May 18th - 2005

Phones - not just for talking anymore

The evolution of cell phone technology has been as rapid as has the increase in cellular users.

The evolution of cell phone technology has been as rapid as has the increase in cellular users. Canadian Wireless Technology Association (CWTA) stats show Canadian wireless phone customers now number more than 15 million. Inter-carrier messaging was introduced in 2002 which allowed customers to send SMS (Short Message Service) text messages by simply addressing their message to a recipient's wireless phone number, regardless of the recipient's service provider. This was followed less than a year later with the introduction of cross-border inter-carrier text messaging that allowed Canadians to text message with friends and colleagues in the United States.

With the new models of camera and video phones that have entered the market over the last couple of years, simple text messaging is moving over for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). MMS extends SMS text messaging to include photos, graphics, audio clips, video clips or combinations of these elements, allows users to send their multimedia messages to other MMS-capable phones or e-mail accounts. CWTA says Canada's wireless carriers will soon complete the arrangements to introduce full inter-carrier MMS.

Nokia’s smartphone
An example of this new “multi-purpose cell phone is the Nokia 6620.  With this compact, hand-held, you can download music clips, including full MP3s, and listen to them with the built-in Real Player. In addition to a high-resolution camera, the handset also features a camcorder that allows you to shoot videos of up to 10 minutes, play, edit and add text and voiceovers to recorded video clips.

Through SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) technology, you can combine images, sounds and text into a single multimedia message, and then have the message received by compatible devices in exactly the order you intended. The 6620 also supports a number of business applications and has PDA functionality that can be synchronized over the air through technologies such as Bluetooth. It also supports mobile e-mail and instant messaging capabilities as well as enhancements including a Bluetooth keyboard, a GPS module for location based services, and two Bluetooth wireless earpieces. The Nokia 6620 sells for $129.99 with a three-year service agreement from Rogers Wireless. Check with your local mobile phone supplier regarding instant message compatibility with other wireless providers.

For more information about Multimedia Messaging Service and wireless technology, visit the CWTA web site at www.cwta.ca or to learn more about text messaging visit Canada’s Text Messaging Resource Centre at www.txt.ca.

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