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Further enlightenment from the FBI

Updated: 28 January 2012 - 14:04 GMT

In order to keep FONEBOX.COM useful rather than gossipy, as stated on our About page, you won't find information on rumored devices here.

Governments across the world license the radio frequencies that you talk, text and surf over. The fees governments charge are huge - in the billions. Therefore the industry has to do what it can to re-coup that cost. So they will charge as much as they can for as little service.

In our view, this was a terrible idea. A better strategy would be what Western governments did in the 1950s with transport networks - they built autobahns (Germany), highways (USA) and motorways (UK) - creating the infrastructure vital to a mechanised economy. Likewise, governments should invest our taxes in constructing a high speed wireless network that offers consistent coverage and bandwidth across the nations of the world. This would benefit users, greasing the wheels of a digital economy, with the government obtaining a return through taxes.

Mobile ecommerce offers a massive economic opportunity - as proven by Apple's App Store, Amazon's offerings and more recently, the Android Market. However, even today, non WiFi high speed wireless broadband is not widespread enough and will take decades to achieve through the private sector - if ever! What is needed is a multi billion dollar/€/£ investment in a national wireless broadband infrastructure. Beyond the economic benefits, this will reduce the need to dig up every street to install wired broadband to homes and business. (For ultra high speed secure connections, fibre will still be required.)

Like any large industry (oil, food), the handset vendors are like an unofficial cartel. One decision most agreed on is that each handset will be 'knobbled' so that you, dear consumer, will always want another one when you are due for an upgrade.

Several device manufacturers also make compact cameras to they intentionally leave out features that would cripple their day job. For example, no phones on the market today include Xenon flashes and few offer dual LED flashes or an optical zoom lens. Ever noticed how all those foreign language students visiting your home town use real cameras, not phones? They know what to use to get blur free pictures!

On a related subject...

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Although most of us receive our phones at zero or little cost, they are in fact expensive - as you can tell if you check out eBay or Pay As You Go and reduced tarriff calling plans offered by the carriers. Your do it all mobile is a pocket computer, taking on the role of the multiple devices of yesteryear. (Sadly, still no shaverphone - yet!) Your carrier and retailer therefore will offer the device that offers them the largest profit margin. And like USB cables and memory cards, the lower cost devices sometimes provide the highest margins.

If a manufacturer, retailer or online reseller has invested in a large number of phones - in particular of a specific model that they expect(ed) to be popular - they will want to unload that stock before any other more capable device is made available. Sadly, while you may want the latest hot phone hyped on an industry blog, if its predecessor is still sitting in a warehouse, you may have to wait a little.

Unlike cars that tend to get the job done (get you from A to B!) if they are in fairly good condition no matter their age, aging mobile phones become useless(1) fairly quickly due to the rapid advancements in technology that far exceed the pace of change in other industries - automotive included. While a vendor may want to sell you the latest toy, if they have spent a fortune on a prior model they need to recoup their investment.

The solution to this is often expensive, you track down a store - often online - that specialises in high spec unlocked handsets, or hit eBay.

Trusted sources of unlocked devices that may not be widely available on the high street (yet):

Global

UK

Know of a reputable supplier in your country or area? Feel free to get in touch.

You have no doubt read countless articles claiming that mobile phones may or may not cause harm to (and even cancer in) humans - and other species. For example, researchers in India have recently proven there is a danger.

Based on our own inside knowledge and common sense science, (not media hearsay), the truth is as follows - and only time will provide rock solid evidence: Any device that emits radio waves at specific frequencies will effect organic materials in the vicinity. What the effect is and how damaging it is all depends on the frequency, proximity and strength of the radiation, and the length of time living tissue is exposed to it. WiFi transmitters emit much stronger radio waves than mobile devices and in fact, there are individuals and schools that forbid WiFi devices in their vicinity.

Almost everything (we like!) is bad for us in excess or without protection, however, where we at FONEBOX.COM see a problem is that unlike the obvious harm from consuming too much chocolate, smoking or other such pleasures, the wireless industry has done little to get the facts across in an clear honest manner. There is an industry standard method to measure device radiation, the SAR rating, however very little predominance is given to this on device specifications when promoted. We believe that the more open the industry is, the less concerned consumers will be - they can make a informed decision.

Protection

A Bluetooth headset helps reduce the amount of radiation bombarding your bodily parts because by it's nature, Bluetooth uses and therefore emits very little power. Wired headsets can in some circumstances actually amplify the radiation. Whichever type of headset you use, males of the species should avoid putting their phone in their pocket whilst on lengthy calls. Ideally, hold it in your hand - or if driving, use a phone mount.

With the young finding Bluetooth headsets 'uncool', children should be encouraged to keep their calls short or use text messaging /BBM - as most already do!