The pleasures of more versatile cell phones

JAKARTA (JP): Thanks to the continuous development in technology, a cellular phone is now not just a cellular phone. Telecommunications equipment makers are constantly competing to introduce smarter and more versatile cell phones.

The versatility of the latest cell phones allow users to do more than just making a phone call.

Among the latest versions of cell phones is the MP3 phone, a cellphone terminal which allows users to listen to music on it. Korea-based Samsung's SGH-M100 is such a cell phone.

Users can downloaded files from the Internet to a PC and into their cell phones. The cellphone can hold 16MB of music, or about 15 minutes worth of tunes.

For those who frequently go on business trips, the terminal will be a help as its 32MB data storage function allows users to store data files such as Excel and MS Word downloaded from a PC. They can retrieve the files simply by connecting their MP3 phones to a PC.

Siemens of Germany has introduced the SL45, a cellular phone which is also an MP3 player, a digital voice recorder and an organizer.

The SL45 has a built-in MP3 player, allowing users to save their favorite tunes in its standard 32MB multimedia card.

The SL45 also has multimedia capabilities.

Meanwhile, Ericsson has introduced an MP3 player attachment in its T18 or T28. The player can hold a 32MB or 64MB multimedia card, and it can be controlled through the cell phone's interface.

MP3 is currently the most popular audio format for most Internet music lovers, as it is an easy way to compress and send audio files with a quality that almost matches the CD.

For those fond of radio, there are also some products equipped with FM radio receivers.

Motorola has the V2282, which includes a WAP 1.1 minibrowser for Internet access and an FM radio. Users can surf the Internet using the WAP minibrowser. They can listen to the radio with earphones.

There is also the MC 825 FM from SAGEM which offers FM radio function, allowing users to listen to the radio on their GSM (Global System for Mobile) terminals.

Most of the new intelligent cellular phones with MP3 player or radio receivers are equipped with earphones or headphones which automatically switch from music to incoming calls. Therefore users will never miss a thing, even when they are enjoying their favorite heavy metal grooves nonstop wherever they maybe. The earphones also function as a hands-free facility, so when there is an incoming call, the music turns off to let the user take the call.

What users have to note is that they would have to recharge the batteries more frequently, particularly when they become fond of listening to MP3 on their cellular phone.

So, just carry your cell phone where ever you go. The terminal is now not only a tool to make you always accessible, but an intelligent gadget, combining various features like radio, MP3 player, mobile Internet access, Web browsing, an organizer, and a calendar.

Soon we may have an even more versatile terminal.

For instance, Samsung, one of the most innovative makers in the market, has the SGH-Q100, a terminal which adapts to the GPRS (General Package Radio Service), which is the next generation of mobile phone technology. The terminal offers high speed data processing, Internet access and e-mail services for GSM cellular phones. Now there are also PDA phones, TV phones, and a 1.8-inch high-resolution TFT-LCD screen on a fold-down mobile phone handset with a built-in miniature TV receiver.

One day, the PDA, MP3, radio, TV, Web browser and even the PC may be converged into a tiny terminal. (icn)