by Crystal Shimo

Created on: January 02, 2009

If there is one thing you can count on in this world, it is the fact that everything changes. That especially goes for the cell phone industry. The first generation of cellular phones was launched in the 1980s, and were made for installation in cars at first, using only analog signals at first, they then decided to make the cellular phones a little more portable. They were still humongous though, becoming the size of a briefcase, or a brick.

In the early 1990s, the second generation of cell phones emerged. Smaller size, with technology that ran off of the digital network instead of analog. The ability to read off the digital network and the technology to create more efficient batteries and parts, allowed the cell phones to become smaller, and lighter in weight. Another introduction made with the second generation was the ability to text message on the device as well as voice communication. Download-able media content was also introduced in the second generation of cellular phones, allowing the consumer to customize their device with ring tones bought from an online store or wallpaper to show on the screen of their device.

In the mid 1990s, competitors in the industry started developing third generation technology. Attempting for faster data streams, more available content, greater memory in devices without increasing size or weight. Smart devices such as blackberries, palms, etc., were developed to assist business consumers. Allowing them to hold both a cellular device, a calendar of work events, a personal organizer, etc. in their hands, and not have to waste time over flipping through pages in a binder or flipping through a Rolodex.

The main difference between the second and third generation of devices, though, is the ability to stream media from the internet to their device, something severly lacking in second generation technology. With third generation technology, consumers are able to watch news broadcasts, replays of sports events, even a broadcast of the weather in their local area. Those with smart devices could even stream power point presentations from their devices from any computer it is synced with.

It won't be long now until one of the major cellular phone companies find a way to make third generation into fourth generation. Cellular phones that were new to the market one year ago were outdated and replaced with a "newer" version with "better" technology eight months ago. The cellular phones today could be outdated and replaced within one month.

Even with the economic recession that the world seems to be pouring into, the technology always seems to change, and change faster than the eye can see. The world depends on communication, and the faster the communication can become the better. Every cell phone company in existence will do their best to become the fastest communication source on the planet.

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