Wireless phones aren't just for making calls

By Lisa Phifer

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A decade ago, cellular telephones did little more than make and receive on-the-go calls. But today's mobile phones are chock full of fun features and handy utilities.  If your mobile phone is just a few years old, you could have considerably more functionality than you realize, right under your fingertips.

Can we talk?

Mobile phones have long used address books to simplify dialing.  But today's phones also include hands-free calling features like built-in speaker phones and Bluetooth wireless headset interfaces.  A few phones use wireless Bluetooth technology to connect to a laptop. Many even support voice-command dialing, three-way conference calling and picture-based Caller ID.

Message me

Those old-fashioned voice calls are rapidly being replaced by texting – that is, using your mobile phone to send brief alphanumeric messages and/or pictures to other mobile phones.  Some phones can even exchange AOL or Yahoo! "instant messages" with laptop or desktop PC users. Check your IM's Web site for participating carriers. Check out our Introduction to Text Messaging for tips on letting your fingers do the talking.

Surf the Web

In fact, many mobile phones can now reach the Internet over cellular broadband networks or Wi-Fi hotspots.  A phone with mobile Internet capabilities will let you surf Web sites or check email right from your handset, much as you would from a PC – albeit through a much smaller screen and keyboard. Remember to enable parental controls if children are using the device.

Let's play a game

Mobile phones have grown increasingly "computer like," running utility programs like alarm clocks, calculators, calendars, and to-do lists.  Today, most phones are supplied with a few simple games.  Additional games can be downloaded to your phone for off-line play (for example, on an airplane).  Or you can use your phone's Mobile Internet access to play on-line multi-user games.

Tune in

Just about every phone can now be customized with ringtones – song fragments played whenever you receive a call or message.  You can apply ringtones supplied with your phone, download new ringtones from the Web or your PC, or record new ringtones right on your phone.  Many newer phones have expanded musical capabilities, serving as full-fledged MP3 players that can store and play back hundreds of full-length songs.

Keep me entertained

All but the most basic mobile phones are now equipped with digital cameras that let you capture, display, and send still photos and short videos.  Some newer models can even be used to watch full-motion movies and TV shows, streamed to your phone by your cellular provider or other companies that sell mobile entertainment.  Because digital photos and videos consume a lot of space, many new mobile phones can be expanded with removable storage cards to hold multiple megabytes of data.

Where am I?

Locationing is the newest hot phone feature.  Many mobile phones now include a GPS chip that can estimate your current geographic location to help emergency personnel respond to cellular 911 calls.  But GPS-capable mobile phones can also run navigation programs that supply directions and maps, designed for delivery through your phone's screen and speaker.  A growing number of cellular providers offer location-aware services – for example, notifying parents when their child strays outside a defined area, or tracking and mapping locations for a "buddy list" of mobile users.

The sky's the limit

In short, today's mobile phones are really sophisticated micro-computers, capable of running an increasingly diverse collection of programs.  Not every mobile phone offers every feature described here, but most contemporary phones do support a hefty subset.  New features and applications are being added all the time, so check with your current cellular provider to learn what you've been missing and shop carefully when purchasing your next phone.