do more than just enabling people to talk. Its a way of life. For the record, handphones are about to become a necessity in the future, people are gonna start paying their meals with phones, making business transactions, etc. It isn't so bad really........ and another random video just for fun~ ahahahahaa

and I present to you...
the amazing CELL PHONE SYMPHONY!! XD