Smartphone—The Swiss Army Knife Of Gadgets

It’s amazing how a mere gadget can get so intricately connected with our day-to-day tasks that we almost start living our lives out of that gadget. Yes, it’s the smartphone we are talking about. With the plethora of features and software available on this handy device, it is by far the most important digital handheld device in our life today.

Nowadays, especially, these devices are adorned with features and functionality that set them apart from all the other gadgets we operate for functioning in our daily lives. Today, these multifunctional devices incorporate features of a touchscreen computer including web browsing, Wi-Fi, and third-party applications. They not only serve as our quickest medium of communication but equip us with many other sophisticated features such as the GPS system, digital camera, flashlight, voice recorder, home automation controller, news broadcasting system and much more.

It's no wonder then that the industry sells more than a billion smartphones every year. Forecasts even suggest that by 2017, the number of sales each year will be more than two billion, while feature phones further fade into irrelevancy.

Tomi T. Ahonen, an independent consultant and expert in the converging areas of mobile telecom, Internet, and media identified six stages of mass media. He identified these stages as print, recording, cinema, radio, television, and the Internet. However, he realized that the raging supremacy of mobile phones over the rest of communication media cannot be withheld. This led him to add a seventh one: smart cell phones. What led Tomi and others in the field to make this addition were the benefits that distinguish a this device from the other six stages.

Cell phone is the first personal form of mass media that is handy and easy to operate. It is permanently carried by individuals and stays with them almost all the time. With all these smart features and much more, it is absolutely no wonder that mobile phones have become the Swiss army knife of gadgets today!

You Can Now Legally Unlock your Mobile Phones To Use On Other Network Carriers

Unlocking a mobile phone is vital for consumers who want to take their devices to other carriers. That’s why most devices sold in the U.S.A through wireless operators (such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon) have a software lock on them which disallows them from being used on another wireless operator’s network. 

For example, if you want to end your contract with AT&T, and want to move your phone to T-Mobile, you’ll need to unlock your mobile phone to do so. Likewise, if you travel internationally with a tethered mobile phone, you’ll pay expensive roaming charges to your locked carrier (AT &T) unless you unlock the phone so that it can be used with a local wireless network carrier’s SIM.

Understanding the necessity of consumers, the U.S. House of Representatives approved to give consumers the right to 'unlock' their mobile phones and use them on competitors' wireless networks.

"The bill Congress passed today is another step toward giving ordinary Americans more flexibility and choice, so that they can find a cell phone carrier that meets their needs and their budget," Obama said.

Major wireless carriers, including Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc., Sprint Corp, and T-Mobile struck a voluntary agreement with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to make it uncomplicated for mobile users to unlock their phones after contracts expire.

"When the contract terms are satisfied, or for a reason that is included in the carrier’s unlocking policy – such as a trip outside the U.S. – carriers will unlock a phone at their customer’s request," said Michael Altschul (legal counsel for the CTIA)

For more information, visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/25/obama-phone-unlock_n_5622071.html