T12 GROUP 5

= '''The Evolution of Handhelds=

Group Name
Team Crazy Sexy Marvelous

Group Members

 * Ana Montalvo
 * Andrew Lam
 * Trevor Rose
 * Lea Schuurmans
 * Rachel Wong

Introduction
The advancement of technology has always been an extraordinary process and the cellular phone is no exception. It all began in 1921 with large mobile radios built into law enforcers' vehicles. Since then, the technology that goes into making these mobile communication devices advances at an uncontrollable rate. We now have tiny mobile devices that can do almost everything our desktop computers are capable of doing, such as: surf the internet, upload pictures on to Facebook, download MP3s, etc. Due to its quick and convenient system, our dependence on these gadgets increase.

The Expansion of the Service Provider Market
Everyday can add a ton of advancement to the world of technology. Research is constantly done to make cellular phones more convenient by enhancing software and hardware capabilities. These new developments allow consumers to do more with their cell phones, which increases the demand for them. With the increase demand, there needs to also be an increase in the supply of service providers. This will allow more competition in the market, lowering the rates for consumers.

Currently, the mainstream service providers include:

&bull; Bell Mobility

&bull; Rogers Wireless

&bull; Telus Mobility

Some not so mainstream service providers include:

&bull; Fido

&bull; Solo Mobile

&bull; Virgin Mobile

&bull; Koodo Mobile

Koodo Mobile
You might have noticed the new advertisements for different phone companies lingering around when you’re taking public transit home from school or even as you’re attempting to study with the TV on. Koodo may be a new service provider that comes to mind. An increase in service providers may be a benefit for us all.

Koodo Mobile is a mobile brand owned by Telus Mobility, providing Canadians with discount service rates and “pay as you go” phones. An increase in these service providers supplies the telecommunications market with more companies vying for our loyalty and our capital. The only way to do that is to get our attention with more affordable rates and intriguing deals. Koodo was the first company to eliminate the dreaded Systems Access fee, putting a lot of pressure on other companies to do the same. Now, Solo Mobile has also proceeded to remove the System Access Fee, while Rogers Wireless customers have been seen complaining to the customer service representatives about having to pay the System Access Fee when Koodo Mobile customers do not. This has led to many of the System Access Fees for Rogers Wireless’ clients to be abolished. As you can see, with the evolution of handhelds and the increased supply of wireless service providers has the capability to bring down the average rate for consumers.

History – Portable Radios
Cell phones itself have a very short history. In fact this technology originally started out as mobile radio’s utilizing conventional radios. Around 1921, the Detroit Michigan Police Department started out using these simple radios in their vehicles. These devices used low frequency radio waves close to 2 MHz. In a couple of decades these radio channels became overcrowded, and in 1940, new frequencies round 30 and 40 MHz were able to be used. Although these specialized radio systems were primarily used by police departments, individuals, companies as well as public agencies started to utilize these mobile radios. Very soon a mobile phone system was introduced into the public around 1945 in St. Louis, Missouri. This new system used 3 new channels at a frequency of 150 MHz with 6 different channels spaced out 60 kHz. However this attempt did not work out very well as the equipment itself did not have the capacity to prevent interference between frequencies. Two years later a public mobile system between New York and Boston was created. These frequencies used the 35 to 44 MHz bands were thought to travel farther, but interference was still present in this test. This is caused by skip-distance propagation where basically the radio waves bounces. Soon a large step was taken in wireless communication. Separate radio channels were authorized to common carrier entities also known as ``Radio Common Carriers`` or ROC for short. While these entities or companies do not provide public telephone services, they connect public telephone networks together, providing mobile telephone services that were very similar to wire line carriers. Nearly 5 years later 6 new channels at the frequency of 150 MHz were created. These new channels were created between the original 5 channels. Basically shortening the channel spaces from 60 kHz to 30 kHz. The trend toward frequency radios continued and in 1956 12 new channels were opened at round 450 MHz. these new systems operated in a manual form, where basically each call dialling out or in needs a mobile phone operator. A break through occurred in 1964 and a system was developed that eliminated the mobile phone operator. Automatic channel selection was introduced, allowing customers to dial on their own. This new technology carried over, and in 1969 another new system dubbed the ``Improved Mobile Telephone System`` (IMTS). This new system running on the frequency of 150 MHz) became the norm for the mobile telephone service in America. IMTS effectively signalled the end of the simple radio, phone era.

Development of Cell Phones
A new era was in the making where mobile phones could use small cells that utilized frequency reuse, effectively increasing traffic capacity. This new plan was actually thought of in the late 1940`s, however the technology needed was just not in place. However in 1953, a major phone service provider in the U.S. (AT&T) suggested a broadband mobile phone system that operated in the original 800 MHz region. This new system was extremely effective and around 20 years later. The Federal Communications Commission allowed an allocation of 75 MHz in the 800 MHz region and invited both AT&T and Bell Towers to start creating suggestions for achieving communications that allowed for the small cell system. One year later (1971) AT&T hands in a detailed technical report showing how this new ``cellular system`` might work. The first real cell phone was made in 1973 by Martin Cooper of Motorola. These things were large heavy things that looked similar to cement blocks. However it wasn’t until one year later that these cement blocks were first made available to the public. Several Tests were conducted and finally in 1978 tests commenced and over 2000 trial customers tested out these new phones. Tests ran smoothly an in a couple of years these new cell phones were able to be used in normal everyday proceedings.

How Cell Phones Work
A cell phone is actually a radio that is both a transmitter and a receiver. Cell phones use two frequencies in order to allow both callers to talk at the same time.

Cells


The cell phone system divides up an area into cells, independent areas with their own base towers and sets of frequencies. Each cell uses one-seventh of the total set of frequencies and frequencies can be reused by cells that are not beside each other due to the fact that cell phones use low power transmitters which limits the distance frequencies travel outside the cell. Low power transmitters also reduce the cell phone’s power consumption.

Mobile Telephone Switching Office
Each cell phone carrier operates one mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) which handles all calls to the land-based phone system and controls all the base stations in the region.

Turning On Your Phone
When you turn on your cell phone it receives a system identification code (SID) from the control channel which should match the SID programmed on the cell phone. The control channel is a frequency that your phone and the base station use to communicate call setup and channel changing. Your phone then sends out a registration request to the MTSO so it tracks your phone’s location in the database so when someone wants to call you it knows what cell you are in and can ring your phone.

Making Calls
When you call someone the MTSO gets the call and searches its database for the cell the phone you want to call is in. The MTSO then picks a frequency pair that your phones will use to communicate in your current cells and relays this information over the control channel to both phones who switch to the frequency pair and the call is connected.

Switching Cells
Base stations listen to all frequencies, not just the ones that are used in their cell. This allows a base station to detect the signal of a cell phone as it approaches its cell and communicate with the base station of the cell the phone is coming from through MTSO so your phone can change to the frequencies used within the new cell.

Main Parts of Cell Phones


When someone speaks into the microphone, the microphone measures the varying pressures in the air and converts it into varying electrical signals which creates an analog wave. This analog wave is then converted to binary information by an analog to digital conversion chip (ADC) which allows the information to be compressed so that it only takes up a third of the space of the original analog wave. Digital to analog converter chips (DAC) are used to convert the digital information back to analog form. Speakers take electrical signals and translate them back to physical vibrations which create sound waves that we can hear.

The microprocessor works much like the microprocessor in a computer. It performs the keyboard and display functions, communicates with the base station and coordinates the rest of the functions of the circuit board.

ROM and flash memory provide storage for the phone’s operating system and customizable features such as contact lists. Some phones store SID information in its internal flash memory while others store it in external cards. If you switch phones and your SID information is stored on an external card you can switch it to your new phone and all your old information is transferred to the new phone while if it is on your old phone’s internal flash drive you have to get all new information.

Antennas are used to radiate and capture radio waves.

Cell Phone Features
Cellular phone manufacturers put much effort into finding innovative features to incorporate into our handhelds. They are themselves consumers as well, thus these designs are built from the desires of consumers.

Bluetooth Headsets
Recent innovations deal with the driving scene. Bluetooth headsets have become popular to relieve our hands from holding the cell phone while drive. Bluetooth wireless technology provides a method of communication between short-range systems (For example, the Bluetooth headset with your mobile phone). This technology uses a radio communication system, which allows the communication flow to be continuous even if the devices are not directly in the line of sight of each other. As long as they have sufficient power output, they will be able to communicate with another device.

It is also argued that the use of Bluetooths are less of a health risk compared to mobile phones.

Bluetooth wireless technology runs on the 2.4 GHz ISM band to 2.4835 GHz range. Based on the table above, it can be concluded that a Class 1 device can have a power output of 100 mW, which is comparable to a mobile phone. Class 2 and 3 devices are significantly lower in their power output, and can be considered less of a hazard than mobile phones.

BlackBerry
Today, the BlackBerry is a very popular mobile phone seen amongst many consumers. It all began in as a two-way pager in 1999 by a Canadian company called Research in Motion. It had a monotone display, but it was popular for businesspeople due to the easy and quick methods of communication.

Nowadays, BlackBerry is more commonly known as the mobile phone that supports e-mail, internet faxing, web browsing, as well as standard cell phone features. It is able to receive and send e-mails wherever it is able to access a wireless network of cellular phone carriers. The mobile device has a QWERTY keyboard (in the same format as our desktop and notebook keyboards), making it consistent with the keyboards we are familiar with.

The most recent version of the BlackBerry is the BlackBerry Storm. This model includes features such as: Touch screen, Built-in GPS, wireless e-mail, media player, corporate data access, etc. If you compare the technology capabilities of the first BlackBerry console (RIM 850/950) with the most recent BlackBerry Storm, it can clearly be seen that a ton of change has occured in a span of roughly ten years.

Apple iPhone


One of BlackBerry's top rivals is none other than the Apple iPhone. Intoduced in June 2007, this multifaceted cell phone is programmed with a built in GPS, a large memory capacity for multimedia files, internet access, etc.

A reason why many consumers are interested in the Apple iPhone is this device contains a multimedia player as well, eliminating the use for a separate multimedia device. The Apple iPhone functions through touch screen, which is popular amongst comsumers. The touch screens enable easier navigation with applications such as playing music, map browsing and web browsing.

The Apple iPhone is said to have an application that recognizes a song by it's reception of the sound through the receiver. It samples the song for five seconds, then contacts an ID server, and if successful, it will display the name of the song, artist, and the album. The iPhone is able to download many applications that can be used. Examples of these applications include:


 * Books, and eBook reader
 * eBay Watcher, which displays your 'my eBay' data from www.ebay.com
 * iFlickr, which uploads photos from the iPhone to www.flickr.com
 * iSaber, which turns the iPhone into a lightsaber

and many more.

Introduction
Cell phones have gone through three generations. The first cell phone was invented by the Swedish company Ericcson in 1956. The first generation of cell phones started from there and lasted until about the 1980’s.

The second generation followed until around the start of the millennium.

The 1980's and 90's At a Glance
-Nordi countries such as Sweden introduce a mobile phone system similar to AMPS in 1981.

-The FCC makes rules creating a commercial cellular radio telephone service.

-On October 13, 1983, the pilot commercial cellular system of Illinois Bell begins operating in Chicago. The second pilot system run by ARTS in partnership with Motorola begins operation in Baltimore/Washington on December 16, 1983.

-1984, Washington, DC has two competing cellular providers,

-1988, many cellular systems are already overloaded as the promise of nearly endless expansion of capacity from cell splitting turns out to be more costly and difficult than foreseen.

(2G Technology)
Cell phones from the 1990’s are considered second generation phones. Otherwise known as 2G, they were able to work on phone systems such as GSM, IS-136 (TDMA) and IS-95 (CDMA). GSM (Global System for Mobile communications: originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile) is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world. Its promoter, the GSM Association, estimates that 82% of the global mobile market uses the standard, GSM is used by over 3 billion people across more than 212 countries and territories.

IS-154 and IS-134 are second-generation 2G mobile phone systems, known as Digital AMPS. It was once prevalent throughout the Americas, particularly in the USA and Canda. D-AMPS is considered end-of-life, and existing networks have mostly been replaced by GSM/GPRS or CDMA2000 technologies.

The phones used digital circuit switched transmissions. This enabled quicker network signalling, higher call quality and fewer dropped calls. It was also during this time that transmission switched from analog to digital.

Size

Second generation phones were much smaller than first generation phones know as bricks. The average size of a second generation phone was 100 to 200 grams without the need of a large battery. This is around the time when cell phone usage began to really take off.

Digital mobile phone networks were in use in the United States in 1990 and in Europe by 1991.

New Communication Methods
The second generation introduced a new concept of communication, as text messaging became possible. The first machine-generated text message was sent in the UK in 1991.

The first person-to-person SMS text message was sent in Finland in 1993. Soon text messaging became the most popular method of communication for teenagers.

Today more and more often the general public prefers sending text messages to placing voice calls.

New Media Options
2G also introduced the ability to consume media content on mobile phones, when Radiolinja (now Elisa) in Finland introduced the downloadable ringing tone as paid content.

Finland was also the first country where advertising appeared on the mobile phone when a free daily news headline service on SMS text messaging was launched in 2000, sponsored by advertising.

Development of 3G technology
3G wireless technologies combine high-speed mobile internet access and IP- based services. The development of 3G technology goes as far back as the early 2000’s, however through the years there have been huge advancements. The 3GPP is a joint effort, a 3G development program that was put together in 1998 through the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 project of the International Telecommunication Union, whom is responsible for most of the 3G technology reasearch.

Networks
The first commercial network was FOMA (which is the 3G service brand name for W-CDMA a wideband, mobile air interface, provided by NTT DoCoMo) and was launched in Japan by NTT DoCoMo  (the predominant Japanese Mobile Phone Operator) in 2001. In addition to FOMA which only ever operated in Japan there is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. UMTS is the most commonly used 3G mobile phone standard that also uses the W-CDMA air interface. With this said North America doesn’t only use this standard. In addition to the UMTS there is also the CDMA2000, the 3G standard developed in the by Qualcomm. As can be seen 3G technology deals with a lot of different standards, not all of which are used globally. In addition to the standards already mentioned there are also two more, EDGE and UTRA-TDD. All Standards are considered to be under the IMT-200 but are technically all different.

Distrubution of Networks in Canada and World Wide
In Canada two different 3G networks are used. Fido and Rogers use UMTS, while Bell and TELUS use CDMA2000. In Europe and Japan UMTS is predominantly used, and 3G networks are far more common and have better infrastructures then in North America.

Advancements in 3G technology in North America
The US and Canada have not shown to have the same kind of progress that Europe and Asia have. There’s a key factor that explains the lack of advancement in 3G technology. Though 2.5G technology is not as fast and as advanced as 3G, for the most part it satisfies most customer needs. Since the infrastructure for 3G networks would be very costly, it is easy to see why the 2G networks seemed efficient enough for a while. As always, customers want the newest technology out there, which is why different mobile communication providers began offering 3G phones. Which means, that even if 3G phones were widely available, it would not necessarily mean that there would be 3G network coverage everywhere. This is not to say that there is no 3G networks in North America, but in comparison to the different parts of the world, the western hemisphere is quite behind on the 3G technology that has been around for a number of years now.

3G Phone Handsets
Examples of some recent cell phones that have 3G network capabilities as opposed to 2G here are: - The most recent version of the iPhone is 3G - The new BlackBerry Bold is a 3G, previous Blackberries only 2G - The newest version of the LG Prada Phone (only in Europe) - Sony Ericccon W705 - Motorola RAZR V3x (Europe) - Nokia N78 and more



Differences between 3G and 2G
The main factor that differentiates third generation mobile phones from second and first generation phones is that 2G networks are short range, high-bandwidth as opposed to the 3G global seamless roaming (which is the ability to move between wireless cells while remaining connected to networks services, seamless roaming gives complete mobility and flexibility in local area network). This allows for access of high-speed internet, data, video phone calls and CD-quality music.

3G Advantages
Advantages of having a 3G are, faster access to high-speed internet, being able to transfer high data files, video files, being able to watch television, video telephone conferencing, and having GPS systems are some examples. A side note however, is that even though this is all possible with 3G networks, most of these features can also be achieved with 2.5G mobile phones on GSM networks, just not as fast, and perhaps not as efficient.

3G Disadvantages
Taking the above into concidereation, following are some disadvantages to the 3G network. In North America the infrastructure of networks is not as strong as in other parts of the world and global accessibilty is not has not yet been established, which means that an individual with a 3G mobile phone would be using 2G networks. Also, data plans and the handsets themselves are very costly. And the most obvious, the lack of global or uniform standard for the various types of 3G air interfaces.

The Nokia Morph Concept
Nokia, a top contender in the mobile phone market, has produced a concept that has astounded millions. This device is nothing like any technology seen before in this industry. Able to shape-shift into different sizes and designs, this mobile device provides many opportunities for the mobile communication industry.

The Nokia Morph Concept uses nanotechnology to change into either a folded design or an unfolded design. The folded design provides the consumer with a compact version of the Morph, allowing it to fit in their pocket comfortably. The unfolded design provides the consumer with a less compact device, but allows much more information to be shown on the screen.

Nanotechnology is the advancement of technological devices on the scale of nanometers. The research involves the collection of atoms and arrangement of them. The Nokia Morph Concept uses this type of technology to allow its devices to flex and stretch in different ways. The use of this technology also enables self-cleaning. The tiny atoms naturally repel substances such as dirt and fingerprints.

The following link is a video that further shows the capabilities of this amazing concept: The Nokia Morph Concept

Not only does this show huge step for the mobile phone industry, it shows technology is still skyrocketing and doesn't seem to be slowing any time soon. There is no sign of anything that will hinder technology advancement, leaving its path open for many opportunities.