| Cell phones are no longer just phones. A large | | | | weather; convert measurements; and you can |
| majority of cell phone users only use their devices | | | | even check the status of a current flight. To |
| for calling and sending texts, but the latest cell | | | | check out all the other things you can do with |
| phones are capable of doing so much more! The | | | | Google text, search Google's site for SMS. |
| wireless industry has sought out to combine | | | | 4. Video Messaging |
| phones with other electronic devices for your | | | | Multimedia messages aren't just for sending |
| benefit. This way you won't need a backpack full | | | | pictures back and forth; they are for sending |
| of all your gadgets anytime you leave your house. | | | | videos and audio clips as well. If you have a |
| In this article I am going to touch upon several | | | | camera phone capable of video capture this is |
| features currently available in phones but either | | | | highly beneficial! Whatever important event is |
| underrated or unknown. These features may help | | | | going on, capture it on your phone and send it to |
| make your life incredibly more efficient and | | | | friends and family without any problems. |
| convenient. | | | | 5. WiFi |
| 1. Bluetooth | | | | WiFi gives you the ability to connect to wireless |
| Bluetooth is best known for the increasing | | | | networks. Whether it be hotspots or your |
| popularity of wireless earpieces. The use of | | | | wireless router at home and work, WiFi gives you |
| earpieces is becoming more popular as states | | | | faster internet access than you can get through |
| begin enforcing laws prohibiting use of phones in | | | | the cell phone towers. |
| cars without them. The state I live in doesn't | | | | This also is a free alternative to accessing the |
| have a law for this (yet), but I personally couldn't | | | | internet on your phone, unless the particular |
| drive my car and talk on the phone without a | | | | hotspot you are using charges a fee. However, |
| bluetooth (my car's a manual). It's just too difficult | | | | make absolutely certain you are using the internet |
| and unsafe. | | | | through WiFi and not your phone's internet, |
| However, this is not the only thing Bluetooth | | | | otherwise you may be charged per kilobyte. |
| technology is capable of. Quite the contrary, in | | | | 6. Memory Card Slot |
| fact. Bluetooth utilizes several "profiles" that each | | | | Similar to #2, memory cards actually do more |
| serve a unique purpose. I will touch upon each | | | | than just allow you to listen to music. You can |
| profile in another article, but I will highlight a few. | | | | store most types of files on these cards; my |
| Most bluetooth phones are capable of file transfer; | | | | personal memory card holds 3 different movies |
| in other words, sending pictures or music from | | | | that I can play on any multimedia PDA phone, |
| one phone to another without using a MMS. The | | | | along with plenty of pictures. |
| transfer is free and downloads much faster than | | | | Even if you don't use a memory card for much, |
| MMS. Also, you can purchase stereo headphones | | | | it's a good idea to supplement your phone with at |
| to listen to music on your phone (see #2). | | | | least a 1 GB card if your phone has limited space. |
| 2. MP3 Player | | | | This keeps your phone's performance optimized. |
| Don't have an iPhone but wish you could use your | | | | 7. Voice Dial |
| phone to play music? You certainly can! | | | | Some phones have voice command. Instead of |
| Any phone with some sort of memory card | | | | dialing, you can tell the phone who you want to |
| capability can be used as a MP3 player. The | | | | call, or even which application you'd like to view. |
| number of songs you can play all depends on the | | | | This can be a nice time-saving shortcut for you if |
| size of your card and the file size of each MP3. | | | | the application you need is buried in menus or if |
| One of the most recent SD formats to come | | | | you need to call someone not on your speed dial |
| out, SD High Compression (SDHC), packs a lot | | | | list. |
| more disk space in a MicroSD card and enables | | | | 8. Organizer |
| you to use cards containing 4 or 8 GB of space. | | | | Phones have a few organizer functions installed to |
| This will net you 600-1200 songs at least. | | | | make your life easier. Tools typically included are |
| Not all phones will accept the SDHC format; be | | | | to-do lists, calculators, memo pads, alarm clocks, |
| sure to check the specs of the phone before you | | | | and calendars that will remind you when |
| make the purchase. Phones that do not accept | | | | appointments are approaching. PDAs will allow you |
| SDHC should still hold up to 2 GB cards, however. | | | | to download extra organizational tools as well |
| 3. Google Text | | | | 9. GPS |
| Disclaimer: to take advantage of this feature you | | | | GPS can be found on phones in different forms. |
| will be charged for texts, so I recommend adding | | | | Some cell phone services offer a service in which |
| a text package to your plan first. | | | | you can keep track of your children by their |
| Google has set up their own texting service with | | | | phone, while others offer navigation services |
| which you can send queries and receive a | | | | when you pay a monthly subscription. Yet others |
| response within seconds. You can use it for | | | | will only utilize GPS through 911 services, so if you |
| directory assistance; translate words to other | | | | call for an emergency you can be found more |
| languages; check stock quotes, sports scores, and | | | | easily. |