How Young is Too Young? Buying Cell Phones for Kids

Take a random tween, age 8-12, place them in front of a rotary phone and observe at the blank stare of bewilderment. Yes, gone are the days of the landline, pushed aside by the next wave of technological advancement. Mobile phones are fast displacing landlines in many homes; accompanying this movement is the fact kids regularly use and know how to use these cell phones. The mobility of cell phones means you can be anywhere and have the necessity, or should I say the convenience, of a phone.

Cellular service providers and manufacturers would enjoy nothing more than exploiting the vastly untapped tween market. However, is it necessary to provide cell phones to kids age 8-12? What makes it necessary today? Is the simple the notion of having the technology enough reason to equip younger and younger customers with phones? Where do we draw the line when it comes to tweens owning cell phones, and when should we be restricting use? The remainder of this article will discuss the pros and cons of purchasing cell phones for kids. It will discuss the social aspects, health concerns, and cost issues.

Social and Cost Issues:

Weighing in at a paltry 56 grams, designed with a smaller frame to accommodate smaller hands, measuring 88 x 44 x 20 mm, one of the leading cell phones targeted exclusively towards the 8-12 market, the Firefly. It offers up to 2.5 hours of talk time, and up to 100 hours of standby, basically it's your bare bones cell phone that permits parent's to limit outgoing calls to certain numbers and also sports 'mom' and 'dad' buttons for quick dialling. The Firefly is marketed with such catch phrases as "Parents of pre-teens understand that it's time to start loosening the reins and letting their kids travel unsupervised to school, the library, or friends' houses."

Pro: Yes kids need a safety mechanism and having a cell phone handy does provide added protection in the form of determining whereabouts and phoning for help.

Con: Big safe mechanism, however, if any parent purchases a cell phone for their kid using the catchy marketing ploy directed to parents, '...start loosening the reins and let their kids travel unsupervised,' they have the wrong perception regarding the purpose of a phone. Anybody who believes that providing a cell phone to a child automatically provides them with responsibility and ability to take care of themselves, when they were unable to do so before a cell phone, are relying too heavily on 'parenting by technology'. Be mindful of such reasoning when thinking about buying a cell phone.

Con: Another item to consider, are we turning our kids into internet and mobile phone junkies? One should question whether connecting kids 24/7 to their friends via cell phone will influence their social habits. Also, cell phones are quickly becoming the norm and the fashion. Kids will demand to be hip like their buddies from school who sport the latest cell phone, or any cell phone for that matter. Parents will be pressed to give in to ignescent demands of 'everyone else has one', or 'I want to be cool like the other kids'. Sure it may be good to have your kid fit in, but since when is school primarily a popularity contest? Furthermore, when does fitting in cost so much?! The thing with cell phones is there are monthly costs attached -- not a one time sunk cost. Chances are you will pay the monthly fees. Some options are available to have 'pay-as-you-go' options, you pay for whatever minutes you purchase, however, either or, the more your kid talks on the phone, the more you pay. Don't forget too that cell phones are more than phones. Almost all (the Firefly does not) have text messaging and more complicated communication tools included that have an attached cost as well. Boy, this is starting to get expensive!

Health Issues:

The Firefly cell phone is designed to give the bare phone essentials. However, this phone is a candybar style, which means the antenna is located within the phone unit and does not protrude out. This means cellular frequencies are closer to the brain. The question now revolves around how early is too early for exposing kids to cellular frequencies on a regular basis? On one hand you don't want to risk your child's health, on the other hand scientific research is still inconclusive when it comes to cell phone 'radiation'. The juror is still out on this one, be your own judge regarding the health impacts.

There you have it, some helpful reminders to consider before going out and dropping a couple hundred dollars and an additional twenty per month, minimum, on a cell phone for junior. One certainly cannot downplay the safety benefits, you never know when it could save a life, however, at the same time, there are many con items to consider before sending buying a a cell phone for junior. One thing is for sure, the little handset device will never replace supervision from an adult when supervision is due.

Barry Nagassar is owner and operator of DiscussWireless.com. Visit DiscussWireless for useful cell phone fourms that include cell phone reviews, PDA reviews, discussion regarding manufacturers, service providers, and the latest tech news. Shop and compare cell phone and PDA prices among competitors in the SHOP section.

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Audiovox Cellular Phone

Audiovox is an electronics company. They operate under the brands Audiovox, Jensen, and Advent. Audiovox products include car audio, home audio and home electronics. On November 1, 2004, Audiovox sold their Audiovox cellular phone subsidiary Audiovox Communications Corp to UTStarcom.

Audiovox Corporation is a major supplier of wireless communications products, mobile entertainment, security products and consumer electronics products. It ranks among the leaders in wireless products and is the industry leader in mobile video products. The company markets its products through two subsidiaries, Audiovox Communications Corp. and Audiovox Electronics Corp. Through these subsidiaries the company's products are sold to wireless carriers and their agents, retailers, distributors, original equipment manufacturers (OEM's), and the U.S. military. The company is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol VOXX.

Audiovox cellular phone handsets are the most exciting wireless handsets in the market today! The company offers Audiovox cellular phones for everyone; from the business executive who needs instant access to the Internet, to the on-the-go teenager who needs to stay in touch with mom and dad. Featuring the latest technology and the most user-friendly features, you are sure to find an Audiovox cellular phone that best suits your lifestyle.

There are 5 classes (plus Accessories) of Wireless Audiovox cellular phones available to you:

Analog - A signaling method that uses continuous changes in the amplitude or frequency of a radio transmission to convey information.

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) - GSM uses narrowband TDMA which allows eight simultaneous calls on the same radio frequency. Along with CDMA and TDMA it represents the second generation of wireless networks.

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) - CDMA assigns a code to all speech bits, sends a scrambled transmission of the encoded speech over the air and reassembles the speech to its original form at the other end.

TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) - A method of digital wireless communications transmission allowing a large number of users to access a single radio-frequency channel without interference. Each user is given a unique time slot within each channel.

PCS (Personal Communications Service) - A second-generation digital voice, messaging and data cell phone system in the 2GHz range. PCS is supported mostly by GSM. PCS systems use a different radio frequency (1.9 GHz band) than cellular phones and generally use all digital technology for transmission and reception.

Audiovox cellular phones have lots of inherent features, like integrated digital cameras, color display, PDA functions etc. Audiovox cellular phones also have lots of accessories. With Audiovox cellular phone accessories you can gain greater access to the world around you and have fun at the same time.

Audiovox offers a full range of accessories including Audiovox cellular phone hands free car kits (required by law in some areas for using your cellular phone while driving), desktop speaker phones, Audiovox cellular phone antennas and antenna boosters, holders, and cases. Spare or replacement batteries are also available for your Audiovox cellular phone, as are keypads.

Other accessories for your Audiovox cellular phone are: USB data cables and connectivity kits. An over the ear car headset will keep you hands free for other things like driving, working at your keyboard, or even fixing dinner. Earphones and a microphone are great for those not comfortable with speaker phones. Cases and pouches will keep your Audiovox cellular phone safe from grime and impact. Some Audiovox cellular phones are also waterproof.

You have access to a plethora of faceplates for your Audiovox cellular phone. There is a wide collection of downloadable ring tones, graphic wallpapers, screensavers etc to jazz up your Audiovox cellular phone. You can get an MP3 player for your Audiovox cellular phone, rapid chargers; they even have a double battery charger so that you can charge a spare battery as well as your primary battery.

A holster or belt clip for your Audiovox cellular phone can be a useful alternative to the pocket or purse when you are out. Audiovox has a whole line of cell phones for you to choose from, some of which are the pre-paid Audiovox cellular phones that can help you avoid the excesses of provider calling plans. Cellular phone joysticks for gaming, an FM stereo headset and an AC/DC wall adaptor for a car charger; all of these accessories are designed to make your Audiovox cellular phone even more useful and suited to your needs.

Saurya Ghosal for http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com. Read more about Cellular Phones [http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com/cellular-phone-screensavers.html] Copyright 2005 http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com

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Cell Phone - Why Should I Upgrade

We hear from friends or just general chat by people wanting to upgrade their cell phones. There are a number of very good reasons to upgrade but unfortunately the main reason people upgrade and without thinking is because the cell phone manufacturers are blitzing us with advertising on a daily basis with new features. I bet you can pinpoint a few friends who have new cell phones and have no idea as to how to go about using all the key features.

Upgrading your cellular phone needs some careful thinking. Many of us upgrade for fashion purposes to keep up with modern looks, understandable if you have a cell phone from the early years you might want something a little more portable and flexible in use.

Upgrading still costs money so choose wisely. There are many different upgrade options today such as Camera cell phones; PDA Cell Phones, GPS Cell phones and now we have the new line of 3G cell phones available. Honestly the best place to choose a cell phone is on the Internet, it's your decision and not the sale rep at some store twisting your arm for a sale and blinding you with useless information.

You need to know the differences and the different functionality of the cell phones before you just go ahead and upgrade. By doing a little research you get to choose exactly what fits your needs and budget. GPS phones (Global Positioning Satellite) are widely used by people with a love for climbing or adventure walking in remote regions.

GPS phones can be pinpointed to a pacific area should you be lost or in need of assistance, long distance drivers and employers also find good use for these phones. Employers can trace the whereabouts of employees or the phones themselves if lost or stolen.

PDA phones are ideal for people who like using pocket organisers. These phones are expensive but have similar functionality to that of a PC, ideal for office workers or sales reps.

Camera phones are self explanatory, simply a phone that can take photos. There is more to camera cell phones but in a nut shell that's what they do. They are classed more of a fun phone to have and prove very popular among all age groups. Once you have an idea of what the different phones do and can't do you are better placed to come up with an upgrade decision.

Flip phones are very popular at the moment, these are the phones with the pop up screen, they are available in Camera, PDA and GPS format but be aware they are not for everyone, I personally do not find them very user friendly but that's my opinion, I like to just answer the incoming call without messing around with the phone.

The phones on today's market a very light weight compared to the large style from years ago, those of you who still use these type phones today should look at upgrading and come to terms with the technology of today.

General advice:

If you experience a bad reception on a regular basis you should check with your cell phone carrier first before changing the phone, most of the time it tends to be a bad signal due to the cellular phone carrier rather than the fault of your phone, many people just jump and buy the phone only to find that they same problem is reoccurring. In certain area's you may need a small cell phone antenna or booster costing very little to get a better reception.

Powering down very quickly:

If you find that your cell phone powers down too quickly the chances are you need a new battery, once again many people exchange the whole cell phone instead of just the battery. The conception that batteries are almost as costly as the cell phone is untrue. You can get batteries at very competitive pricing along with third party battery from different suppliers.

No Power:

If you find that you have no power in your cell phone even after charging for hours, it could be one of three things. Firstly the battery in the cell phone could be completely dead, secondly the recharge supply unit could have a problem and last of all it could be the cell phone itself, by eliminating the first two you could save yourself money. It may all seem common sense but you would be surprised at how many good working cell phones are thrown out.

About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Prepaid Phone Plans which includes Cell prepaid plans, Carriers, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your phone interests and needs.

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Cell Phone Safety - Am I Really At Risk

It's a sad commentary on the way of the world today, when you stop to think about the fact that people will go out of their way to avoid radiation exposure - such as in the case of x-ray technicians who shield themselves within a protective booth or by donning lead aprons - and, yet, those same people will walk around, day after day, with a cell phone attached to their ears without concern. Cell phones, cellular phones, mobile phones, wireless phones...call them what you will - without proper precautions, they can still pose a significant threat to those who use them.

SAR Absorption

The CTIA - or, Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association - has defined SAR (specific absorption rate) as "a way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency energy that is absorbed by the body". In plain English, SAR indicates the amount of radiation that your body is being directly exposed to through the use of devices such as cell phones. Every time you use a cell phone, you're holding a machine to your head that sends electromagnetic waves directly to your brain. These waves, which are the equivalent of microwave energy, are transmitted to the brain through cell phone antennas and - depending upon how close that receptor is to your head, as much as 60% of that radiation is absorbed. So much so, in fact, that they can penetrate 1 ½" into the actual brain. That was the bad news...even worse is that many models exceed that limit. In effect, you're slow-cooking your brain in the very same way that a microwave oven cooks dinner on a busy day.

Through various studies, evidence has indicated that there's been a significant increase in brain tumor occurrences among cell phone users. In addition, researchers have also discovered that the impact of cell phone frequencies (which cause the brain to be bombarded by radiation or microwave energy) also appears to cause genetic damage within human blood. It's believed that the auto-immune system is negatively impacted, as well. The potential for long-term adverse affects, then, is astounding and may include diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Children and Cell Phone Safety

If all of that concerns you - as well it should - then think, for a moment, about how many children are using these phones on a regular basis. You'd be hard-pressed in today's society to find a child or teen who doesn't, at some point in the day, have one pressed to their ear. The odds of developing something devastating are even more likely, since their skulls are thinner and their brains are still in the process of growing. Between that and the fact that, due to their age, the number of cumulative years in which they'd receive exposure to the harmful radiation that's associated with these phones will be greater than those of an older generation, it's a frightening prospect, indeed.

Although it's certainly a great convenience to be able to carry a portable phone around in your purse or pocket, and has - in some cases - helped to save the life of someone in jeopardy by enabling folks to dial 911 without having to search for a nearby phone, it's not an even trade-off and children should never use such devices, except in an emergency. One of the biggest problems that parents may face today is that, since cell phones are convenient - and popular among young people - keeping their children cell-phone-free may be next to impossible. Whether it's necessary to have youngsters stay in communication with family members when they're away from home or simply to use in the event of an emergency, many parents feel forced into providing them for their kids and don't give much thought to the possible dangers that their children may be exposed to, as a result.

Reducing the Risks

Cell phone safety must be made more of a priority by adults and children alike. Until such time when the dangers that are intrinsic to these types of devices have been nullified, there are certain steps that can - and should - be taken by those who find it necessary to use phones such as these.

Only use a cell or mobile phone when necessary
Limit the length of your conversations when utilizing a cell phone
Invest in a hands-free set-up so that the phone's antenna isn't near your head
Purchase a cell phone with an external aerial
Research the SAR for the unit that you're thinking of purchasing
Invest in a SAR Shield for your cell phone

Protecting Yourself with a SAR Shield

With a history of reducing radio frequency radiation by up to 89%, the SAR Shield offers significant protection against the damaging effects that are experienced by those who use cell phones on a regular basis. This attachment operates using the same principle as the technology used for the U. S. Air Force's Stealth Aircraft, which makes it invisible to radar systems. Due to its winged design, the SAR Shield is able to conform to any size cell phone. In the case of an external antenna, simply bend it around the antenna and you'll be protected from most of the harmful radiation waves for the lifetime of the phone. For those which house an internal receiver, the SAR Shield attaches directly to the phone's hard outer shell. For the best results, this should be attached on the upper portion of the cell phone's structure, so that it doesn't interfere with any other attachments, such as belt clips. For more information on how to purchase a SAR Shield, visit http://www.sarshield.com.

It's All About Choices

It stands to reason that people would prefer to keep a cell phone handy, whether for the purposes of emergency access or just to remain in touch with those who may need to reach them when a "land line" is unavailable. That being the case, the next best thing would be to exercise as much caution as possible when using a cell phone, including the willingness to invest in any device that might help to reduce the amount of radiation absorption in order to practice cell phone safety - for both you and your children. So, if you're determined to use that cell phone, consider purchasing a SAR Shield...and breathe just a bit easier when the phone rings.

About the Author

Samantha Goode is a freelance technology writer who loves to provide tips to consumers shopping for cellular phone reviews [http://www.a1-cell-phones.com/cell-phone-reviews.html], comparison of cell phones [http://www.a1-cell-phones.com/index.html] and new cell phones [http://www.a1-cell-phones.com/cell-phone-comparison.html].

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The Importance Of Cell Phones In Modern Society

Cell phones have become a necessity for many people throughout the world. The ability to keep in touch with family, business associates, and access to email are only a few of the reasons for the increasing importance of cell phones. Today's technically advanced cell phones are capable of not only receiving and placing phone calls, but storing data, taking pictures, and can even be used as walkie talkies, to name just a few of the available options.

When cell phones were first introduced to the public, they were bulky, expensive, and some even required a base unit that had to be transported along with the phone. Good reception was a major problem and in general, early cell phones could only be used in certain locations were the signal was particularly strong. As cell phone technology advanced, the difficult in using them became less of a problem. Today, cell phone reception has improved greatly due to the use of satellites and wireless services. As cell phones improved and became simple to use, the importance of cell phones increased accordingly.

Cell phones are the perfect way to stay connected with others and provide the user with a sense of security. In the event of emergency, having a cell phone can allow help to reach you quickly and could possibly save lives. However, the importance of cell phones goes way beyond personal safety. Modern cell phones are capable of internet access, sending and receiving photos and files, and some cell phones are equipped with GPS technology, allowing for use in most locations around the world and allowing the cell phone to be found or the user located in the event of loss or emergency.

Cell phone reception has become reliable and of high quality due to advances in wireless technology. Wireless service providers offer excellent packages and promotions for cell phone users. Finding a dependable service provider is no longer an issue for cell phone users. The expansion of the wireless service provider industry gives cell phone users a choice and the increased competition has caused a drop in prices of wireless cell phone service. The importance of cell phones goes way beyond the ability to make or receive phone calls. Cell phone users can instantly send data to the home or office, check for important email, use their cell phone as a PDA or calendar, and store photos which can be easily transferred to a PC or laptop computer.

Cell phone manufacturers have produced a wide range of cell phones, which sell for prices that range from very inexpensive to over one thousand dollars. The available options give users the choice of purchasing a basic cell phone to use simply for making calls, or choosing a complex, technologically advanced cell phone that can perform as many or even more tasks that a home computer. Over the past decade, the increasing importance of cell phones has made them almost a necessity for most people. Even remote and underdeveloped countries have some access to cell phone technology and wireless services.

The importance of cell phones has increased the competition in the wireless service provider industry, making cell phones very affordable and very easy to use. Cell phones have become almost a status symbol in addition to the convenience and security that comes from owning them.

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher, offering information on cheap cell phones [http://www.cell-phones-4-u.com/] and Motorola cell phones [http://www.cell-phones-365.com/]

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Cellular Phone Repair

Cell phones have become a necessity for many people throughout the world. In such a scenario, life seems to come at a halt if there is a fault in your cellular phone and you need a repair.

Until recently, only the manufacturers undertook the cellular phone repair job. Opportunities now exist for entrepreneurial individuals to start their own lucrative business, either as an employee of a cellular phone repair shop, or having their own stand-alone cellular phone repair operation.

Some basic steps may be followed if your cell phone is not working properly. First, determine if the problem is with the phone or the battery by replacing the battery. If you can't hear callers, make sure the volume is turned up, the ringer turned on, or the battery is charged. If these strategies don't work, take your cell phone to a cellular phone repair center.

Nowadays, customers may bring in a faulty phone to any of the cellular phone repair centers. A Work Order Form will be issued, and a deposit towards the cellular phone repair service must be made. An agreement is then signed for receiving a courtesy phone. All cellular phones have a one-year manufacturer's warranty. The cellular phone repair centers will repair or replace phones under warranty as long as the user did not cause any physical damage to the phone. If the warranty has expired, the cellular phone repair center might charge for repairs. Once the cellular phone repair job is over and the phone is returned by the relevant cellular phone repair center, the customer returns the courtesy phone, makes the final payment and receives the repaired unit. Sometimes it's best to just purchase a new phone, because cellular phone repair costs can be as high as the cost of a new phone.

A cellular phone repair technician has several sophisticated tools and techniques available for the repair job, such as:

Cleaners - They are used in cellular phone repair since they are oxide dissolving contact cleaners. These equipments are used to clean dirty pins in the phone and thus aid in cellular phone repair.

Lamps - They are used while doing a cellular phone repair job to protect your eyes when you work. Table lamps come with high-frequency 4200Hz lamp without frequent sparking to avoid harmful effect to eyes, since a lot of work under deficient light at normal 50Hz/60Hz can cause short eyesight and many eye diseases. It is a very useful tool for people who are doing the cellular phone repair business.

Phone Open Tools - A cellular phone repair job requires opening up of cellular phones. Several tools such as screwdrivers made of magnetic alloy steel can be used for this part of the job.

Programmers - Cellular phone repair requires the cellular phone to be unlocked. Not all mobile phones can be unlocked with simple cable. Programming tools can be the only way to repair "death phones", those that have stopped working. A 24xxx chip reader can read and write EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) in a phone without any problem. Power obtained from USB connection to computer port, serial port is used for reading/writing data during a cellular phone repair job. Programming tools are used in almost every cellular phone repair center.

Ultrasonic Cleaner - It is a device that transfers ultrasonic sound waves to a cleaning liquid or solvent that dislodges embedded dirt on objects immersed in it. The ultrasonic cleaner is used during cellular phone repair to clear the PCB board of cellular phones.

If your phone becomes faulty, don't panic. Just take the basic steps that have been highlighted above. If this does not work out, you can still take your phone to a cellular phone repair center where a cellular phone repair technician can solve your problem.

Saurya Ghosal for http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com. Read more about Cellular Phones [http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com/cellular-phone-screensavers.html] Copyright 2005 http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com

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Wireless Without the Wires: Bluetooth Cellular Phone

They may call it a wireless phone, but standard cellular phones still require wires at some point. Besides the clunky charger, you also have to fumble with cords to use a headset and to transfer data between your phone and other gadgets. But there is an answer for anyone looking to cut the cord almost completely. With a Bluetooth cellular phone, you can chat on a wireless headset, transfer data magically through the air to a handheld, or connect with a Bluetooth-enabled car. But take care, as each Bluetooth cellular phone is not created in the same manner. While some carriers let you use a Bluetooth cellular phone for almost any means, others restrict it to a headset only.

Bluetooth is a standard developed by a group of electronics manufacturers that allows any sort of electronic equipment -- from computers and Bluetooth cellular phones to keyboards and headphones -- to make its own connections, without wires, cables or any direct action from a user. A Bluetooth cellular phone works at two levels:

It provides agreement at the physical level -- Bluetooth is a radio-frequency standard.

It also provides agreement at the next level up, where Bluetooth cellular phones have to agree on when bits are sent, how many will be sent at a time and how the parties in a conversation can be sure that the message received is the same as the message sent.

While it may sound complicated, a Bluetooth cellular phone works in a simple manner. A Bluetooth cellular phone communicates with different devices by sending data via a secure, low-cost short-range radio frequency. Using the technology, a Bluetooth cellular phone can connect to headsets, PCs can connect to printers or keyboards, and handhelds can connect to each other without any wires. Up to seven connections can be made at one time, at a speed of 1Mbps. All that's needed for any Bluetooth cellular phone to connect to another Bluetooth-enabled device is for them to be paired--normally, a hassle-free "handshaking" process for establishing a connection that takes seconds and can be found in most wireless connectivity menus.

What's in a Name?

In case you were wondering, what's "Bluetooth" in the term "Bluetooth cellular phone", Bluetooth gets its name from a 10th-century Danish king, Harald Blatand (or Bluetooth) who unified Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. According to legend, he had an affinity for teeth-staining blueberries.

Bluetooth Frequency

A Bluetooth cellular phone communicates on a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz, which has been set aside by international agreement for the use of industrial, scientific and medical devices (ISM).

A number of devices that you may already use take advantage of this same radio-frequency band. Baby monitors, garage-door openers and the newest generation of cordless phones all make use of frequencies in the ISM band. Making sure that a Bluetooth cellular phone and these other devices don't interfere with one another has been a crucial part of the design process.

Pairing up

Before you start talking on a Bluetooth cellular phone, you do need to know a few facts. A Bluetooth cellular phone has a range of 30 feet (10 meters), and the devices in question must use compatible versions of Bluetooth. The majority of Bluetooth cellular phones currently in the marketplace works on Bluetooth 1.1. (Two previous versions, 1.0 and 1.0B, were plagued with compatibility issues and have since been discontinued.) The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), a trade association and development group, is releasing newer versions that promise several upgrades and backward compatibility. Bluetooth 1.2, includes the addition of an anonymity mode, which masks the hardware address of the device to protect from identity snooping and tracking, and adaptive frequency hopping, which cuts interference by avoiding crowded frequencies. Bluetooth 2.0 has some enhancements; among them are narrowband channels, which will enable messages to be broadcast to a high number of devices without the pairing process, andhigher connection speeds of up to 12Mbps.

When no other means of connecting to the Internet is available, mobile workers can use their Blue tooth cellular phone as a modem. An advantage of using a Bluetooth cellular phone is that it can remain in your laptop carrying case or pocket, and a Bluetooth cellular phone does not require a direct line of sight connection. If your laptop is not already Bluetooth enabled, you can purchase a USB Bluetooth adapter.

A Bluetooth cellular phone makes it easy to transfer or receive information from other Bluetooth-enabled devices, eliminating the need for extra cables. A Bluetooth cellular phone can be used with a Bluetooth-enabled headset allowing for handsfree operation. You can put the Bluetooth cellular phone in your pocket or carrying case and still take calls. This is especially useful if you need to use your Bluetooth cellular phone while driving.

Be secure

As with any wireless device, a Bluetooth cellular phone has some minor security concerns. The SIG has admitted that bluebugging, where a hacker secretly accesses a phone's commands (such as eavesdropping on conversations), and bluesnarfing, where a hacker can access a phone's data--such as the contacts--are possible, yet the group downplays both actions. While they work through Bluetooth, they also require the hacker to use a PC and to be within range of the victim's Bluetooth cellular phone (10 meters). Still, Nokia and Sony have said these issues affect only older handsets that are available mainly outside of the United States, and Nokia is promising a software upgrade. To help combat both, a Bluetooth cellular phone can be locked with a code or simply turned off or put in hidden mode when not in use. Another concern, depending on how you look at it, is bluejacking. This often involves creating a flirtatious introductory message, then sending it to another Bluetooth cellular phone (that is discoverable) narby as a text message.

Saurya Ghosal for http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com. Read more about Cellular Phones [http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com/wireless-cellular-phone.html] Copyright 2005 http://www.discount-cellular-phone.com

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