2008 Woodie Awards
Cell phones change the world one signal at a time
Matt Cook
Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: Technology
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Isn't the cell phone a great invention? For the very few of you who still don't have one, hear me out: cell phones, despite the constant distraction they provide, are simply astounding devices.
I find it amazing that any cell phone ranging from my old Nokia from the '90s to the most modern Blackberry or Motorola Q has more processing power than the original personal computers.
I also find it exciting that lesser developed nations are skipping the land line phone system entirely and are moving straight to cell phones. Technology advances are the leading front of globalization.
Cell phones help us stay in contact with loved ones, be they across the world in Thailand or somewhere in the theme park. Cell phones - let's face it - help us tell our friends that we got out of class early or that we'll meet them at the University Center for lunch.
Cell phones even help in emergency situations, taking priority over other calls on a cell tower when 911 is dialed.
Thank you, Bell Labs, for your creation. (AT&T's Bell Labs are credited with the creation of the first cell phone, according to bell-labs.com.)
There is, however, one frustration to be overcome when comparing and examining phones. As this week's review shows, way too many cell phones are released in foreign countries before they hit the American market. Some never make it at all.
Sure, one can pay around $300 to have the phone "unlocked" so it can be used on an American mobile company's network, but who has the time and money for that? I personally wish phone companies wouldn't work so hard on targeting specific country-phone match ups that are most profitable but would let anybody buy the phone they want without switching countries.
I find it amazing that any cell phone ranging from my old Nokia from the '90s to the most modern Blackberry or Motorola Q has more processing power than the original personal computers.
I also find it exciting that lesser developed nations are skipping the land line phone system entirely and are moving straight to cell phones. Technology advances are the leading front of globalization.
Cell phones help us stay in contact with loved ones, be they across the world in Thailand or somewhere in the theme park. Cell phones - let's face it - help us tell our friends that we got out of class early or that we'll meet them at the University Center for lunch.
Cell phones even help in emergency situations, taking priority over other calls on a cell tower when 911 is dialed.
Thank you, Bell Labs, for your creation. (AT&T's Bell Labs are credited with the creation of the first cell phone, according to bell-labs.com.)
There is, however, one frustration to be overcome when comparing and examining phones. As this week's review shows, way too many cell phones are released in foreign countries before they hit the American market. Some never make it at all.
Sure, one can pay around $300 to have the phone "unlocked" so it can be used on an American mobile company's network, but who has the time and money for that? I personally wish phone companies wouldn't work so hard on targeting specific country-phone match ups that are most profitable but would let anybody buy the phone they want without switching countries.
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