The World at Your Fingertips

It seems that everyone has a mobile phone these days, and some people cannot seem to survive without them. A short walk from their vehicle to a building affords them the opportunity to make a quick call to a friend or loved one to advise them of their arrival there. Mobile phones have become so commonplace in today’s society that it is rare to find someone that does not have one or has never used one. With that technology, our world seems to be a smaller place, with people being able to communicate not only in their own neighborhoods, but also in almost every country around the world.

The first smartphone was introduced in 1992, with even more functionality than a typical cellular phone. The phones brought about a revolution in applications, such as a calendar, notepad, calculator, reminder events, world clock, games, and contact information for clients or business associates. They were considered a business tool at the time, and not so much for the use of the private sector. However, lowered costs and widespread availability has changed that, with the phones being available to and affordable for nearly anyone.

Even more advanced technology brought about the popular BlackBerry phone that includes the applications found in other cellular phones, but added a personal digital assistant (PDA) that allowed even more functionality for business people. The phones were introduced in 1999, and were the start of a wave of more intelligent telephone devices made by several companies that still make them today. With the computerized functionality of the phones, the applications developed by the companies, as well as third party vendors, have become even more sophisticated, adding such functions as wireless file transfer, real-time location mapping and voice activated speed dialing.

With the boom in cellular phone applications came yet another form of technology that is not entirely new, but it has become common in the phones today. Touch screen phones have been developed that give users easy access to their applications with just the tough of a finger or stylus. In most current models, the screens can display a QWERTY keypad for text entry of contact information for friends and relatives, or fast instant messaging capabilities. In addition, some of the phones have a flip or slide out physical keypad if the user prefers physical buttons or keys instead of the touch screen. With the technology in cell phones today, the world truly is at your fingertips.