cell-phone : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary

To write cell phone software, you need a cell-phone OS simulator that runs on your desktop. It is basically a stripped down Java with special classes useful to cell-phones. You want to download Java ME and MIDP 2.0, both free from Sun.

Downloading Software to a cell-phone

• Upload it to a webserver that has been properly configured with MIME types to recognise *.jad and *.jar files. Then download the jars it via airtime to the phone. This two-step process is slow and you typically must pay for airtime.
• Infrared USB interface.
• BlueTooth (short-range, low-power radio) interface. This is a particularly useful option. A separate earphone/microphone loops over your ear. You hold the phone where you can see it. This reduces possible damage from the cell phone’s emissions since every doubling in distance from your head reduces the effect to one quarter.
• USB cord to the phone.

Analog phones use NAMPS. Time Division MUX phones use iDEN or GSM (the world standard). Spread-spectrum digital phones in North America use CDMA.

If you have a T-Mobile, Cingular, or recent new M-mode type service with AT&T, then you have GSM service. GSM phones are not compatible with CDMA wireless.

In Canada Rogers and Fido are GSM.

If you are signed up with Verizon Wireless or Sprint PCS, you are using CDMA. CDMA phones are not compatible with GSM.

In Canada, Bell and Telus run CDMA.

The world is now flipping to 3G, which is faster and uses bandwidth more efficiently. Even video is possible. Japan and Korea have already done so. The new Apple iPhone 3G uses it. Rogers in Canada is now supporting it partly to support the iPhone.

The evolution will be to lower and lower power with more and more broadcast nodes, perhaps eventually getting down to LAN WiFi levels and coverage. This downsizing allows faster traffic, more efficient use of the air, and less damage from radio waves. This strategy increases total bandwidth because if each broadcast “pollutes” a smaller volume of air, it leaves more air to transmit other broadcasts simultaneously.

To define the capabilities of a given cell-phone you need to know its configuration and profile. The configuration defines the virtual machine and the bare minimum APIs that must be present. The specification includes the mimimum amount of memory, the minimum processory type and processor speed, as well as the minimum processor type and speed.

A profile refers to the APIs for a specific domain. For example, the MIDP profile defines the API for mobile phones and wireless PDAs. A device might implement more than one profile.

PCS (Personal Communication Services) is an advanced type of cell-phone service that uses smaller cells and therefore requires a larger number of antennas to cover a geographic area. PCS phones use frequencies between 1.85 and 1.99 GHz. The idea is to create more bandwidth to handle the exploding volume of traffic and lower the power requirements of the phones.

Wi-Fi wireless Internet Access gives up to 54MBps via IEEE 802.11. This is primarily an Internet access protocol for laptop computers and handhelds. It is also used for in-home wireless networks that connect to the Internet via a router that connects to the ISP via tradional DSL or cable.

Verizon wireless gives 400KBPs download Internet access.

Amazon.com

WiFi Phone

Java

• Java games
• Mpowerplayer : Java games
• Gamemobile : Java games
• Mxitt : chat
• Shoot & Send : picture share
• Reporo : picture share
• Mobispine : RSS feed
• Nokia Widsets : RSS feed
• Plusmo : RSS feed
• Litefeed : RSS feed
• Yahoo Go! : portal
• Yahoo Mapping
• Google Maps Mobile
• WayfinerEarthBeta mapping
• Google Mail Mobile
• Flurry: mail, RSS, mail notification.
• Bermin FTP
• Telnet & SSH
• Remote Desktop

Learning More