Not Just a Cell Phone Anymore - Capabilities Available Today

That personalization trend looks set to continue, thanks to a number of factors. First of all, Nokia, the world leader in cell phone production, has finally been getting some real competition from Motorola. After gaining market share for seven straight quarters, Motorola now holds 22 percent, up from 17 percent last year. This is quite respectable when you consider that market leader Nokia only holds about one-third of the market. The second factor is that mobile operators are demanding greater customization to appeal to their customers as market competition continues to grow - and what mobile operators want, Nokia, Motorola, and other handset makers must deliver.

So, what are some of the most common and looked-for features on cell phones today?

• Digital cameras. Even an inexpensive model like the LG 8100 boasts a 1.3 megapixel camera with short video capacity. More expensive cell phones have 3.2 megapixel cameras, a camcorder, and special features to improve your images (like red-eye reduction); the Sony Ericsson K800i Cyber-shot is one such phone.
  
• Wireless Bluetooth technology. Many hands-free wireless cell phone ear bugs communicate with the phone using Bluetooth. Bluetooth technology is also good for synchronizing with a variety of devices, such as printers, laptops, and desktop computers (that's one way to transfer all those pictures you've been taking).
  
• An MP3 player. Not everyone has or wants an iPod, after all. With some phones boasting 1 GB or more of memory, that's plenty of room to carry hundreds of tunes.
  
• Mobile radio. A number of phones have a built-in FM radio, which just goes to show the technology isn't dead yet.
  
• Mobile TV and streaming video. While it's hard to imagine that someone would want to watch TV or even a movie on the tiny screens that often come with cell phones these days, the technology has been improving in leaps and bounds. And let's face it, watching TV beats just waiting in line.
  
• Internet access. It is at least possible to surf the web and read your email with a cell phone, even if the small screen size and slow speeds continue to be a factor.
  
• Recording capabilities. Some cell phones have both audio and video recording capabilities. If you're headed back to school, this can come in handy when you're taking notes - though you'd be wise to check your phone's memory and do a little experimenting before trying it out in class.

In a way, this is barely scratching the surface. I haven't even touched the features that came with my phone that everybody would expect today: caller ID, speakerphone, settable alarm, customizable ring tones, text messaging, games (I've honestly been trying to avoid those on my phone), PDA-like applications (calendar, calculator, to-do list, etc)...the list goes on and on.

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