photo credit: iPhones Unlocked

Nikkei Business Daily’s announcement shook up Japan’s cell phone industry. Rumor has it that NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s premier provider of leading-edge mobile voice, data and multimedia services, will finally start allowing unlocked devices on its network. NTT is reported to be considering the possibility of both allowing unlocked phones on the network and offering software to unlock phones so customers can switch. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: Locked Cell Phone

A new copyright bill in Canada could hurt cell phone users. Even with the recent launch of several new cell phone service providers, Canadian consumers are limited by locked cell phones. Mobile phones sold in Canada are typically sold with a digital lock programmed into them that prevents them from being used on a different carrier’s network. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: Cell Phones Across the World

While the iPad and other pricey technology dictates to the US, the rest of the world is using and developing cell phones as the latest and CHEAPEST technology! In India, Reliance Communications sells a cell phone for $25 with -1 cent-a-minute phone calls across India and 1-cent text messages and no monthly charge. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: Whipping as Punishmnet

A Saudi judge ordered a 13 year old girl to receive 90 lashes AND 2 years in prison for being caught with a cell phone at school. The rest of the story is that upon being discovered with the banned cell phone, the girl physically attacked her teacher. Small wonder the judge imposed a harsh sentence. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: Got Charge?

Just 2 days after the earthquake of January 12, 2010 hit Haiti, the first ever EIR (Emergency Information Service) was set up and in place to help. The goal was to provide SMS messaging on cell phones to the disaster-torn country. Working with InSTEDD, the Haitians were able to sign up for a free subscription to the Digicel and Comcel networks to receive our free Creole-language alerts. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: Is Big Brother Listening?

A German computer engineer announced he had deciphered and published the security code used to encrypt most of the world’s cell phone calls. Karsten Nohl said the G.S.M. (Global System for Mobile Communications) algorithm, which was developed in 1988 was still in use after 21 years, leaving 80% of mobile calls at risk. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: Have You Seen This Kid?

Our U.S. lawmakers are working on a bill in the House of Representatives to permanently ban making in-flight voice calls. The Senate version of that bill isn’t as stringent and doesn’t include the permanent ban. The Inflight Passenger Communications Coalition is of course supporting the Senate’s version of the bill. Read the rest of this entry »

Japanese humor or Quentin Tarantino’s own brand of humor? In his new cell phone ad for Softbank, Tarantino gives us multi-cultural family with a dog playing the father to advertise a plastic dog speaker attachment for a cell phone. Watch the video clip and see for yourself.
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photo credit: lecates

Lately I’ve noticed that whenever I’m on vacation I seem to forget all my responsibilities and live completely and irresponsibly in the moment. This holds true for everything ranging from taking my vitamins to checking email. It is also true for charging my cell phone.
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photo credit: Ko:(char *)hook

So you wanna have a cell phone in Costa Rica? I’d think twice about that if I were you. It’s not as easy as you may think!

When I got my first cell phone and plan in the U.S., I went to a store called GCI wireless, picked my service provider (T-Mobile) and a free phone (a cute little peanut-shaped Motorola). I was issued a number and off I went, calling all my friends and family, one after another, to shout, “I have a cell phone” in their ears. It was so easy. I wished I’d done it years before. However this is not the case in other countries!!

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