Cellphones are increasingly becoming a part of the "user network," encompassing pc's, video games and local network connections.
With the way cell phone contracts are and the cost, it's important to have a good idea of what you are using the cell phone for and insure the plan meet your needs before signing up.
Here are a few key phrases that will help you understand the different options on cell
phones:
Bluetooth: A network "delivery"/protocol that enables transferring information and
data from a device (headset/car radio) to a cell phone or cell phone to a computer. This can be a great feature, or a bad one.
I try to use the bluetooth only when I am doing something specific. Bluetooth can open up the device to others depending on the security feature. It's amazing how many bluetooth devices can be open in a "open environment” such as a office or restaurant.
Smartphone: A cell phone with advanced capabilities (similar to a pc) most phones have at least basic smartphone functionality
Wi-fi: Wi-fi enables use of data or internet resources without using your data plan. There are very few phones in the American market that have wi- fi, with the most famous one being the Apple I-Phone.
As I try to tell people, look at the phone to meet your needs, not the retailer. I have found that a couple of times, I've had to go to EBay to find phones that meet my needs, as the retail market was too pricey or the features too slim. This is slowly getting better with the I- phone implementation.
One of the recent developments has been the implementation of 3G and soon to be 4G network. There are networks known as 3G and 4G, Verizon Wireless and AT&T are on the 3G, Sprint is working on 4G.
The 3G network for AT&T is slowly moving northward, and looks to be at the Pickens/Cherokee line based on the latest map. Verizon Wireless shows their 3G network in place in Pickens County.
3G networks are typically close in speed to a low end broadband connection with "spurts" in connectivity, suitable for most medium speed websites and webcasting such as music and basic video.
4G speeds tend to range toward typical dsl/cable bandwidth connections, great for higher end video and high fidelity music.
So how do you use a smart phone?
Rather than give technical details, I give a few ways I use mine:
• To connect and match up my calendar data from my calendar at home,
• Transfer pictures to and from computer.
• Download documents and read them at my leisure especially if I have to do a class or lecture. Having the notes readily available is almost necessary.
• Retrieve e-mail and twitter "tweets."
• Store music and video to listen or watch.
• With newer cell phones, with bluetooth and with more memory, there are other features coming, including use of a mini projector, and with wi-fi, ways to use 3rd party software for video conference calls.
Despite the usefulness, smartphones haven’t reached the point they will satisfy folks
wanting to replace their laptops with a phone.
Unfortunately, that is not a realistic expectation, especially if you’re doing a lot of data entry or word processing.
As I tell people, I use the smartphone as a "resource computing device" where I can reference data in a meeting or follow along an agenda, not as a primary computing device.
[Greg Moore, CEO of Burnt Mountain Technologies, has 20
years in the IT field supporting networks, telecom systems and
business continuity planning. He resides in Pickens and is a
volunteer firefighter. He may be reached at progress@burntmountaintech.com.]
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