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October 18, 2006
What you need to know about cell phones
(Chicago Tribune (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) To most people, the buzzwords "3G, or third-generation, phones" mean little. They want the coolest style or the best calling plan. All you need to know is that your wireless provider -- mostly, Cingular, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile -- are spending billions to let you hear music and watch TV shows on your phone.
And things are taking off. Americans did $6.5 billion worth of text messaging, ringtone buying, e-mailing, Web surfing and music downloading in the first half of 2006. That's 70 percent more than the $3.8 billion we spent on similar wireless data use in the first half of 2005.
According to market researcher NPD Group, the most popular phones sold in the first half of the year play music and/or use Bluetooth technology to connect wirelessly to other devices (such as those gadgets that seem to dangle from the earlobes of phone users who appear to be talking to themselves).
American's favorite brands: Motorola leads the way, making nearly one-third of the phones sold in the United States. Nokia and LG are tied for second, followed closely by Samsung. In all, 67 million phones sold during the first half of the year.
FIND THE BEST CALLING PLAN FOR YOU
Carriers offer an overwhelming selection of plans. The best way to find the one for you is to visit myrateplan.com and enter your ZIP code. Check off the features you want in a plan -- the number of calling minutes you'll typically use in a month, for instance -- and the site will calculate and display offerings from all U.S. wireless operators, not just the Big 4.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT?
Wireless companies make more money when you use their data services -- sending text messages or e-mailing videos make with your camera phone -- than when you make calls. To encourage you to use those data services, they stock a lot of useful applications in the phone.
_ MyFoodPhone (Sprint): Use your camera phone to photograph your daily portions and e-mail them to a nutrition counselor, who helps you stay on track. The $10-a-month service combines with a Web-based food diary.
_ V Cast Music (Verizon): Download a song to your phone and another to your Web account. Listen on your phone, or use your computer to move the song from your Web account to a compatible MP3 player.
_ Ringtones and ring-back tones (All): With ring-back tones, when someone calls, your phone plays your favorite music clip instead of ringing. The song tells the world who you are.
_ Games and productivity (All): "Zuma" and "Bejeweled 2," by Glu Mobile, and "Marble Revolution," by Bitside, engross millions of phone users who otherwise would be stuck in boredom. "
WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
Helio (helio.com) and Amp'd Mobile (get.ampd.com) offer phones and phone services that concentrate on music, games and video. They aren't for everybody, and they don't try to be. But companies aiming at a niche can run into trouble. Mobile ESPN, which debuted to much fanfare in January and targeted sports fanatics -- announced recent that it will cease operations at the end of the year.
T-MOBILE (800-TMOBILE)
A selection of cool phones -- such as the skinny new Samsung Trace and the text-friendly Sidekick III -- keep customers happy.
VERIZON WIRELESSS (800-922-0204)
Great coverage nationwide, and fast Web surfing and music downloading. The company's BroadbandAccess service and card turns your laptop into a secure, high-speed Wi-Fi hotspot just about anywhere. Verizon also has the better download-music-to-your-phone service.
CINGULAR (888-333-6651)
Subscribers can expect even-faster downloads, as Cingular builds up its higher-speed, next-generation network. The carrier also is unveiling lots of Cingular-only entertainment, such as sports highlights from the Southeastern Conference, home to such sports-mad colleges as the University of Alabama.
SPRINT NEXTEL (800-SPRINT1)
Taking full advantage of its merger with Nextel hasn't been problem-free for Sprint. The company is battling back with $7 billion worth of added cell towers and upgraded equipment nationwide that's expected to improve Nextel service. Sprint also is ramping up exclusive sports shows featuring big-name analysts and famous interviewees.
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(c) 2006, Chicago Tribune.
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Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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Copyright 2006 Chicago Tribune
(source: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-what-need-know-cell-phones-/2006/10/18/1997654.htm)
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