| Even before the iPhone, cell phones were getting | | | | all of this development in the cell phone industry, there |
| more and more applications that could be useful to | | | | were other developments in the "cell" end of cell |
| their owner. It may have started with the fabulous | | | | phones. Tower technology developed better quality |
| product called "ring tones," or it may have started | | | | transmission with lower power, and better coverage. |
| earlier, but it turns out that as the DSP (digital Sound | | | | The companies offering cell phone service multiplied |
| Processor) chips in cell phones became more | | | | and merged with POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) |
| powerful it seemed a waste to not use it for more | | | | companies, and the ability of the consumer to contract |
| than just voice grade communications. | | | | for the service that served his/her purposes best |
| One of these other uses appeared as snippets of | | | | increased by leaps and bounds. |
| favorite music used to replace the old fashioned "Ring" | | | | One of the "other features" that have appeared in the |
| of a telephone. Actually, even the old standard ring | | | | cell phone industry in recent years include the |
| tones were being produced by the DSP as music. | | | | appearance and disappearance of "roaming charges" |
| It only took a little bit faster and more powerful DSP | | | | for the most part. If you are paying roaming charges |
| and some more memory to make it possible for the | | | | find a different service. |
| cell phone to converge with the MP3 player, (a generic | | | | Another feature is "unlimited off-peak hours." This |
| version of what the trademarked iPod is). As | | | | feature allows you to make calls without using |
| Research In Motion sold vast numbers of its famous | | | | "minutes" during the non-business hours of nighttime |
| Blackberry email, and web appliance, the cell phone | | | | and weekends. Associated with this feature, you may |
| industry took noticed and began to add these | | | | find "unlimited incoming calls." Some service providers |
| applications to "standard" cell phones. RIM, for its part | | | | also offer unlimited "in-plan" calling. |
| added cellular phone features to its Blackberry | | | | With everything that the cell phone service providers |
| devices. | | | | are giving away, it is hard to see what is left to charge |
| As the market forces drove cell phones, iPods, and | | | | you for. With that consideration, I ask, "Why is my |
| Blackberrys toward each other's markets, each added | | | | monthly bill always over $100.00 when I am on a plan |
| features to enhance its own features and to make | | | | that is supposed to be $39.95/month? |
| incursions into the territory of other devices. Along with | | | | |