How do you use your cell phone? Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a Social Media Conference and then being part of a Mommy Blogger panel. I don’t really consider myself a “Mommy Blogger” but I do like to utilize my Social Media forum to promote, get advise and converse with other parents. Representatives from Nokia were one of the speakers for the day and they spoke about reaching consumers through advertising on their cell phones. For me it truly depends on how the advertising is sent to me which will determine how I feel about the advertising. There are so many creative opportunities for companies to reach out to potential customers, why do they need to invade our cell phone space. I definitely would not like pop-up advertising on my cell phone, my cell phone bill is expensive and I would consider it a nuisance. Now if the carriers are willing to off-set the bills for their consumers if they opt-in for mobile advertising I think this could be a win win for both the carrier, and the businesses that want to reach out to cell phone users.

Ultimately, it is no secret that our mobile phones contain a significant amount of personal information and data. For instance, did you know that data taken from mobile devices can now be used as evidence in legal proceedings? Mobile devices are central to some of the most prolific technological trends including the Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, and Big Data. Moreover, it could even be argued that the increased availability of mobile technology is perhaps the main reason that these trends have been able to occur in the first place. Essentially, this also means that mobile device use is as pervasive as it is helpful, especially in the context of digital forensics. Our mobile phones amass huge quantities of data on a daily basis, and therefore this data can be extracted to facilitate legal investigations. Put simply, as a digital extension of our physical lives, mobile phones allow digital forensic investigators to glean a lot of information. If you would like to learn more about the intricate relationship between mobile phones and digital forensics, you can find plenty of useful resources on the Eide Bailly website.

That being said, the next speaker then touched on how many people use the internet on their cell phone, which leads to the discussion: How do you use your cell phone? Now for me I use my cell phone for talk time, to read my emails, send emails and a connection to my Social media world. I would not be as connected to Facebook and Twitter if they were not on my cell phone. Very rarely do I use my cell phone to connect or search on the internet. I believe this is because the Blackberry is not designed to search the internet like the Iphone. Don’t get me wrong you can search and access the internet on the blackberry, it is just very cumbersome and I like things immediately so for me I would prefer to use my laptop for my internet usage. The I-phone is designed for people who want to be on the internet all the time. I think it is an awesome tool for people who do not have a computer at home or need to research on the computer and not use the company computer to do personal work. It is great for students, people on the go and definitely for Sales People. What features are important to you when buying a cell phone? That is really what you should be considering when buying a cell phone. One vital thing we often take for granted with our phones is signal. There is nothing worse than when you need to make a phone call but have a weak signal. My friend often had this issue, but thankfully she purchased a cell booster. This helped boost the cell signal she received whilst at home.

The moderator asked Nokia about their place in the cell phone marketplace and where they place. There is the beloved I-Phone, then in second place the Android and in 3rd place the Blackberry. They have a presence outside of the United States but not really in the US, is that i mistake for them probaly. How do you make your decisions on your next phone? Do you go into the stores to preview the newest phones, are you sent an email from your carrier on the newest phones, do you see the commercial or is it word of mouth for you? I just bought the Blackberry Torch, and i found this on my own through AT&T website. I asked the customer representative which one would she recommend the I-phone or the Torch and she asked me if i sent alot of emails i told her I did and she recommended that I might be happy with the Torch. I-phone and Nokia just lost the sale. When I received the phone I did not know how to use it and I was happy when I saw the commercial on television showing me how to use the phone. If you are like me I only buy a phone when my phone is broke, then I find out that I am eligible for an upgrade, I absolutely refuse to pay full price for a phone and insist on a discount. Did you know that you should be able to get a discount on any phone especially if you have a contract with your carrier. Not only that, but the high price of mobile phones isn’t justified by the technological offerings on show. Finding appropriate Phones for hearing impaired people, or others with different disabilities, can be a real challenge. And should they be expected to pay the highest rates for a phone that they cannot utilise all of the features fully on?

I predict that cell phone rates are going to decrease tremendously in the next 2-3 years because of technology and Steve Jobs. Currently the newest I-touch can do everything that the I-phone can do in a wireless area. You can use Textnow to beat the big cell phone providers that allows you to text for free, you have talk time, skype, the internet. You will find that soon everywhere you go the area will be wireless, on the trains, buses, libraries, everywhere…… In Sag Harbor the entire Main Street area is wireless, and this is a small town, get the picture. Cell phone carriers will have to decrease the cost of the data plan because of this growing technology.

So back to my original question, “How do you use your cell phone”? I want to know….share your thoughts…..

Vanessa