Communications: Mobile Cell Phone

Should Teens Carry Phones To School?

2011-03-24T17:52:00.000+01:00

If you're like me, you put off getting your child a cell phone for as long as you could. Especially if you have teenage daughters and know how much time they spend on the phone. You can see yourself taking out a second mortgage just to pay the cell phone bill.

Of course, when they start going out and hanging out with friends, not to mention dating, there arise numerous scenarios wherein a cell phone might come in very handy. Thinking back to my own younger days and some of the situations I found myself in, having instant access to my parents would have been a very good thing.

One of the more recent debates concerning cell phone usage is whether or not teens should be allowed to carry their phones or iPads or whatever the latest incarnation is to school with them. There are certainly pros and cons to the subject.

Obviously the most beneficial use of a cell phone is for instant access to a parent in the event of an emergency. If a child becomes sick or needs to leave school for some other reason, it eliminates several steps that were previously needed to get in touch with the responsible parties.

Likewise if a child misses their bus home or if they become stranded somewhere. Some newer phones come equipped with GPS devices making it easy for parents to locate their children at any time.

In more extreme cases, such as recent events involving school shootings and other violence, cell phones were instrumental in helping police and other rescuers locate students hiding out in classrooms and closets.

Of course any technology can be used for nefarious purposes. Students have been known to take advantage of cell phone internet access to find test answers and use texting to communicate those answers to their friends. Such devices can also be used to facilitate the newer problem known as cyber bullying, where hurtful and offensive comments are sent to or posted about certain students. There have been documented cases of students committing suicide or other drastic acts based on problems with messages or texts sent through cell phone usage.

In addition, texting or net surfing can become a distraction from what is being done in class.

The newest and more disturbing trend in texting is known as sexting, where students send suggestive or even sexually explicit pictures of themselves to boyfriends or girlfriends. The problem is obvious enough, but amplified to the extreme once these pictures get out and are distributed (which they always inevitably will be). Teens need to be told several times over, that they should not put anything online that they are not prepared for the entire world to see. Once it is online, consider it gone. You will never get it back and it will always be on somebody's hard drive somewhere.

Cell phones may also inadvertently make children the targets of violent attacks, especially if their phone is one of the more expensive models. Being assaulted and robbed of such items is nothing new, and parents should think twice about sending their kids to school with the Cadillac phone when the Chevy version might be a better choice.

Of course some schools and states take the decision out of the parents' hands by banning cell phones altogether. This may seem like an extreme reaction to many, but this author would argue that previous generations grew up just fine without the benefit of cell phones in the classroom. In fact, it could be argued that as a result we had a healthier level of social interaction as a result of not being tied to Facebook and actually having to converse face to face.

On the other hand, as a parent with a child who has suffered from serious medical issues, I can also see the added benefit of the child having the ability to instantly communicate, especially at times where going through school channels to get access to a phone would prove problematic.

So which point of view is the right one? That is up to you to decide, based on your knowledge of your child, their behavior, and their level of responsibility. Handled the right way, technology is our friend. Handled the wrong way, it can become a serious problem. Make the determination that is right for you and your family.

By Billy D Ritchie

The iPhone - The New American Dream!

2011-03-24T17:50:00.000+01:00

What is the American dream? Is it owning a home? Is it starting your own business? Is it having the freedom to innovate and pursue your life as you see fit? The American dream is a flexible concept that holds different meaning to everyone. However, few would argue against the concept that technological innovation has long been a primary facilitator of the elevated quality of life most associate with the phrase.
The iPhone is more than just a new, slick mobile phone. It is a device that started a trend which changed the world. The first iPhone came preloaded with an operating system that could use programs created by third parties called apps. Developers began to create various iPhone apps with a wide range of uses. Now, there are literally thousands of mobile apps in the App Store.
New Functionality for a New Era
Just a few short years ago, you would have had to spend significant cash to get a GPS unit for your car. Thanks to the iPhone, smartphone users can simply download a mobile app that takes advantage of the native GPS functionality on the device.
Similarly, you no longer have to wait until you get to the computer to shop online. The iPhone's application platform revolutionized online shopping by enabling users to engage in banking and shop via e-commerce web stores.
The American Dream Is to Innovate
As a philosophical concept, the American dream to many represents the spirit to innovate and create new things to improve the quality of life of humanity at large. The automobile was an invention that advanced mankind, for example. There is an argument in favor of extending the same recognition to the iPhone. Without this amazing mobile device, modern society would never have had the ability to do many things that people take for granted today.
The iPhone represents the moment where wireless technology hit a tipping point; smartphones are fast becoming a person's remote control to everything in life. A new lifestyle has emerged for those who own them, and this has truly revolutionized society in a dramatic enough fashion to demonstrate that smartphones inspired by the iPhone truly represent the American dream in action. For those who have yet to join this Information Age revolution, it is only a matter of time. Cell carriers are charging less and less for smartphones. The competitive marketplace is driving prices down for the consumer. Tech fans have a lot to look forward to as more people join this exciting mobile lifestyle.

By Mike Barry

Protecting Your Android Phone With the Best Security Applications

2011-03-24T17:49:00.000+01:00

Your computer is an investment - and an expensive one at that - and so you regularly need to back up data to prevent any loss of or theft of confidential information. Your car is also an investment and so you might install any anti-theft software like LoJack to help recover it in case of a theft. If you take all the necessary steps to protect your car and your computer, then why not protect your Android Smartphone as well? Since your phone is probably the most used device, whether you know it or not, you will end up carrying a lot of sensitive information on your phone. So, if your phone gets stolen or if you lose it, then all this information will not be as personal anymore. Just like your computer and your car, your phone is also an investment. So, it is very important to safeguard your text, photos, contacts and videos. Even if you do take care of your phone and never lose it, there are certain applications that you can download. However, it is important to note that although most anti-theft applications claim to be a 100% effective, not all of them are as honest as you think they are.
Fortunately, the Smartphone market, especially the Android based phones, offer a great range of security options. Here are a few applications that will help secure your Android phone:

Lookout Mobile Security: A great application, the Lookout mobile security application is great for Android phones. A free account will allow you to scan your phone for malware, and will help you backup and restore your data online. It will also use GPS to help you locate your phone.
Norton Mobile Security Beta: Smartphone's contain a lot of sensitive data, from text messages to credit card numbers. So, if your phone is stolen, there are chances that your identity might also get stolen. The Norton mobile security app will help you remotely lock your phone and wipe it clean. You can now lock the SIM card so that a phone thief won't be able to sell or swap your phone with someone else. You can even block calls, text messages and scan your phone.
WaveSecure Mobile Security: WaveSecure comes replete with a number of features, like the option lock down and wipe your phone remotely, the option to backup your phone and restore information, and a thief will not be able to uninstall the program without typing in a password.

Apart from these, the Snuko anti-theft device is probably the most powerful and effective security measure available in the industry. Meant for computers and mobile phones, you can now use the Snuko anti-theft device for your Android Smartphone. The Snuko features include:

Geo-location: With this feature, you will now be able to track your phone down to within just a few metres.
Data Encryption: You can now secure your contacts and any other important information so that no thief or unauthorized person can view them.
Data Capture: You can now backup all your important documents even after your phone is stolen or lost.
SIM Card Data Capture: You can now view the phone number and SIM card details of any unauthorized SIM cards that may be inserted in your phone.
Phone Lock Down: Once you receive all the essential data from your phone, you can now lock it down so that no one else can use it.

What with these features at your disposal, it is very important to protect your Android phone with Snuko.

By Smanuvaa Anuvaa

Create and Earn Money With Your Own iPhone App

2011-03-24T17:47:00.000+01:00

Apple started out a complete new industry when they entered the cellular phone organization with the iPhone. Not only is Apple earning massive funds with all the iPhone itself, it is also making huge funds for Apps for iPhone OS. An app for iPhone is accessible only in iTunes, Apple's media player/organizer computer software which also acts as a point of sale system or on-line shopping cart. iPhone apps or applications for the iPhone are typically extremely useful and entertaining. They enhance the iPhone by adding numerous functionalities to the iPhone which can be not included inside the built-in OS. An iPhone app is offered in iTunes for every model released such as the very first generation iPhone, the iPhone 3Gs along with the lately released iPhone 4.
When the iPod was released, everybody wanted the sleek, revolutionary music player with all the really aesthetic form factor which only Apple engineers can come up with. When Apple announced its entry into the cellular phone industry, every person was excited in obtaining an iPhone which turned out to be better-looking and more revolutionary than the iPod. The iPhone was intended to be versatile like all other smartphones. Although it had a number of shortcomings like its lack of 3G assistance and easy cut and paste, Apple answered these difficulties with all the release of the 3G, 3GS as well as the iPhone four.
Even considering that the first-generation iPhone, apps for iPhone instantly became a branch of the IT business with most main application developers scrambling to release an iPhone app. Even so, with Apple's
mantra of control and top quality, only the very best apps make it to iTunes. This organization model is comparable to Nintendo's early practice of giving a seal of quality or approval to games for the Nintendo Entertainment System thereby curtailing the number of mediocre games. Apple goes a single step further by checking the apps for iPhone themselves and promoting the applications only through iTunes.
An app is generally modest, helpful, attractive and simple to utilize and for games, extremely addicting. Nonetheless, the most beneficial characteristic of iPhone apps is that they're extremely inexpensive. One of the most pricey iPhone app can visit as much as thirty dollars even though the least expensive are underneath a dollar. The low price tag of iPhone apps is because of Apple's ever escalating consumer base. An iPhone app developer can earn as a lot as numerous million dollars if numerous million iPhone users acquire the application from iTunes. Simply because apps for iPhone are affordable, a common iPhone user can have a number of pages of apps installed in their Phone. Many apps have versions which might be compatible for all iPhone models such as the Phone 3GS and also the Phone four.
Like numerous other intelligent phones, there are several categories of applications that may be installed inside the iPhone. Apps also fall into a number of categories like productivity which incorporate applications that boost the iPhone's company value like enhanced messaging, to-do lists and schedulers; entertainment like casual games, music players, radio applications, video viewers and e-book readers; utilities which boost or adds more functionalities, like app launchers, battery managers, GPS systems, rulers and even compass applications. Some popular functionalities have already been incorporated into newer iPhone models such as the iPhone four and iPhone 3GS.

By Bennett Joaquin A Brewer

Best Mobile Phone Contract: Affordable Offer

2011-03-24T17:46:00.000+01:00

To catch the attention and interest of users the concept of contract phones is introduced. On a simpler note, it can be said that these are wireless phones sold under a contract. This technique is a cheap and affordable scheme, and thus, it allows the public with low income to purchase these contracts because of the cheap and affordability factor. Myriad of mobile phone portals are available which provide such deals at practical rates. They have all the information that a customer wants to know regarding Best mobile phone contract. Such mobile contract phones have super discounts and offers. This is done in order to attract more buyers. Such contracts are available to people of all age groups, which gather a very high demand in the market.

Offers are in the form of free gifts like free minutes or texts, cash back and free line rental are offered in these contracts. One of its best features is that everyone can enjoy a mobile phone in an economical and cost-effective manner. Leading mobile companies like Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson offer contract phones. U.K. network providers like O2, Orange, Vodafone and Virgin not only provide their services to the buyer but also sell their services along with free gifts and incentives like LCD TV, camcorders, Play stations and iPods.

But everything has its pros and cons, so does contract phones. It has certain drawbacks like once a contract is signed for a period of time a person has to follow it. If you wish to opt any other plan or terminate the deal, you will have to pay high penalties. Network connectivity is also pre-decided which makes it very rigid and users have to stick to their existing mobiles and plans.

Such mobile contract phones have super discounts and offers. This is done in order to attract more buyers. Such contracts are available to people of all age groups, which gather a very high demand in the market.

By Aleena Maben

Success of iPhone and Its App Store

2011-03-23T21:48:00.000+01:00

The story of Apple's iPhone is an impressive one and more interesting is the iPhone application development that took place when iPhone came up with its App store.

When Apple introduced iPhone to the market it lived up to its name and delivered the users an incredible experience via their iPhones. The hand sets were not only smart to look at and but also smart to work with. The easy to use fluid functions made it quite a hit with those who cherished the brand experience and soon it hit off with smart phone lovers.

Before iPhone raised the standard for smart phones there were other smart phones available but nothing compared to the high end features and functionality it brought along. Blackberry became the choice for business oriented people while iPhone managed to spread its use for all categories.

The App store complimented and facilitated development of iPhone apps. App store was to cut 30 percent of all sales for mobile applications. Within no time App store managed to increase its market share adding to the overall revenue for iPhone. App store found a lot of appreciation from developers who found a platform for the development and distribution of their applications.

It was not only appreciation that iPhone got but it also met a lot of negative criticism for having strict entry policies as many applications deemed not fit for the user were rejected. Although the platform has had its share of criticism in the past and was accused of being a walled garden but such criticisms never discouraged the developers opting for this platform.

Software engineers, developers could easily create their own applications for iPhone and have a platform for marketing that could earn them make big money. There have been many iPhone developers who have set such examples and have made it big in the market. Going by their success stories the developers are invigorated to hit the jackpot.

According to Lookout firm offering security services for smart phones, the statistics for the App store developers are around 24,000 for the time period August 2010 till February 2011. In comparison the Android market attracted 4000 developers only.

These facts clearly show the trend of the market and the shift of developers who are finding the App store a more compelling platform. Most of the applications available at App store today are by third party developers. With the likes of Rovio and other successful developers iPhone applications development is sure to see some more competition.

iPhone application development

By Scott Allerdice