| Cell phones have come a long way since the early | | | | voice communication, cell phones have within the |
| days of the 1980s when they were the size of a | | | | last decade morphed into mobile computing |
| brick and weighed almost as much. Today, cellular | | | | platforms. These new cell phones are powerful |
| phones come with built-in cameras, polyphonic | | | | enough to power many applications that only a |
| ringtones, and high-tech games. New "3G" mobile | | | | few years ago required one to be stationed at a |
| phones are also capable of downloading full motion | | | | desktop computer. |
| video and full spectrum music. Whereas there | | | | Concurrent with technological innovation and |
| were only a few manufacturers of cell phones in | | | | increased adoption worldwide, prices for both |
| the 1980s, today there are many. In addition to | | | | hardware and service plans have dropped steadily |
| original manufacturers such as Motorola and | | | | over the last decade. Whereas only a few years |
| Siemens, today phones are manufactured by | | | | ago most cell phone service providers required 3 |
| Sony-Ericsson, LG, Toshiba, Samsung, Hitachi, | | | | year contracts with heavy penalties for early |
| Danger, Palm, HP and others. | | | | cancellation, now one can get a free |
| As wireless cell phone use increases around the | | | | state-of-the-art phone with only a one year |
| globe, the old CDMA and TDMA standards are | | | | contract. |
| being replaced with GSM, the global standard | | | | Beyond the cell phone hardware, whole new |
| outside of North America. Relatively new mobile | | | | industries have sprung up catering to the needs |
| phone companies such as Vodafone and T-Mobile | | | | of cell phone users who demand accessories such |
| in Germany and NTT DoCoMo in Japan have | | | | as cell phone covers, screen-savers, and ring |
| taken advantage of increased cell phone use by | | | | tones. As well, SMS (simple messenging system) |
| expanding their mobile phone offerings and plans | | | | and MMS (multimedia messenging system) lingo is |
| world-wide. Also, traditional computer companies | | | | slowly entering the cell phone society vernacular. |
| are moving or have moved into the cell phone | | | | Use of shorthand abbreviations such as LOL |
| industry--PalmOne manufactures the Treo 650, | | | | (laughing out loud), SWAK (sealed with a kiss) and |
| HP is coming out with its own smartphone PDA | | | | G2G (got to go) has become second nature to |
| and Microsoft powers the operating systems of | | | | teenagers who are the main users of phone |
| many of the newest cell phones on the market. | | | | messenging globally. |
| In addition to being used as a method of wireless | | | | |