Mobile Devices That Change Your Life

A Day in the Life of a 4G Wireless Mobile Phone Guy

2009-08-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

4G wireless networks, launching in the U.S. and elsewhere, will forever change how we communicate with mobile devices, experience multimedia and connect with other mobile users.

Imagine a day in the not-to-distant future… You awake to your favorite music, playing from stereo speakers plugged into your mobile phone. Blurry eyed, you drag your body out of bed, pick up your mobile, press a button and briefly watch the morning news in full-color streaming video.

You press another button and a relaxing voice (Charlene, your mobile’s nickname) reviews your daily schedule. Ah, you forgot to tell your business associate about a change in an important meeting today. “Charlene, send a text message to Suzy at the office and change the client video conference to 10 a.m.” Charlene confirms the text message with “o.k., Brian, sent the IM. Would you like to listen to Pandora Radio?” “Sure,” you respond, “play that latest jazz channel.”

For the rest of the story...

A Day in the Life of a 4G Wireless Mobile Phone Guy

Pandora Internet Radio Gets Personal

2009-05-16T23:38:00.000-07:00

The “Music Genome Project,” Internet radio broadcasting on your mobile and PC, personalized music selections using 400 categories? What’s happening to the way we select and enjoy music?

Whether you’re into rock, gospel, classical, hip-hop or jazz, Pandora Internet Radio wants to help you “play all music you like.”

The Oakland, CA based company streams music to your iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and around 40-50 mobile handsets running on AT&T Wireless and Sprint’s “Now” network. As of December, 2008, two million iPhone users had downloaded the Pandora application. More recently, over one million BlackBerry users did the same through the BlackBerry App Store.

Hear an entertaining, informative podcast with Pandora's CTO Tom Conrad on MobileBeyond

MobileBeyond on Twitter: Join the Conversation

2009-04-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

MobileBeyond goes beyond the headlines, beyond the trite and trivial to bring you views on mobile computing not found elsewhere.

I invite you to join me on Twitter or subscribe to the blog posts online.

MobiMarketing Hits Twitter "It's Alive"

2009-03-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

MobiMarketing "It's Alive" on Twitter.

J.D. Power & iPhone Business User Satisfaction?: a Statistical Fluke

2008-11-26T10:07:00.000-08:00

Apple proudly announced in a full page ad in today's Wall Street Journal that J.D. Power and Associates, which rates consumer satisfaction in numerous markets, "...ranks [Apple's iPhone] highest among business users."

Apple, however, left out two sub-headers in the J.D. Power release. "One-Fourth of Business Smartphone Users Report Experiencing a Software-Related Issue with Their Current Device."

"The study finds that one-fourth of users report experiencing at least one software-related issue or problem with their current smartphone device. The software-related issues reported most often include the need to reboot the phone, application malfunction/freeze and issues related to touch screen malfunction. Among those owners who have experienced a software problem, 44 percent report having to reboot their device at least once on a weekly basis during the past 12 months, while 34 percent report experiencing either an application malfunction or application freeze at least once per week. "

The survey of 1,388 "business smartphone users" rated six smartphone manufacturers: Apple, RIM (BlackBerry), Samsung, Motorola, HTC and Palm. The iPhone was rated 778 on a 1,000 point scale, RIM's BlackBerry's at 703 and Samsung just below RIM at 701.

J.D. Power conducted the survey before the release of RIM's BlackBerry Bold (AT&T) in July, the G1 (T-Mobile/Google) in late August and the BlackBerry Storm, which only recently hit Verizon stores. Other smartphone manufacturers such as Nokia, which holds a 38% share of the world's mobile phone market amd Sony-Ericsson at 23% were noticeably absent from the study, most likely due to low availability rates in the U.S.

J.D. Power and Apple fail to define the "business smartphone" market. Despite the iPhone supporting exchange server syncing and security protocols--mandated by IT managers--neither J.D. Power nor Apple define a "business smartphone user." Most likely, the majority of iPhone users surveyed are self-employed, work for a small business or use the iPhone along with an approved business handset, such as the BlackBerry, in larger companies, where few IT managers have yet to approve the use of iPhones on company servers.

Another statistical fluke not addressed in the survey release is skewed ratings. Apple has only released a single smartphone with fewer than 10 million in use. HTC, Samsung, Nokia and others, on the other hand, have distributed hundreds of millions smartphones worldwide.

As the number of rated smartphone handsets rises, the overall rating of the iPhone, bolstered by Apple's promotions and hype, rises higher than the rest as a whole, because the iphone ratings are based on one handset out of dozens.

I searched Phone Scoop for handsets I consider meet the minimum "business smartphone" requirements for U.S. carriers.

All phones: *

have Calendar
have Data-Capable
have Email Client
have Multiple Numbers per Name
have Packet Data (EDGE or 1xRTT or 1xEV-DO r0 or 1xEV-DO rA or WCDMA (UMTS) or HSDPA 1.8 or HSDPA 3.6 or HSDPA 7.2)
have PC Sync
have To-Do List
have WAP / Web Browser

More than 20 phones met the minimum requirements. Click here to view them.

As I've written before in MTM and elsewhere, Steve Jobs and Apple are masters of marketing hype. But they can't legitimately escape the laws of statistics. The iPhone, although a breakthrough device in many ways, represents a drop-in-the-bucket in mobile telephony.

* Some phones listed may not be available from U.S. carriers. Check eBay and other sources on the Web.

Tired of Prank Phone Calls? Want to Find Lost Relatives or Friends?

2008-11-09T19:42:00.000-08:00

This may sound like heresy, because I've run call centers and inside sales departments in my career. But if you're like me, you're tired of telephone solicitation and other unwanted calls. In many cases, you don't know who's calling you before answering because callers have disabled call readout.

Many people, then, refuse to answer calls without a readout on their cell or land line telephone lines, but the calls continue. Quite often, multiple calls from the same person or company flood the same numbers again and again. Trying to obtain information about who's calling is often difficult, if not impossible.

Legitimate telemarketing companies purge their lists of phone numbers registered with the Do Not Call Registry. Not only is this a good business practice, but telemarketing firms and other sellers face significant fines if reported.

Meanwhile, I've been searching for some time to identify unwanted callers, and I finally found one. The service provides the names, addresses, cellular carriers (if mobile), cities, states and additional information about the caller and company.

You can also find names, addresses and other information of long-lost relatives, classmates or business associates, saving you countless hours searching the Internet.

Check out the service here.

Google's G1 vs. the iPhone: Major Construction and Design Flaws Emerge (Revised 11/2/08)

2008-11-02T17:26:00.001-08:00

Unlike the the V1 iPhone, running on AT&T's slow EDGE data network, T-Mobile/Google's G1 hits the street 3G enabled. (T-Mobile's 3G network is now operational in the San Francisco Bay Area and numerous other metros around the U.S.)

Application developers, who take advantage of Google's open Android OS, is also in question. Currently, over 3,000 applications have been written for the iPhone, and Google and T-Mobile have a strenuous journey ahead to convince developers to write code.

I had an opportunity today to visit a T-Mobile store and check out the G1 more closely. Two concerns immediately came to mind: The G1's flat, non-tactile keyboard and its plastic casing. When I first picked up the G1, its lightness alerted me to potential problems, since I had just come from an AT&T store checking out the 3G iPhone again.

Would You Give Up Your Laptop/Desktop for a Mobile Device?

2008-09-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here's something to chew on. At what point would you give up your laptop or desktop computer for a mobile device? What capabilities and performance would you require?

That's a recent question I posed to the MobilOpen group on LinkedIn.

Since the release of the iPhone and similar mobile devices, many visionaries have proposed a day when personal computers, as we know them, will be replaced by mobile handsets. What features and performance would it take for you to take the leap into mobile space?

Here are three answers from MobilOpen group members:

Shaun said:

"Personally I don't think that would happen unless we could type on a virtual keyboard and have a hologram screen.. and that sounds like a bit of SciFi.. so I would say for the moment at least.. I don't want my PC replaced. But I love the mobility of a mobile device. I always found PDAs like what Palm and Windows based devices to clunky and not sexy.. What is coming out now be it from Apple or other mobile makers like LG is the perfect complement to my PC life. I really don't use in the same way so that is why there is two devices. But I do watch movies on my iPhone, listen to music, etc..."

Brent responded:

Shaun touched on it - screen size is the limit for me. I have an HTC Mogul and I use it for a ton of stuff, but I can't mothball the laptop until I can have a screen big enough that I don't have to scroll all over the place to see what I am doing.

There are already DVD systems that have glasses that simulate a 60" screen. When they can couple that to a mobile device they will be well on their way. As it is a 19" widescreen some times runs out of real estate, fix that problem and the rest of the problems are minor in comparison."

And Nicola commented:

"Hi, I've been thinking about trying to do that this year. I am playing around with a project to see if I can create my own notes editor for the phone. However I would need a keyboard if I was typing lines of code all day. I'm using tv-out on my phone so that I can view the code on my tv, whilst the mobile projectors are still being developed (and hopefully retailed at under $600). However another example of where mobile isn't working quite so well for me is the mobile-only social networks, they are not easy to search for people, browse photos on a regular smartphone if you don't have a tv-out or projector option. Would I go mobile-only then ? I don't know but it would be more likely."

My response to the three comments:

"Very interesting responses. While I tried to focus my question on functionality (ex. 5 hour battery life, Word-like word processor, 3Mbps Internet download speed, BlackBerry-enabled email,etc.), the responses relate more to handset screen size, input/output devices and so forth.

I think Shaun best points out the main quandary ditching PC's for mobile devices ("I don't want my PC replaced. But I love the mobility of a mobile device."). Brent sounds like he might jump ship if his mobile device screen was larger and offered the functions of his Mogul, while Nicola needs keyboards and visual displays that moves her from mobile space to home turf.

Maybe it's like Star Trek. If you're a fan like me, you've noticed that some devices on the ships are "mobile," like the communicators, including voice interaction with a computer, while touch screen panels are used for navigation, security and zapping the enemy with photons.Shaun gets more than his hologram screen; in fact, he gets an entire world of holographic people and objects that appear real.

I wrote a blog post on eBay in 2006 dealing with multiple devices for different functions. I've also written a lot of posts about the effects of mobile technology on people in my MarketingBeyond TypePad blog. I find the convergence of computer/communications technologies with mobile fascinating and continue blogging and podcasting on the subject.

So how about you? When would you throw away your laptop or desktop for a mobile device? What would you absolutely have to have to take the plunge?

iPhone 3G Dropped Call Problem: Understanding Mobile Devices

2008-08-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

Without contributing to angry 3G iPhone customers worldwide--nor criticizing Apple, the carriers or Infineon, the chipset maker currently under siege--let me reduce the "irritation thermometer" a degree or two.

First, I must make clear that I'm not defending Apple, AT&T, other worldwide carriers, Infineon or God. Without divine knowledge, I can tell you that everyone else preceding God is working on the dropped call problem currently attributed to Infineon's chipset. The reported problem appears to relate to iPhone connection transfers from cell tower to cell tower. This explanation may change as Apple, the carriers and Infineon further investigate.

Mobile phone users need to understand that signal-related problems with cellular devices usually stem from a number of related factors--not just one. Here are the main factors:

Components

Mobile devices contain a myriad number of individual components--some related to signal/RF functionality, others to cameras, music players, chipsets, displays and other components. The components, as with your PC or Mac, interact with each other, sometimes causing system crashes, dropped calls, weak signals and other problems. Generally speaking, the non-RF components, such as a camera, are unrelated to RF components, such as the phones antenna or 3G chipset. Components, similar to computers, are chosen from numerous suppliers and frequently change as the mobile device evolves: more features, identified buggy components, cost, etc.
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Firmware

Firmware are the hard-coded chips built into a mobile device, controlling video displays, RF signal output, touch screens and most other phone functions. Firmware manufacturers, such as Infineon, provide flash firmware updates to fix problems or increase performance. Wikipedia 's short article on firmware is a good introduction to the subject.
Software

Little need be said here. Mobile users--especially iPhone users--are very familiar with the software already embedded or occupying internal memory on the iPhone. But keep in mind, especially with the opening of Apple's new Application Store, that adding any software to a mobile phone, just like a computer, has inherent risks. Application developers have rigid protocols for testing software before release, but it's inevitable you will eventually load a software program on your iPhone that causes problems. Software problems are easier to diagnose and fix. First step: remove the software and see if the problem goes away. Like firmware, software developers release upgrades and updates that resolve problems and increase functionality.
Carrier Infrasructure (Towers, cellular radios, etc.)

If you read my previous post here on MTI, you're aware of AT&T's steps to install more cell towers, 3G radios and other RF devices that control its network. However, AT&T, as with all carriers in the U.S. and abroad, rely on roaming partners (covered next) that handle cell phone call pass-offs as you move out-of-range of the current tower.
Roaming Partners

Cell phone carriers share towers and other RF equipment with other carriers to avoid duplication, effectively increasing the geographic areas offering coverage. Without roaming partners, U.S. and other other carriers would have significant coverage gaps, resulting in an increase in call drops. 3G or broadband coverage areas are one of the weaknesses in U.S. coverage and that, in part, accounts for both voice call drops and slow data downloads, most especially on a data-intensive device such as the 3G iPhone. Until recently, T-Mobile, which uses AT&T and other roaming partners, didn't have its own network. It piggy-backed off coverage supplied by its roaming partners. (Check out GSM World, a great site that explains roaming and lists carrier roaming partners.)
Location

"Location, location, location"--the often-used explanation for real estate prices--is even more true with cellular. Forget the carriers' TV commercials ("More Bars," "Best Network," "Fewer Dropped Calls"). Cell phone RF strength varies from moment-to-moment, especially when you're mobile, and no carrier can predict the strength and quality of the signal on your handset at any point in time. Generally, speaking, you'll get a stronger, more stable signal, if you're outside away from buildings, trees and other RF obstacles, but RF signal strength and call drops are unpredictable, despite the coverage maps carriers show on their websites.
Weather

Inclement weather affects RF signals from your handset to-and-from cell phone towers. As you move through space in your car, bus, train or walking, weather conditions, as with tower locations, will affect signal strength, call quality, 3G availability and, yes, dropped calls. Read this short article on weather and other factors affecting your mobile phone.
Voice & Data Traffic

(See my previous MTI article on the 3G iPhone straining AT&T's network.) In general, as greater demand is placed on mobile carrier networks, performance deterioriates. The carriers continue monitoring network quality, making adjustments in cell tower switching, installing additional antennas and adding roaming partners. RF propagation is very complex, as you've probably sensed by now.

Before U.S. users started rapidly switching from wired to wireless phones, the problems encountered were due primarily to old analog networks (TDMA is a one example.) When the carriers went digital, they improved call quality and coverage, but U.S. users increased dramatically. Penetration is now approaching 85% of the entire population with 260,000,000 handsets in use.

For an excellent summary of how cell phones work, check out "How Stuff Works," a great site that answers questions on almost any topic.

New Age of Data-Enabled SmartPhones Strain U.S. Carrier Network Resources

2008-08-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

The mobile growth age in the United States of expanded handset data usage is challenging AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and other carriers to deliver web content, email and other services. In a recent InfoWorld article, "AT&T Lays Down the Law for Apple," it becomes clear that the iPhone, claimed by many as the first "handset computer," is just the beginning of other sophisticated voice/data handsets sucking bandwidth from the carrier's networks.

In one sense, it's a catch-22. The carriers must convince U.S. cell phone users to upgrade their handsets and purchase data plans to boost sales volume. On the other hand, all of the carriers are scrambling to compete in a growing, but inadequate 3G broadband wireless world.

While AT&T, due to its resources, is probably ahead of the competition, T-Mobile has enabled 3G networks in Los Vegas, New York and elsewhere, but only offers 3G on a few handsets. Verizon is heavily advertising data-enabled smartphones, including BlackBerry's, while Sprint, hardest hit with high customer churn and the Nextel situation, continues introducing so-called "iPhone killer" handsets, such as the Instinct, that strain its broadband network.

According to the InfoWorld article, iPhone users are placing the greatest download demands on AT&T's data network--more than other handsets--due to the increasing numbers of data applications available for the device. Downloading YouTube videos is the tip of the iceberg since the opening of Apple's Application Store. The situation is analogous to Comcast and the other cable companies offering broadband Internet services. As download speeds and customer demand increase, cable broadband networks are also strained.

Moreover, as reported in today's San Jose Mercury News, customers in central Silicon Valley are complaining of poor or non-existent voice coverage, including Palo Alto, the home of Hewlett-Packard and other major technology companies. The Mercury quotes a report from Joint Venture, which attributes the problem to insufficient cell phone towers.

U.S. carriers, facing stagnant revenues if they can't convince customers to purchase data plans, must continue spending billions to build their infrastructure and remain competitive to satisfy customer data demands for web, email, audio, video and other data-intensive uses of their networks.

Whether the carriers can meet the challenge is yet to be seen.

Steve Jobs Knows What I Want and "I Need a New Phone"

2008-07-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

Amusing. Due to the globe spinning, the 3G iPhone hit Australia, then Europe, then the U.S. It appears so far that phone activations in all countries except the U.S. are going fine. AT&T and Apple--unprepared for the onslaught--experienced software activating glitches, requiring iPhone buyers to complete the final activation at home using iTunes. Ah....well...

I took a quick spin around major blog and news sites this morning. The buzz surrounding Apple and AT&T stores in the U.S. appears less buzzy than during the first release. U.K. buyers and non-buyers were less gleeful--but, of course, they're British.

The funniest comment came from a New Zealand buyer who said: "Steve Jobs Knows What I want and I need a new phone." This must be true because, next to God, only Jobs would have enough insight into the cellular needs of the world.

Press reports about the 3G gray market in action are growing. The hackers, as expected, should have an unlocked 3G iPhone available on eBay and elsewhere within short order.

Not that anyone would ever return an iPhone within the 30 day AT&T "trial period," but confusion stil reigns whether the 10% restocking fee, charged by AT&T, is based on the $199 sale price or the MSRP. Time will tell, depending upon how many 3G iPhone users return the units. My guess is mostly new iPhone users will return. The diehards will keep the unit no matter the flaws documented in MTI, MarketingBeyond and elsewhere. Click here for the full documented history.

We'll let the dust settle.

3G iPhone Battery Life & Data Download Performance: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

2008-07-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

For anyone thinking of visiting their local Apple or AT&T store Friday to buy the new 3G iPhone, take notice. You are NOT going to be happy with your Web surfing experience and you are NOT going to be happy as you watch the iPhone's battery drain like an SUV sucking gas. The hype continues.

Walt Mossberg in his Wall Street Journal 3G iPhone review was too nice. But at least he published his test data in today's All Things Digital to warn off the wary. The user comments will fill you in on other complaints about iPhone features--or lack thereof--I won't cover here.

In my previous post "Steve Jobs, Hype and the 3G iPhone," I wrote about the latency (crawl-and-stall) nature of AT&T's broadband mobile network--and the battery drain problem. Mossberg's review confirms what I wrote.

Mossberg, testing the 3G iPhone in New York City, only achieved download speeds of 200Kbps to 500Kbps. (That's KILOBITS, not MEGABITS.) Due to the large screen size and resolution of the iPhone, 3G vs. Wi-Fi web surfers will be greatly disappointed. Add the fast battery drain and web surfing will be like ocean surfing on a slow wave that dissipates before reaching shore.

Why is this? Why will 3G iPhone users NOT achieve AT&T's 1.4Mbps (that's MEGABITS) claim? Why does the battery drain quickly, like other AT&T 3G phones?

As Verizon rightly claims, "it's the network." Despite the best 3G radio in the iPhone, it can't overcome the built-in latency (crawl-and-stall) and turtle-speeds inherent in AT&T's 3G network. The company is furiously installing 3G cell phone towers across the U.S. But it will take at least another year before most areas of the country have 3G and even average 1Mbps mobile download speeds.

This is not true in most European and Asian countries where mobile carrier networks, optimized for high-speed Internet downloads, deliver 6Mbps to 20Mbps on average. Even smaller countries--such as Finland and Denmark--average 7Mbps. (Listen to my podcast interview with Lennart Svanberg on MarketingBeyond). Svanberg is an Internet and mobile expert. In the podcast, he talks about mobile network data speeds in Europe and Asia.

And the battery drain? It's draining quickly because the 3G radio in the iPhone needs to draw more battery power to maintain the signal and maximize the download speed. And it's not only data speeds draining the life out of the iPhone. Mossberg's tests revealed a maximum of 5 hours talk time vs. 8 hours on the original iPhone, requiring Mossberg to re-charge the iPhone daily.

Considering the additional $240 AT&T is now charging for the data plan ($30 vs. $20) per month without text messaging, I wouldn't buy the first 3G iPhone version. If you have the original iPhone, keep it, unless you're very dissatisfied with AT&T or touch phones in general.
If you're dead-set on buying a 3G iPhone, WAIT for at least a few months until AT&T and Apple fix bugs and optimize the device.

As AT&T--now approaching 75 million customers--continues expanding, network demand for voice and data services will grow faster than AT&T can deliver. Wait for the dust to settle before changing carriers or mobile devices.

3G Apple iPhone Dilemma: Can Apple Make It Happen?

2008-05-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

It's buzzing out there in iPhone land. While rumors run rampant about the "3G iPhone," enabling fast Web surfing, gaming and other applications, neither AT&T, Apple, Steve Jobs or God know how a 3G-enabled iPhone will perform on AT&T's broadband network. (Well, maybe God.)

Complete story on Mobile Telephone Marketing...

Lennart Svanberg Mobile Marketing Podcast: Internet and Mobile Together

2008-04-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

Lennart Svanberg, the Producer of the Internet Marketing Conference in New York on June 4th, 2008, speaks with Brian Prows in this podcast about growing interest among Internet marketers in mobile applications.

Lennart also discusses the state of global mobile technology, contrasting Swedish networks delivering up to 7.2Mbps data speeds to slower U.S. wireless networks. He also talks about innovative mobile marketing alliances, mobile book publishing in Japan, China's 500 million mobile users and Ericsson's agreement with China Telecom to build faster cellular networks. One publisher in Sweden even supplies its customers who purchase mobile websites with mobile phones.

Svanberg has insightful thoughts on the status of mobile technology around the globe.

Listen to the podcast below.

Motorola Adapts to the Mobisphere: Not Dead, Just Away

2008-03-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Motorola, once the leader in mobile handsets, is adapting to the changing Mobisphere of global wireless devices. Not long ago, owning a Moto (RAZR or other handset) delivered reliability, excellent value and prestige. Secret: Motos still do. Read the full story on MarketingBeyond.

Looking for eBay Mobile Reviews and Guides?

2008-03-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

After reviewing a few posts, I see that the links to my eBay mobile reviews and guides may be broken. You'll find all eBay posts by clicking here.

Mobile Phone Subscriber Update: A Global Wireless World

2008-03-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia's December, 2007 worldwide update on mobile phone subscriptions, dominant and developing wireless countries, manufacturer penetration and other data is astonishing. The references and documentation are first rate. Anyone interested in mobile telephony on the globe should read this lengthy article.

For most readers who won't read the entire Wikipedia article, I've listed below some of the highlights with links for further follow-up. (All lines are quotes from the article.)

An increasing number of countries, particularly in Europe, now have more mobile phones than people.
Luxembourg had the highest mobile phone penetration rate at 158 mobile subscriptions per 100 people (158%), closely followed by Lithuania and Italy. ^[6] In Hong Kong the penetration rate reached 139.8% of the population in July 2007.^[7]
The U.S. currently has [a] mobile phone penetration rate of 81%.
There are over five hundred million active mobile phone accounts in China, as of 2007, but the total penetration rate there still stands below 50%.^[8]
The total number of mobile phone subscribers in the world was estimated at 2.14 billion in 2005.^[9] The subscriber count reached 2.7 billion by end of 2006 according to Informa^{[citation needed]}, and 3.3 billion by November, 2007^[10], thus reaching an equivalent of over half the planet's population. Around 80% of the world's population enjoys mobile phone coverage as of 2006. This figure is expected to increase to 90% by the year 2010.^[11]
Africa has the largest growth rate of cellular subscribers in the world,^[12] its markets expanding nearly twice as fast as Asian markets.^[13]
India is the largest growth market, adding about 6 million mobile phones every month.^[14] With 256.55 million mobile phones, market penetration in the country is still low at 22.52%. India expects to reach 500 million subscribers by end of 2010.
In less than twenty years, the mobile phone has gone from being rare, expensive equipment of the business elite to a pervasive, low-cost personal item. In many countries, mobile phones outnumber land-line phones; in the U.S., 50 percent of children have mobile phones.^[15] In many young adults' households it has supplanted the land-line phone.
The mobile phone is banned in some countries, such as North Korea.^[16]
The SMS feature spawned the "texting" sub-culture.^{[citation needed]} In December 1993, the first person-to-person SMS text message was transmitted in Finland. Currently, texting is the most widely-used data service; 1.8 billion users generated $80 billion of revenue in 2006 (source ITU).
The mobile phone can be a fashion totem custom-decorated to reflect the owner's personality.^[17] This aspect of the mobile telephony business is, in itself, an industry, e.g. ringtone sales amounted to $3.5 billion in 2005.^[18]

The data speaks for itself. We are--globally--going wireless and there's no end in sight.

Touch Me, Talk to Me: Mobile Device Convergence

2008-02-15T21:55:00.000-08:00

A recent BusinessWeek article about Google in Japan, describing the Japanese preference for Web browsing on their mobile devices, reminded me again how the world is heading inevitably from the PC to mobile handsets. The Japanese best demonstrate this trend as mobile users surf the Web, view maps, download music, text and email from their homes, businesses, parks, street corners and subways. To the Japanese, mobile is where you are--not necessarily when you leave home.

Voice and data integration still remains a mystery to me. While many handsets throughout the world offer voice dialing, controlling your mobile device's functions by voice alone is growing more slowly than touch screens. This is especially peculiar since speaking is easier and faster than operating keypads or using touch screens.

In my ideal Android mobile device PDF, which is available on MarketingBeyond, I summarize my four requirements--including voice control:

Global Mobility--handsets running on 4G networks with download speeds exceeding 100mbps accessing the Web from anywhere on Earth. A "global hotspot" connecting all mobile device users.
Multi-Dimensional. VOIP connectivity for all phone calls and multi-media messaging.
Voice Control. Operating all device functions and enabling speech-to-text input in any language.
Solar Powered. A solar panel underlies the mobile device's large touch screen, powering devices, similar to hybrid cars running on both fuel and electricity.

A fantasy dream of mine? Not really. The PDF contains links explaining existing and new technologies for such devices in the next few years. As 3G and 4G networks emerge across the globe, the greatest challenge is market acceptance. Mobile users in Asia, the U.K. and Europe already embrace more powerful wireless devices and applications. The majority of people in the U.S. and third-world countries, except early adopters, will take time to realize the benefits of advanced wireless technologies.

As mobile devices take over many functions handled by personal computers, however, the mental chasm between voice and data will disappear. In the next five-to-ten years, mobile users will communicate with their devices as they do with people. "Touch me, talk to me" will not be an advertising slogan. It will be a mobile reality.

FCC Caves In to AT&T: The Value of the 700Mhz Spectrum

2008-02-05T18:03:00.000-08:00

The FCC awarded a sizable chunk of the 700Mhz spectrum to AT&T Mobility, giving AT&T access to 72 of the top 100 U.S. markets reaching 192 million customers. The 700Mhz spectrum, formerly used for analog television signal transmissions, is today considered a valuable asset to mobile carriers for data services.

According to Reuters, AT&T paid a mere $2.5B to Aloha Partners LP that had acquired the spectrum several years ago at low cost and never used it. The losing bidders include Google, Verizon, EchoStar Communications and Cablevision Systems.

AT&T Mobility, claiming 64 million subscribers, continues to expand its domination of U.S. wireless spectrum. The only other major GSM carrier in the U.S. is T-Mobile, which didn't bid on the spectrum and continues waffling about building its 3G network.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps voted against the deal, according to the Associated Press, saying he believes "the transfer 'seems destined to reduce competition and diversity in the wireless marketplace.'" AT&T claims the additional spectrum will "'...meet the growing demand for spectrum-intensive wireless data and content services...more cost effectively.'"

As AT&T, formerly Cingular, extends its tentacles--grabbing valuable wireless spectrum and growing its customer base--the danger of monopolistic pricing and control over AT&T's roaming partners grows daily. Unlike carriers in the U.K., Europe and Asia, AT&T lacks healthy competition from other carriers deploying GSM technology, the world standard for cellular services.

Now that U.S. cell phone penetration has reached 250 million lines, mobile carrier marketing is re-focusing on more lucrative data services. The 700Mhz spectrum is key for U.S. carriers to increase profitability by delivering Internet-enabled handsets and applications.

The FCC and Congress should carefully consider awarding spectrum--owned by the public--to carriers capable of driving smaller competitors out of business.

Want to Sync Your SmartPhone on Your Mac? Try Mark/Space

2008-02-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

Synching calendars, contacts, to-do's and notes is a major pain for mobile users who prefer Macs vs. PC's. While Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung and others supply sync and multi-media software, using USB or bluetooth connections, I've never been totally satisfied with their solutions. The software is 90% Windows-based and doesn't always sync mobile phones accurately.

As a result, online Web-based sync companies have stepped up to the plate, offering synching and data back up services that securely protect your mobile device's information. But unless you have a fast broadband connection, the services are slow. Many mobile users are also concerned about storing their private data on other's servers.

Google offers limited synching for your calendar, docs, notepad and even YouTube videos, but it's not a complete smartphone sync solution. Plaxo delivers contact synchronization for Macs and PC's only, while Glide Sync provides a fairly comprehensive package.

Mark/Space, however, provides excellent synchronization software for Mac geeks who want to keep private data on their Macs and sync with their mobile phone.

So far, I've used the company's "Missing Sync for Windows Mobile" and I'm planning to buy a copy of its new "Missing Sync for BlackBerry" software as soon as my 8830 arrives this week. (RIM supplies its own PocketMac software free, but users on BlackBerry Forums say it has flaws and Missing Sync works better.) Mark/Space also just announced software for the iPhone.

"Missing Sync" software provides greater value and functionality than other sync software. In addition to accurate synching of your calendar, contact, to-do and notepad data, Mark/Space also includes a unique feature--Mark/Space Notebook--synching your mobile device and Mac notes across the Internet to other computers, using its own "SyncTogether" software. Dot-Mac users can use their accounts as well.

Palm users will love eliminating "HotSync"--a problematic mobile sync tool, frequently creating duplicate calendar and contact entries. Nokia and other Symbian phone users have access to Apple's iSync, but numerous iSync users have become disenchanted with its performance.

Mark/Space clearly outshines the competition. As more people go mobile, we need reliable sync solutions that integrate personal and business information. "The Missing Sync" tools for Mac users are excellent.

My Penance: Writing an iPhone Review That Someone Will Hate

2008-01-27T20:09:00.000-08:00

In a previous post here--"My Sin: I Bought an iPhone"--I dramatized, just a bit, the experience of buying a mobile device that's been the "talk of the town" for over a year. I've intensely tested the iPhone for a few days now. This post is my penance.

It's interesting to observe how cell phone/mobile phone users write and react to consumer electronic reviews. Reading Engaget, one would think mobile warfare is imminent. Phonescoop reviewers seem more sedate, but you still read "the best phone I've ever bought" right next to "the worst phone created by God." The reviews are interesting to read if you realize how personal mobile devices have become to a lot of people. What pleases one person causes fury in another. I covered this human behavior in an eBay post called: "Choosing a Smartphone." Six of nine people liked it. This confirms the SW/SW/SW principle: "Some will, some won't, so what?"

Now that the iPhone is in the hands of a few million people--and Apple has released a few software updates to fix some bugs--it's now safe to step back and take a look at this evolutionary device. (My iPhone is resting comfortably next to my laptop as I write this; so unless Steve Jobs has inserted some C4, I think it's safe to write this review.)

I still believe my eBay blog post over a year ago about personal icons is valid. I wrote: "The icons became a statement of me. Whether it's the Apple iPhone or an expensive audio device or a WIFI mobile telephone--it doesn't matter. Consumers worldwide now lust after an increasing array of iconic symbols, symbols that give meaning and definition to one's self, symbols that rapidly change as we acquire more of them. Just as the Internet has rocketed information access to the masses, new objects, new icons appear on the market with increasing rapidity and variety. It's as if the cosmetics industry has taken over the definition of oneself. The icons spread, we buy them, and we let them define who we are. So...as you lust after the Apple iPhone and consider paying $1,500+ for a shimmering sliver of light, remember that you are buying the latest icon--something that defines you as a person and next year at MacWorld, Jobs will have something else for you, a new object you think you need....but only for the moment."

I'm going to try avoiding features of the iPhone--"Cover Flow," screen resolution and size and the "two finger squeeze"--that others have written about ad nauseam. Rather, I'm going to comment in bullet format what I like and don't like about the device--features and functions of value. If I skip your favorite "cool and awesome" iPhone feature, consider it a sin of omission.

Here we go...duck for cover:

Screen Clarity. The iPhone has the best screen clarity for text and graphics I've ever seen on a mobile device. It's absolutely striking in all applications from Safari to email to maps. The iPhone should win an award if, for nothing else, Apple engineering on screen brightness, contrast, color and readability in portrait and landscape. Outstanding.
Touch Screen Smear. All cell/mobile phone users create smears on their phones' screens--whether a flip or touch screen phone. I found the iPhone smear worse than other touch phones and very difficult to clean. Luckily, the iPhone's crisp display overcomes the smear, but other smartphones with large screens are less prone to dust and smears. (The Sony Ericsson P910 and Palm Treo's come to mind.)
Phone Sound Quality--Earpiece and Speaker Phone. Superb with occasional hiss courtesy of AT&T Mobility. Sound distorts on the speaker phone as well when signal strength drops.
Calling Features. The ringer off switch on the left side of the phone is too small and difficult to engage, but the large dialing pad is a welcome addition to touch phones. It's also interesting that Apple, the inventor of the iPod and iTunes, didn't include voice control for calling or opening applications. The HTC Touch, my model for an Android-enabled phone
has both, plus a lot of Samsung and other phones offer voice dialing.
Quick and Automatic Switching from AT&T's EDGE Network to Wi-Fi. I entered my home network information once, and the iPhone switched back-and-forth swiftly. (My home network is powered by a dedicated Speakeasy DSL line (1.3Mbps) connected to Apple's latest Airport Base Station. When away from my home network, the iPhone automatically alerted me to other Wi-Fi networks within range. While connected to Wi-Fi, I easily used one finger to navigate each screen quickly. The iPhone UI is best-of-breed touch screen technology that sets a new standard for competitors.
GPS, after a few attempts, clearly showed roads, highways and traffic patterns with quick screen re-draw as I moved my finger in all directions. Since I have GPS in my Toyota Prius, I'd never use the feature while driving but might use it when lost in a big city. Unfortunately, downloading megabytes of data from AT&T's EDGE network would be frustrating. (Good news: Gizmodo just announced AT&T is working on "Fine Edge" to increase data download speeds.)
Safari Browser. As Mac users know, Safari is light years ahead of any competing browser. The iPhone can hold 8 mini-screens in memory and they open and close rapidly with stunning resolution, far better than screen rendering on Nokia's N80. When returning to some of the minimized Safari browser windows, the mini-screens were blank with the webpage title at the top; however, as soon as I touched the screen, the correct page maximized correctly. Zooming in with Safari at first delivers slightly blurred text. A second or two later, it's crystal clear. (Again, I'm using my home network--not AT&T's.)
Automatic Landscape Viewing Brilliant. I was able to view a readable Wall Street Journal page in Landscape with little text size adjustment.
Lack of Flash Support. This issue was reported seven months ago. I was unable to retrieve my voice messages on GrandCentral because the website requires Flash. (Skyfire, a start-up company in Mountain View, California, just announced a free browser that automatically adjusts page formatting with video support for high-end smartphones. Availability is mid-2008.)
Re-Arranging Icons and Creating Multiple Home Screens. Great time saver.
(Data Plan Cost and EDGE Comment). I believe that Apple obtained an agreement with AT&T on the $20 unlimited data plan and 200 text messages because both knew most iPhone users would surf the web using Wi-Fi rather than EDGE. (The status screen on my iPhone shows only 3MB of EDGE data downloading, while my Wi-Fi downloading during the three days test must be several hundred megabytes.) AT&T's other data plans for BlackBerry's and Smartphone/PDA's cost $30 to $50 using either EDGE or 3G.
Suggestion for Apple and AT&T. In Safari preferences, allow users to turn off picture and graphics downloading. HTC already does this on their Touch device, and Microsoft Office 2007 automatically blocks picture downloads in email for security reasons. Downloading text only on AT&T's EDGE network would significantly improve performance. (Taking this step would also address the industry's increasing concern about mobile viruses and spyware.)
Text Data Entry. While the iPhone's QWERTY keypad is the largest I've seen, using one finger to enter text takes time to learn despite help from the confirming larger alpha-numeric circles that appear when pressing a letter or number. Frequently, three or four letters with accent marks appeared while pressing a button. Moving my finger to the proper button didn't change to the correct letter.
Fonts Change Size. When switching from portrait to landscape, Safari increased font size. Upon returning to portrait, the original font size displayed.
Word Completion Needs improvement. After typing "N," then "O," the iPhone suggested "NOI" rather than "NOW," which I intended. Other manufacturers, especially Sony Ericsson, deliver greater accuracy when using T9 text entry.
Pressing Space Bar Twice for Period. Good feature, used by BlackBerry users for years.
Large Positioning Circle for Editing. Excellent idea and reduces eye strain and errors.
Using Two Thumbs to Enter Text. No way. This works on a BlackBerry due to the full QWERTY keypad with the BB's weight shifted to its top. The iPhone's weight is evenly distributed, lacks a rubberized back like other smartphones--making it easier to hold the phone--and switches to other screens and applications on its own. Will cover that in a second.
"M" key is to the left of the back key. Several times, I erased entire words when my finger was too close.
iPhone Movement Causes Problems. The phone's movement sensitivity is set too high. In multiple cases, moving the phone slightly or laying it down on a table caused other applications to open. For example, when I laid the phone down, Safari or the Favorites screen opened. Several Web pages minimized on their own.
Finger Slide AND Home Button? One thing mobile manufacturers attempt doing is eliminating excessive steps in menus and such. Why does the iPhone require a finger slide from left to right plus pressing the home button to awaken? The home button is recessed so swiping one's finger across the base of the phone is not going to cause problems. "Simple strokes for simple folks."
Construction. The iPhone's exterior metal casing is too smooth, causing the iPhone to shift in your hand and possible drop it. HTC, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and other manufacturers provide a better grip. Plus the bottom black base beneath the connection port easily scratches. Change the color, Apple, or make it rubber for easier handling and stability.
Camera Quality O.K. No zoom and no streaming video, but the indoor pics are better than I expected without camera controls. The plant above and eagle to the right are untouched iPhone shots.
Multiple Email Account Navigation. While scrolling through and viewing emails in full HTML is fantastic, unlike a BlackBerry, you have to press multiple buttons to access the inbox of each email account--a hassle that also plagues Sony Ericsson and Nokia phones. Like a BlackBerry or, for that matter, Apple Mail or Outlook, there should be ONE inbox showing all your emails. Kudos to Apple for allowing one or more preview lines in email settings.
Email Download Size Limit and No Push. Perhaps AT&T got in the way on this one. Standard setting options are auto-check, Show (number of most recent messages), Preview, Minimum Font Size, Show To/Cc Label, Ask Before Deleting, Always Bcc Myself, Signature and Default Account. Not bad. Let's add, as with other email clients, "download headers only," "download entire message" or "only download XX kb." And, since Yahoo has now teamed with Apple on push email (it works), why not POP3 and Imap accounts as well. And, if Apple wants to get the business market--Microsoft ActiveSync on Exchange servers.
MMS Messages to AT&T Website? I ran a few MMS messages from T-Mobile to the iPhone and received an email to retrieve the message on an AT&T website. No, Apple, let's do it the normal way.
No Calendar Weekly View. There's monthly, daily and list views but not weekly. Almost every phone on Earth offers a weekly calendar view. Let's get it on the product spec sheet, Apple programmers.
Limited Bluetooth Profiles. I gather Apple feels, like Verizon for many years, that crippled bluetooth is kosher. Sorry, hands-free is not enough and running all synchronization of pictures, songs and such through iTunes creates a "sync monopoly." My two Macs with bluetooth can't directly exchange pictures with the iPhone. Back to the drawing boards.
Quit Using the Word "Easy." My last request. Tell your marcom people that their salaries get docked $10 every time they write "easy" in a user guide. Read my post about the Apple website.

Well, folks, that's it. All in all, Apple set the bar significantly higher for the mobile phone industry. Let's hope the industry, including Apple, responds with easy-to-use (oops), sophisticated communication devices and applications. The U.K., Europe and especially Asia already dominate mobile technology. I believe there's hope for the United States as well.

The HTC Touch: A Closer Look

2008-01-24T19:03:00.000-08:00

Want to learn more about the HTC Touch? When I identified it as a model for the ideal Android phone in MarketingBeyond and here at MTI, I didn't fully write about the two key issues impacting touch screen mobile devices. Read my latest eBay review for details. Oh...it's day two with my iPhone and I'm still checking it out. Will comment shortly.

My Sin: I Bought an iPhone

2008-01-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

I committed the ultimate sin yesterday. I walked into an AT&T store and bought an iPhone. Yes, after blasting Apple, Steve Jobs and the iPhone for over a year, I succumbed to the temptation. I couldn't stand the hype and glitz any longer. With my knees shaking--and my declared perfect Android phone with me--I did it.

As I opened the package, my trembling hands picked it up, gazed at its glimmer, clutched it carefully as I inserted the USB connector to the phone and my MacBook Pro. Agonizing pains shot through my fingers as I started activating the device by agreeing to all of the legalese created by Apple's and AT&T's lawyers.

Stressed out with trepidation, I entered my credit card number and other information. Pausing just a moment, I clicked on "activate." Ah, the sin was nearly complete.

Apple's iTunes and AT&T's verification servers went into action, telling me on the screen what was happening and the emails I'd soon get.

The emails arrived one-by-one, each giving me just a bit more information on my sinful decision. I wondered: Is this a venial or mortal sin? Which had I committed? When moving on to Heaven or Hell, would Steve Jobs be there to greet me?

The final email arrived. ACTIVATION! The phone was now ready to use. Just as I wrote about Vista and "Windows It's Alive," the iPhone sprung to life with the latest software update. Strange icons beckoned me to push them, my home network discovered in an instant. The iPhone was now a MePhone.

It enveloped my senses as I started pushing buttons. Then the ultimate cool and awesome experience--synching with iTunes. Apple now knew about my sin. They had acquired a new victim (I mean customer).

I was late for choir practice. So I left the shimmering piece of glass in its cradle, firmly attached to my Mac. But I knew when I got home, IT would be there...

Tired of iPhone and Nokia N95 News? Want a Cell Phone for Talking? The LG LX150/LX160 is It

2008-01-22T15:19:00.000-08:00

At times, it seems like everyone on Earth has (wants) an iPhone, Nokia N95 or another expensive mobile phone. Well, guess what? Some people--might be you--just want a well-built cell phone for calling people. (Ah, I can just hear the snobbish Engaget and Wired geeks seething, but I love it.)

If you're looking for a cell phone without a camera, music player or direct connection to Steve Job's office at Apple, the LG LX150 (14 available right now on eBay) might be YOUR phone. (LG's LX160 is an upgraded version of the LX150 for Sprint.)

Here's a review of the LG LX150 posted in my eBay blog. (Click on the link above for the Phonescoop review.)

In our 3G/EVDO, multi-media smartphone world, we should occasionally remind ourselves that most people buy cell phones to make and receive CALLS--not to surf the web at broadband speeds nor organize their lives with a PDA.

It's probably heresy to debunk the sophisticated devices that now crowd the market, but LG and Sprint have a winner with the LX150, a basic "smallish" clamshell phone with excellent reception, good sound quality--including an exceptionally clear speakerphone--a colorful and informative internal display and a keypad that's easy to use. In fact, the LX150's center dialing pad (numbers, 2, 5, 8 and 0) are recessed, reducing dialing errors, unlike the Moto RAZR and other phones letting you guess numbers or text characters you've entered.

Speaking of text, the LX150 even has a TEXT button, helping you navigate quickly to your contact directory for a quick text message. A speaker phone button appears directly opposite the text button, while additional soft keys immediately access the Web, your contacts, missed calls and even your calendar. If you change the center D button's menu to LIST rather than ICON, you're only a few keystrokes away from any function.

The volume toggle button is on the left outer side of the phone as usual, along with a speaker dependent dial by voice button that you provides voice dialing up to 30 numbers. Although the outside display is monochrome, it's easily readable and just above it is a flashing light reminding you the phone is on. (It flashes red when you have a message or miss a call.) But enough about the buttons.

Upon placing a call, the internal display shows the number called, and a list of functions available during the call. You can mute the mic, turn the speakerphone on and off, set up a 3 way call, view your contacts and recent calls, write a text message, record the call as a voice memo and enter information in the notepad.

After reviewing mobile phones for over three years, I've never found it easier during a phone call to navigate to and use all these features. This IS a well conceived phone for a person who wants the basics without a camera or media player.

Bluetooth is included, by the way. But, look elsewhere if you want a ruggedized Nextel-like phone (you'll crush it the first day) or the best speakerphone (loud with some distortion) or megabytes of MP3 storage (get an Ipod). What you'll get is a phone touting 4 hours of talk time--one hour more than most CDMA phones--terrific sound quality and expertly designed for calling and texting. I highly recommend this phone.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mobile Phones

2008-01-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

I was online with Engaget mobile phone geeks last night and discovered there's a good deal of confusion: where to purchase the latest smartphones, warranty service, SIM cards, etc. So...here's a quickie post to clarify.

Until the U.S. catches up, the most sophisticated and powerful smartphones are available from several reliable sources. Phonesource-USA, which does business on eBay and its own website, is an excellent company and continuously offers the latest unlocked GSM phones from Asia, Europe and the U.K. The company ships quickly from Hong Kong and Nevada and I've purchased smartphones from them for years with excellent results.
Integron Technologies sells an assortment of consumer electronics items, including smartphones. The service and shipping charges are unmatched on eBay.
GSMarena.com has the most comprehensive line-up of smartphones I've ever seen. The website also supplies information on mobile device suppliers. You could spend hours reading about the latest phones from all the major manufacturers: Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Motorola, to name a few.
Warranties? Aha...now's the time to be careful. When a phone manufacturer releases a new model--say one from Sony Ericsson--it's distributed to different parts of the world, based on mobile carrier networks, language, features and other factors. So one version of a Sony Ericsson phone is intended for sale in Asia, another in Europe and another in the U.K. The usual one year warranty on its phones is only valid in the country or region for which the phone was made. If you purchase the Asian version of the new K770i SE phone, for example, repairs are done in Hong Kong. However, unless you live in Asia and deliver the defective phone to SE in Hong Kong, the warranty is not valid. This is changing dramatically with some manufacturers I'll cover next.
Nokia is rapidly opening retail stores in the United States to sell unlocked GSM phones that you can use on AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile and a few other GSM carriers in the States. Warranties for phones sold in the U.S. are valid. Expect to see Sony Ericsson and other overseas manufacturers distributing increasing numbers of mobile phones here in 2008.
SIMS--those strange looking cards found in GSM phones--contain your account information, number of usage minutes if you've purchased a "pay as you go" SIM and around 200 names and phone numbers that your GSM phone can access. In the U.K., Europe, Asia and elsewhere, mobile phone owners can purchase SIM's to swap in-and-out of their unlocked phones to get the best calling rates in each country--in many cases, much cheaper per minute than a SIM from a U.S. carrier that you use overseas. In Europe, for example, you can walk into a store, purchase a SIM for France or Germany or Norway and also buy a phone. Verizon and Sprint in the U.S. use CDMA technology. No SIMS. Your phone's ESN--a unique code--identifies your phone to the carrier. With CDMA, your carrier programs your phone to work on its network. Which leads us to...
Locked vs. unlocked phones. As you may know, when you purchase a cell phone plan from a U.S. carrier, the phone you receive is "locked" to that carrier's network. The locking is usually done at the manufacturer's factory when the phone is branded for AT&T or T-Mobile. While most GSM phones can be "unlocked" using software codes and/or cables, some can't. And even if you unlock a GSM phone that was previously locked by the manufacturer, the phone may not fully function correctly on a different network. You may have MMS or WAP or even calling problems, like poor voice quality and dropped calls. That's because each carrier uses roaming partners to provide coverage in areas where they're few cell towers and signal strength and your phone may not be programmed to access roaming partners. That leads us to...
Frequencies. They're basically four frequency ranges for world cell phones---850Mhz and 1900Mhz in the U.S. and 900Mhz and 1800Mhz used by carriers outside the U.S. Triband phones usually operate at 900Mhz, 1800Mhz and 1900Mhz; Quadband at 850Mhz, 900Mhz, 1800Mhz and 1900Mhz. That's why quadband phones are usually referred to as "world phones." They'll work on virtually any frequency used by worldwide carriers. New standards in the 1700Mhz and 2100Mhz band are arriving for 3G service, but we'll skip that for now.

Hope that helps. Cellular technology is complex and, until there's a world standard, differences will affect how mobile phones work.