Different communication methods

• Text Message / SMS

• WAP Wireless Application Protocol
• GPRS
• Bluetooth
• WLAN / Wifi
• IrDA

Short Message Service (SMS) is a service available on most digital mobile phones,
other mobile devices (e.g. a Pocket PC, or occasionally even desktop computers) and
some fixed phones, that permits the sending of short messages between mobile phones,
other handheld devices and even landline telephones

Wireless Application Protocol or WAP is an open international standard for applications

that use wireless communication. Its principal application is to enable access to the
Internet from a mobile phone or PDA.

A WAP browser is to provide all of the basic services of a computer based web browser
but simplified to operate within the restrictions of a mobile phone. WAP is now the
protocol used for the majority of the world's mobile internet sites, known as WAP sites.
The Japanese i-mode system is currently the only other major competing wireless data
protocol.

Mobile internet sites, or WAP sites, are websites written in, or dynamically converted to,
WML (Wireless Markup Language) and accessed via the WAP browser.

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a mobile data service available to users of
GSM
GPRS can be utilized for services such as WAP access, SMS and MMS, but also for
Internet communication services such as email and web access. In the future, it is
expected that low cost voice over IP will be made available in cell phones.
GPRS is packet-switched which means that multiple users share the same transmission
channel
Bluetooth is an industrial specification for wireless personal area networks (PANs).
Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices such as
mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras, and video game consoles over a
secure, globally unlicensed short-range radio frequency.

Bluetooth is a radio standard and communications protocol primarily designed for low
power consumption, with a short range (power-class-dependent: 1 metre, 10 metres, 100
metres) based on low-cost transceiver microchips in each device.

Wi-Fi uses the same radio frequencies as Bluetooth, but with higher power consumption
resulting in a stronger connection. As mentioned earlier, Wi-Fi is sometimes, but rarely,
called "wireless Ethernet." Although this description is inaccurate, it provides an
indication of Wi-Fi's relative strengths and weaknesses. Wi-Fi requires more setup, but is
better suited for operating full-scale networks because it enables a faster connection,
better range from the base station, and better security than Bluetooth

The Infrared Data Association (IrDA) defines physical specifications communications

protocol standards for the short range exchange of data over infrared light, for uses such
as personal area networks (PANs).

[edit] Evolution
First generation: Almost all of the systems from this generation were analog systems
where voice was considered to be the main traffic. These systems could often be listened
to by third parties. some of the standards are NMT, AMPS, Hicap, CDPD, Mobitex,
DataTac

Second generation: All the standards belonging to this generation are commercial
centric and they are digital in form. Around 60% of the current market is dominated by
European standards. The second generation standards are GSM, iDEN, D-AMPS, IS-95,
PDC, CSD, PHS, GPRS, HSCSD, WiDEN and CDMA2000 (1xRTT/IS-2000).
Third generation: To meet the growing demands in the number of subscribers (increase
in network capacity), rates required for high speed data transfer and multimedia
applications 3G standards started evolving. The systems in this standard are basically a
linear enhancement of 2G systems. They are based on two parallel backbone
infrastructures, one consisting of circuit switched nodes, and one of packet oriented
nodes. Currently, transition is happening from 2G to 3G systems. Some of the 3G
standards are EDGE and EGPRS (sometimes denoted 2.75G), W-CDMA or UMTS
(3GSM), FOMA, 1xEV-DO/IS-856, TD-SCDMA, GAN/UMA, 3.5G - HSDPA, 3.75G -
HSUPA. The ITU defines a specific set of air interface technologies as third generation,
as part of the IMT-2000 initiative.

Fourth generation: According to 4G working groups, the infrastructure and the

terminals will have almost all the standards from 2G to 3G implemented. The
infrastructure will however only be packet based, all-IP. The system will also serve as an
open platform where the new innovations can go with it. Some of the standards which
pave the way for 4G systems are WiMax, WiBro, and the proposed 3GPP Long Term
Evolution work-in-progress technologies such as HSOPA.

GSM
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM: originally from Groupe
Spécial Mobile) is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world. GSM
service is used by over 2 billion people across more than 212 countries and territories.[1][2]
The ubiquity of the GSM standard makes international roaming very common between
mobile phone operators, enabling subscribers to use their phones in many parts of the
world. GSM differs significantly from its predecessors in that both signaling and speech
channels are Digital call quality, which means that it is considered a second generation
(2G) mobile phone system. This fact has also meant that data communication was built
into the system from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

From the point of view of the consumers, the key advantage of GSM systems has been
higher digital voice quality and low cost alternatives to making calls such as text
messaging. The advantage for network operators has been the ability to deploy equipment
from different vendors because the open standard allows easy inter-operability.[3] Like
other cellular standards GSM allows network operators to offer roaming services which
mean subscribers can use their phones all over the world
2G

[edit] Advantages

Digital systems were embraced by consumers for several reasons.

• The lower powered radio signals require less battery power, so phones last much
longer between charges, and batteries can be smaller.
• The digital voice encoding allowed digital error checking which could increase
sound quality by reducing dynamic and lowering the noise floor.
• The lower power emissions helped address health concerns.
• Going all-digital allowed for the introduction of digital data services, such as
SMS and email.

2.5G is a stepping stone between 2G and 3G cellular wireless technologies. The term
"second and a half generation" is used to describe 2G-systems that have implemented a
packet switched domain in addition to the circuit switched domain

3G

3G (or 3-G) is short for third-generation technology. It is used in the context of mobile
phone standards. The services associated with 3G provide the ability to transfer
simultaneously both voice data (a telephone call) and non-voice data (such as
downloading information, exchanging email, and instant messaging). In marketing 3G
services, video telephony has often been used as the killer application for 3G.

4G (or 4-G) is short for fourth-generation cellular communication system. There is no

set definition to what 4G is, however the features that are predicted for 4G can be
summarized in a single sentence.

The 4G will be a fully IP-based integrated system of systems and network of networks achieved
after the convergence of wired and wireless networks as well as computer, consumer electronics,
communication technology, and several other convergences that will be capable of providing 100
Mbps and 1Gbps, respectively, in outdoor and indoor environments with end-to-end QoS and
high security, offering any kind of services anytime, anywhere, at affordable cost and one
billing.[1]
Cell Phone Tracking is a technology used to track the current position of a cell phone.
To locate the phone, it must be turned on but does not require an active call.

In order to route calls to your phone the cell towers listen for a signal sent from the phone
and negotiate which tower is best able to communicate with the phone. As the phone
changes location, the towers monitor the signal and the phone is switched to a different
tower as appropriate. By comparing the relative signal strength from multiple towers a
general location of a phone can be determined.

Tracking by is available for uploading this information to a common web site where your
"friends and family" can view your last reported position.

Newer phones may have built-in GPS receivers which could be used in a similar fashion,
but with much higher accuracy.

Some newer phones and technology may also allow the tracking of the phone even when
turned off. Also, phones can have secondary batteries installed to allow tracking even if
the battery is removed.

Code division multiple access (CDMA) is a form of multiplexing and a method of

multiple access that divides up a radio channel not by time (as in time division multiple
access), nor by frequency (as in frequency-division multiple access), but instead by using
different pseudo-random code sequences for each user. CDMA is a form of "spread-
spectrum" signalling, since the modulated coded signal has a much higher bandwidth
than the data being communicated.

Mobile phones and the network they operate under vary significantly from provider to
provider, and nation to nation. However, all of them communicate through
electromagnetic microwaves with a cell site base station, the antennas of which are
usually mounted on a tower, pole, or building.

The phones have a low-power transceiver that transmits voice and data to the nearest cell
sites, usually not more than 5 to 8 miles (approximately 8 to 13 kilometres) away. When
the mobile phone or data device is turned on, it registers with the mobile telephone
exchange, or switch, with its unique identifiers, and will then be alerted by the mobile
switch when there is an incoming telephone call. The handset constantly listens for the
strongest signal being received from the surrounding base stations. As the user moves
around the network, the mobile device will "handoff" to various cell sites during calls, or
while waiting (idle) between calls it will reselect cell sites.

Cell sites have relatively low-power (often only one or two watts) radio transmitters
which broadcast their presence and relay communications between the mobile handsets
and the switch. The switch in turn connects the call to another subscriber of the same
wireless service provider or to the public telephone network, which includes the networks
of other wireless carriers. Many of these sites are camouflaged to blend with existing
environments, particularly in high-scenery areas.