Key Points

1. Why is there concern that cell phones may cause cancer or other health problems?

   There are three main reasons why people are concerned that cell phones (also known as “wireless” or “mobile” telephones) might have the potential to cause certain types of cancer or other health problems:

   • Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy (radio waves), a form of non-ionizing radiation. Tissues nearest to where the phone is held can absorb this energy.
   • The number of cell phone users has increased rapidly. As of 2010, there were more than 303 million subscribers to cell phone service in the United States, according to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association. This is a nearly threefold increase from the 110 million users in 2000. Globally, the number of cell phone subscriptions is estimated by the International Telecommunications Union to be 5 billion.
   • Over time, the number of cell phone calls per day, the length of each call, and the amount of time people use cell phones have increased. Cell phone technology has also undergone substantial changes.
2. What is radiofrequency energy and how does it affect the body?

   Radiofrequency energy is a form of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation can be categorized into two types: ionizing (e.g., x-rays, radon, and cosmic rays) and non-ionizing (e.g., radiofrequency and extremely low-frequency or power frequency) (1).

   Exposure to ionizing radiation, such as from radiation therapy, is known to increase the risk of cancer. However, although many studies have examined the potential health effects of non-ionizing radiation from radar, microwave ovens, and other sources, there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk (1).

   The only known biological effect of radiofrequency energy is heating. The ability of microwave ovens to heat food is one example of this effect of radiofrequency energy. Radiofrequency exposure from cell phone use does cause heating; however, it is not sufficient to measurably increase body temperature.

   A recent study showed that when people used a cell phone for 50 minutes, brain tissues on the same side of the head as the phone’s antenna metabolized more glucose than did tissues on the opposite side of the brain (2). The researchers noted that the results are preliminary, and possible health outcomes from this increase in glucose metabolism are still unknown.

3. How is radiofrequency energy exposure measured in epidemiologic studies?

   Levels of radiofrequency exposure are indirectly estimated using information from interviews or questionnaires. These measures include the following:

   • How “regularly” study participants use cell phones (the minimum number of calls per week or month)
   • The age and the year when study participants first used a cell phone and the age and the year of last use (allows calculation of the duration of use and time since the start of use)
   • The average number of cell phone calls per day, week, or month (frequency)
   • The average length of a typical cell phone call
   • The total hours of lifetime use, calculated from the length of typical call times, the frequency of use, and the duration of use
4. What has research shown about the possible cancer-causing effects of radiofrequency energy?

   Although there have been some concerns that radiofrequency energy from cell phones held closely to the head may affect the brain and other tissues, to date there is no evidence from studies of cells, animals, or humans that radiofrequency energy can cause cancer.

   It is generally accepted that damage to DNA is necessary for cancer to develop. However, radiofrequency energy, unlike ionizing radiation, does not cause DNA damage in cells, and it has not been found to cause cancer in animals or to enhance the cancer-causing effects of known chemical carcinogens in animals (3–5).

   Researchers have carried out several types of epidemiologic studies to investigate the possibility of a relationship between cell phone use and the risk of malignant (cancerous) brain tumors, such as gliomas, as well as benign (noncancerous) tumors, such as acoustic neuromas (tumors in the cells of the nerve responsible for hearing), most meningiomas (tumors in the meninges, membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord), and parotid gland tumors (tumors in the salivary glands) (6).

   In one type of study, called a case-control study, cell phone use is compared between people with these types of tumors and people without them. In another type of study, called a cohort study, a large group of people is followed over time and the rate of these tumors in people who did and didn’t use cell phones is compared. Cancer incidence data can also be analyzed over time to see if the rates of cancer changed in large populations during the time that cell phone use increased dramatically. The results of these studies have generally not provided clear evidence of a relationship between cell phone use and cancer, but there have been some statistically significant findings in certain subgroups of people.

   Findings from specific research studies are summarized below:

   • The Interphone Study, conducted by a consortium of researchers from 13 countries, is the largest health-related case-control study of use of cell phones and head and neck tumors. Most published analyses from this study have shown no statistically significant increases in brain or central nervous system cancers related to higher amounts of cell phone use. One recent analysis showed a statistically significant, albeit modest, increase in the risk of glioma among the small proportion of study participants who spent the most total time on cell phone calls. However, the researchers considered this finding inconclusive because they felt that the amount of use reported by some respondents was unlikely and because the participants who reported lower levels of use appeared to have a reduced risk of brain cancer (7–9). Another recent study from the group found no relationship between brain tumor locations and regions of the brain that were exposed to the highest level of radiofrequency energy from cell phones (10).
   • A cohort study in Denmark linked billing information from more than 420,000 cell phone subscribers with brain tumor incidence data from the Danish Cancer Registry. The analyses found no association between cell phone use and the incidence of glioma, meningioma, or acoustic neuroma, even among people who had been cell phone subscribers for 10 or more years (11–13).
   • Early case-control studies in the United States, Europe, and Japan were unable to demonstrate a relationship between cell phone use and glioma or meningioma (14).
   • Some case-control studies in Sweden found statistically significant trends of increasing brain cancer risk for the total amount of cell phone use and the years of use among people who began using cell phones before age 20 (15). However, another large, case-control study in Sweden did not find an increased risk of brain cancer among people between the ages of 20 and 69 (16). In addition, the international CEFALO study, which compared children who were diagnosed with brain cancer between ages 7 and 19 with similar children who were not, found no relationship between their cell phone use and risk for brain cancer (17).
   • NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, which tracks cancer incidence in the United States over time, found no increase in the incidence of brain or other central nervous system cancers between 1987 and 2007, despite the dramatic increase in cell phone use in this country during that time (18). Similarly, incidence data from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden for the period 1974–2003 revealed no increase in age-adjusted incidence of brain tumors (19).
   • Studies of workers exposed to radiofrequency energy have shown no evidence of increased risk of brain tumors among U.S. Navy electronics technicians, aviation technicians, or fire control technicians, those working in an electromagnetic pulse test program, plastic-ware workers, cellular phone manufacturing workers, or Navy personnel with a high probability of exposure to radar (6).
5. Why are the findings from different studies of cell phone use and cancer risk inconsistent?

   A limited number of studies have shown some evidence of statistical association of cell phone use and brain tumor risks, but most studies have found no association. Reasons for these discrepancies include the following:

   • Recall bias, which may happen when a study collects data about prior habits and exposures using questionnaires administered after disease has been diagnosed in some of the study participants. It is possible that study participants who have brain tumors may remember their cell phone use differently than individuals without brain tumors. Many epidemiologic studies of cell phone use and brain cancer risk lack verifiable data about the total amount of cell phone use over time. In addition, people who develop a brain tumor may have a tendency to recall using their cell phone mostly on the same side of their head where the tumor was found, regardless of whether they actually used their phone on that side of their head a lot or only a little.
   • Inaccurate reporting, which may happen when people say that something has happened more or less often than it actually did. People may not remember how much they used cell phones in a given time period.
   • Morbidity and mortality among study participants who have brain cancer. Gliomas are particularly difficult to study, for example, because of their high death rate and the short survival of people who develop these tumors. Patients who survive initial treatment are often impaired, which may affect their responses to questions. Furthermore, for people who have died, next-of-kin are often less familiar with the cell phone use patterns of their deceased family member and may not accurately describe their patterns of use to an interviewer.
   • Participation bias, which can happen when people who are diagnosed with brain tumors are more likely than healthy people (known as controls) to enroll in a research study. Also, controls who did not or rarely used cell phones were less likely to participate in the Interphone study than controls who used cell phones regularly. For example, the Interphone study reported participation rates of 78 percent for meningioma patients (range 56–92 percent for the individual studies), 64 percent for the glioma patients (range 36–92 percent), and 53 percent for control subjects (range 42–74 percent) (9). One series of Swedish studies reported participation rates of 85 percent in people with brain cancer and 84 percent in control subjects (15).
   • Changing technology and methods of use. Older studies evaluated radiofrequency energy exposure from analog cell phones. However, most cell phones today use digital technology, which operates at a different frequency and a lower power level than analog phones. Digital cell phones have been in use for more than a decade in the United States, and cellular technology continues to change (6). Texting, for example, has become a popular way of using a cell phone to communicate that does not require bringing the phone close to the head. Furthermore, the use of hands-free technology, such as wired and wireless headsets, is increasing and may decrease radiofrequency energy exposure to the head and brain.
6. What do expert organizations conclude?

   The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a component of the World Health Organization, has recently classified radiofrequency fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” based on limited evidence from human studies, limited evidence from studies of radiofrequency energy and cancer in rodents, and weak mechanistic evidence (from studies of genotoxicity, effects on immune system function, gene and protein expression, cell signaling, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, along with studies of the possible effects of radiofrequency energy on the blood-brain barrier).

   The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that the IARC classification means that there could be some risk associated with cancer, but the evidence is not strong enough to be considered causal and needs to be investigated further. Individuals who are concerned about radiofrequency exposure can limit their exposure, including using an ear piece and limiting cell phone use, particularly among children.

   The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) states that the weight of the current scientific evidence has not conclusively linked cell phone use with any adverse health problems, but more research is needed.

   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for regulating the safety of machines and devices that emit radiation (including cell phones), notes that studies reporting biological changes associated with radiofrequency energy have failed to be replicated and that the majority of human epidemiologic studies have failed to show a relationship between exposure to radiofrequency energy from cell phones and health problems.

   The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that, although some studies have raised concerns about the possible risks of cell phone use, scientific research as a whole does not support a statistically significant association between cell phone use and health effects.

   The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concludes that there is no scientific evidence that wireless phone use can lead to cancer or to other health problems, including headaches, dizziness, or memory loss.

7. What studies are under way that will help further our understanding of the health effects of cell phone use?

   A large prospective cohort study of cell phone use and its possible long-term health effects was launched in Europe in March 2010. This study, known as COSMOS, will enroll approximately 250,000 cell phone users ages 18 or older and will follow them for 20 to 30 years.

   Participants in COSMOS will complete a questionnaire about their health, lifestyle, and current and past cell phone use. This information will be supplemented with information from health records and cell phone records.

   Another case-control study, called Mobi-Kids, is under way to examine health effects among children.

   The challenge of such ambitious studies is to maintain the completeness of their cohorts over many decades. Researchers will need to determine whether participants who leave are somehow different from those who remain throughout the follow-up period.

   Although recall bias is minimized in studies that link to cell phone records, such studies face other problems. For example, it is impossible to know who is using the listed cell phone or whether that individual also places calls using other cell phones. To a lesser extent, it is not clear whether multiple users of a single phone will be represented on a single bill.

   The NIEHS, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, is carrying out a study of risks related to exposure to radiofrequency energy (the type used in cell phones) in highly specialized labs that can specify and control sources of radiation and measure their effects on rodents.

8. Do children have a higher risk of developing cancer due to cell phone use than adults?

   In theory, children have the potential to be at greater risk than adults for developing brain cancer from cell phones. Their nervous systems are still developing and therefore more vulnerable to factors that may cause cancer. Their heads are smaller than those of adults and therefore have a greater proportional exposure to the field of radiofrequency radiation that is emitted by cell phones. And children have the potential of accumulating more years of cell phone exposure than adults do.

   So far, the data from clinical studies in children do not support this theory. The first published analysis came from a large case-control study called CEFALO, which was conducted in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. The study included children who were diagnosed with brain tumors between 2004 and 2008, when their ages ranged from 7 to 19. Researchers did not find an association between cell phone use and brain tumor risk in this group of children. However, they noted that their results did not rule out the possibility of a slight increase in brain cancer risk among children who use cell phones, and that data gathered through prospective studies and objective measurements, rather than participant surveys and recollections, will be key in clarifying whether there is an increased risk (17).

   Researchers from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Spain are conducting another international study—Mobi-Kids—to evaluate the risk associated with new communications technologies (including cell phones) and other environmental factors in young people ages 10 to 24.

9. What can cell phone users do to reduce their exposure to radiofrequency energy?

   The FDA and FCC have suggested some steps that concerned cell phone users can take to reduce their exposure to radiofrequency energy (1, 20):

   • Reserve the use of cell phones for shorter conversations or for times when a landline phone is not available.
   • Use a hands-free device, which places more distance between the phone and the head of the user.

   Hands-free kits reduce the amount of radiofrequency energy exposure to the head because the antenna, which is the source of energy, is not placed against the head.

10. Where can I find more information about radiofrequency energy from my cell phone?

    The FCC provides information about the specific absorption rate (SAR) of cell phones produced and marketed within the last 1 to 2 years. The SAR corresponds with the relative amount of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the head of a cell phone user (21). Consumers can access this information using the phone’s FCC ID number, which is usually located on the case of the phone, and the FCC’s ID search form.

11. What are other sources of radiofrequency energy?

    The most common exposures to radiofrequency energy are from telecommunications devices and equipment (1). In the United States, cell phones currently operate in a frequency range of about 1,800 to 2,200 megahertz (MHz) (6). In this range, the electromagnetic radiation produced is in the form of non-ionizing radiofrequency energy.

    Cordless phones (phones that have a base unit connected to the telephone wiring in a house) often operate at radio frequencies similar to those of cell phones; however, since cordless phones have a limited range and require a nearby base, their signals are generally much less powerful than those of cell phones.

    Among other radiofrequency energy sources, AM/FM radios and VHF/UHF televisions operate at lower radio frequencies than cell phones, whereas sources such as radar, satellite stations, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, industrial equipment, and microwave ovens operate at somewhat higher radio frequencies (1).

12. How common is brain cancer? Has the incidence of brain cancer changed over time?

    Brain cancer incidence and mortality (death) rates have changed little in the past decade. In the United States, 22,340 new diagnoses and 13,110 deaths from brain cancer are estimated for 2011.

    The 5-year relative survival for brain cancers diagnosed from 2001 through 2007 was 34.8 percent (22). This is the percentage of people diagnosed with brain cancer who will still be alive 5 years after diagnosis compared with the survival of a person of the same age and sex who does not have cancer.

    The risk of developing brain cancer increases with age. From 2000 through 2008, there were fewer than 5 brain cancer cases for every 100,000 people in the United States under age 65, compared with approximately 19 cases for every 100,000 people in the United States who were ages 65 or older (22).

Selected References

1. Volkow ND, Tomasi D, Wang GJ, et al. Effects of cell phone radiofrequency signal exposure on brain glucose metabolism. JAMA 2011; 305(8):808–813. [PubMed Abstract]
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2009). Radiation-Emitting Products: Reducing Exposure: Hands-free Kits and Other Accessories. Silver Spring, MD. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
3. Hirose H, Suhara T, Kaji N, et al. Mobile phone base station radiation does not affect neoplastic transformation in BALB/3T3 cells. Bioelectromagnetics 2008; 29(1):55–64. [PubMed Abstract]
4. Oberto G, Rolfo K, Carbonatto M, et al. Carcinogenicity study of 217 Hz pulsed electromagnetic fields in Pim1 transgenic mice. Radiation Research 2007; 168(3):316–326. [PubMed Abstract]
5. Zook BC, Simmens SJ. The effects of pulsed 860 MHz radiofrequency radiation on the promotion of neurogenic tumors in rats. Radiation Research 2006; 165(5):608–615. [PubMed Abstract]
6. Ahlbom A, Green A, Kheifets L, et al. Epidemiology of health effects of radiofrequency exposure. Environmental Health Perspectives 2004; 112(17):1741–1754. [PubMed Abstract]
7. Cardis E, Richardson L, Deltour I, et al. The INTERPHONE study: design, epidemiological methods, and description of the study population. European Journal of Epidemiology 2007; 22(9):647–664. [PubMed Abstract]
8. International Agency for Research on Cancer (2008). INTERPHONE Study: latest results update—8 October 2008. Lyon, France. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
9. The INTERPHONE Study Group. Brain tumour risk in relation to mobile telephone use: results of the INTERPHONE international case-control study. International Journal of Epidemiology 2010; 39(3):675–694. [PubMed Abstract]
10. Larjavaara S, Schüz J, Swerdlow A, et al. Location of gliomas in relation to mobile telephone use: a case-case and case-specular analysis. American Journal of Epidemiology 2011; 174(1):2–11. [PubMed Abstract]
11. Johansen C, Boice Jr. JD, McLaughlin JK, Olsen JH. Cellular telephones and cancer: a nationwide cohort study in Denmark. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2001; 93(3):203–207. [PubMed Abstract]
12. Schüz J, Jacobsen R, Olsen JH, et al. Cellular telephone use and cancer risk: update of a nationwide Danish cohort. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2006; 98(23):1707–1713. [PubMed Abstract]
13. Frei P, Poulsen AH, Johansen C, et al. Use of mobile phones and risk of brain tumours: update of Danish cohort study. British Medical Journal 2011; DOI: 10.1136/bmj.d6387. [Abstract]
14. Muscat JE, Malkin MG, Thompson S, et al. Handheld cellular telephone use and risk of brain cancer. JAMA 2000; 284(23):3001–3007. [PubMed Abstract]
15. Hardell L, Carlberg M, Hansson Mild K. Pooled analysis of case-control studies on malignant brain tumours and the use of mobile and cordless phones including living and deceased subjects. International Journal of Oncology 2011; 38(5):1465–1474. [PubMed Abstract]
16. Lonn S, Ahlbom A, Hall P, Feychting M. Long-term mobile phone use and brain tumor risk. American Journal of Epidemiology 2005; 161(6):526–535. [PubMed Abstract]
17. Aydin D, Feychting M, Schüz J, et al. Mobile phone use and brain tumors in children and adolescents: a multicenter case-control study. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2011; 103:1–13. [PubMed Abstract]
18. Inskip PD, Hoover RN, Devesa SS. Brain cancer incidence trends in relation to cellular telephone use in the United States. Neuro-Oncology 2010; 12(11):1147–1151. [PubMed Abstract]
19. Deltour I, Johansen C, Auvinen A, et al. Time trends in brain tumor incidence rates in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, 1974–2003. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2009; 101(24):1721–1724.[PubMed Abstract]
20. U.S. Federal Communications Commission (2010). Wireless. Washington, D.C. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
21. U.S. Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). FCC Encyclopedia: Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for Cellular Telephones. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
22. Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, et al. (2011). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2008. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Retrieved October 20, 2011.

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There is no answer for those who ask “What’s the best cell phone out right now?”. It depends completely on the individual. Many people own phones right now with capabilities they will never use or even know about. They bought it because the sales person gave them an answer to the best phone question and that answer was commission-based and wrong. Consider what you are going to be using you cell phone for.

Best Deal- You want the best phone for your buck.

Samsung Focus

This is one of the few Windows Phone 7 devices on the list, but with a 4 inch AMOLED screen, 8 Gigs onboard and all the bells for $49.99 with a new contract, this phone makes the list. The Focus is the thinnest and lightest of the Windows Phone 7 devices. Though some people have described the platform itself as having a child-like feel, most find it enjoyably simplistic and manageable.  Those that think it’s more like a child’s play thing, just continue right on down the list.

HTC Inspire

This phone gives you a beautiful and large touch screen, runs Adobe Flash on the Android 2.2 platform, has a 1 Gig processor and an 8 megapixel camera capable of shooting 720p HD video. It also has a LED flash. It gives you all the fun toys and 6 hours of talk time on one single charge. It also comes with a social networking platform called Friend Stream, which lets you share on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. You can also watch movies or sports and experience the devices Dolby + SRS Surround.

The phone doesn’t come with a whole lot of internal space compared to most smartphones. It weighs in with only 4 GB of internal and an 8 GB microSD card. Before you start scoffing at it, the card is included. Start off with that and see if you need to swap that 8 out for a 32 GB microSD later on. This is also one of the only phones in this category that gives you a huge multimedia smartphone and the ability to join the 4G network speed. With a new contract you get this Inspire 4G for $99. Now, if you would prefer a service contract with Sprint, the HTC EVO 4G is a more than comparable device at the same price.

iPhone 3GS

The boys at AT&T and Apple decided that the iphone 3GS was on the out. What better way to get rid of the units and still make some green on service plans? If you don’t want to pay the $200 to $300 for the new iPhone 4, this is the perfect deal for you. You get most of the apps, all of the functionality (minus FaceTime), and you still get the 3G network speed and all of the advantages of the iOS 4 update.

The 3 MP camera will probably not dissuade too many people from the rest of the device. People bought this model for design, usability, and function. True the processor looks lackluster when compared to the successor, but that’s why they made it a deal.

It has been claimed that this device can run 10 hours of video stream, 9 of web browsing, and 12 hours 2G or 5 hours 3G network talk time. Import your itunes library and listen to music from this iPhone for around 30 hours too.

All in all, it’s the best of both worlds when it comes to having an Apple mobile device and not spending hundreds. If the specs fall short, try the Samsung Focus or refurbished iPhone 4s instead.

Lowest Price-You want the absolute lowest price you can get.

Pretty much every service provider will offer a phone completely free once you subscribe to a service contract. When you go this route, make sure to shop around on the service plans. When they give a phone away for free, they will be trying to make up for the cost of the device in the price and capacity of the plan itself.

Tech- You want a phone loaded to the nines with features and toys.

Droid X2

The original Droid X phone was hailed as the Android answer to the iPhone. The newest version possesses the same feel, with more pump. It improved upon the original formula of its predecessor with a dual-core processor and a higher-quality display. The original phone had a single one gig CPU, there this one now sports two, and it has a 8 MP camera with 720p video compatibility. It also has 8 gigs of storage space internally and 512 MB of RAM.

The screen size is great for multimedia and web browsing at 4.3 inches and 540 to 960 pixel resolution. The DROID X2 can also power full 1080p HD from a connected HDMI cable on to a 55 inch LED television with no problem.

Many might find the phone lacks an incentive for purchase because it lacks the 4G capability. It is just as fast without it. The only thing that could be considered an issue for this full screen smartphone is its weight compared to other phones in the category. Decide for yourself if it’s too heavy for your use.

Samsung Infuse

This Samsung is almost a mini-tablet. So if you are looking for the “King of the Screen” with a 4.5 inch display with is AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode). Despite the sheer size and vivid nature of the screen, the phone was also Samsung’s thinnest smartphone at 9mm until the release of the Galaxy S II. The company claims it is the nation’s thinnest 4G phone.

It comes stocked with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and the Samsung Media Hub, which lets you make the best of this media-on-the-go juggernaut. A touch screen is an obvious must on this nothing-but-screen smartphone, but the 1.2 GHz processor and 4G enabled features are the guts that let those movies or videos stream. It can also take intensely detailed photos with a 8 MP camera, even in very low light, as it has a LED flash. This means you can effectively shoot 720p HD videos. A 1.3 MP camera is front facing for video chatting. On the spec front the phone breaks down to an estimated 8 hours of talk time on the battery life, has Bluetooth and WI-FI, and an onboard memory that looks like this: 16GB ROM: 512MB RAM:512MB. It also weighs around 4.5 ounces.

iPhone 4

It would seem that the hype and market presence deem this smartphone the reigning champ of the list, but it was not without its controversy when it first launched. No Phone has been reviewed or publicized as much as this device. Still, there is a reason it is this phone is still selling like crazy months after its debut at Verizon and a year after its At&T release. Let’s look at why.

Even though there are rumors of the new iPhone to be released in the fall, the iPhone 4 has still taken the why consumers embrace mobile communication to the next level. The FaceTime feature and front facing camera gave the device added functionality. The rear-facing camera operates at 5 MP and is capable of shooting 720p HD video.

The retina display on the screen of the new iPhone is quite impressive itself. Apple engineers were able to pack 326 pixels into every inch of the screens area, at 960 x 640 resolution. It is also slightly slimmer than the previous generation.

The design alone has set this phone apart and has inspired others to use it as a template. On the inside the Apple A4 chip allows for multitasking while saving on the battery life, while the three axis gyroscope sensors allow for motion gesture gaming and active screen orientation adjustments.

BlackBerry Torch 9800

This is specifically for those who don’t want to choose between a fully QWERTY keyboard and a touch screen. It is also for those who had other Blackberries like the Curve, Bold, or Pearl. Many would say that Blackberry’s time has since passed. Though it may be true that Android smart phones are outselling RIM’s Devices, there is still something to be said for the tech. It meshes the new with the old and makes it very user friendly to those in the business world who want to keep that same feel.

The phone is racked out with 8 Gigs of memory and can be expanded out to 32. The touch screen gives the pinch and zoom feel, but you also have the full slide-out keyboard and an improved trackball. The phone has 480×360 pixels over 3.2 inches of screen which is proximity-detecting and light-sensing. The phone also has a 5 megapixel camera with a 2x zoom, not exceptionally noteworthy by industry standards, but better than many and the device has a impressive flash. The BlackBerry 6 OS also gives a better music player and the battery life gives almost 6 hours of talk time or 30 hours of music.

Newest- You want the next greatest thing in the world of cell phones.

Galaxy S II

Samsung seems to know their way around making a large touch-screened phone. The new Galaxy is no exception. It comes in with a 4.3 inch SUPER AMOLED PLUS display, which goes a noticeable step beyond the other model’s SUPER AMOLED. Contrast ratios, separations, and resolutions astound in any light.

Samsung boasts the device gives a PC-Like web browsing experience and comes Adobe Flash Player ready. The device is a dual-core powered by the 1 GHz Exynos 4210 and the Android 2.3 platform.

Droid

Way back in 2009 this phone’s predecessor was launched as the world’s answer to the iPhone. The original device was a slate-slinding smartphone with a full QWERTY keypad. Today a new line breaks the monotony. The Droid X2 is for those who want the extreme screen multimedia route. The device has a 4.3 qHD with 960×540 resolution. It has a dual-core 1GHz processor and an 8 megapixel camera, dual LED flash, autofocus, and can shoot 720p HD video and is HDMI compatible. It can also double as a mobile hotspot for up to 5 devices. The Droid 3 still mirrors the original with a slide out 5-row keyboard, but this time it’s the thinnest full QWERTY smartphone “ever”. It is different from the X2 in that it has the keyboard and can shoot HD video in full 1080p and has a front facing camera as well for video chat.

The newest addition to the line is the Droid Charge. This is the only Droid smartphone to carry 4G LTE network capability and is not made by Motorola, but rather Samsung. It is powered by a Cortex A8 1GHz processor. It still has a 4.3 AMOLED 480×800 display and a 1Ghz processor. The phone’s front camera only weights in at a 1.3 megapixels, but this is probably all one needs to carry on a video chat (Compare to the iPhone 4’s VGA front-facing at 1/3 of a megapixel.). It still has an 8 MP camera rear-facing that shoots 720p. It comes with only 2GB of onboard memory, but also 32Gb onto a pre-installed microSD card. It can also support up to 10 wireless devices as a mobile hotspot.

LG Optimus 3D P920

We have had 3D technology for decades, but it wasn’t until everything started going digital that this tech could be easily adapted by different media. We have had 3dementional televisions for over a few years now and those which had 3D viewing without glasses were all put the rage in recent months. It was only a matter of time before the 3D experience reached a cellular phone. LG has conquered the title of producing the world’s first 3D smartphone. Care to know more? Here we go:

The screen size is the same size and resolution as the Droid Charge (480×800 at 4.3 inches), but this display is a 3D LCD capacitive touchscreen with an accelerometer sensor for auto-rotating the user interface. It is currently only able to connect via 2G and 3G networks however. The device is still impressive in that it can not only show 3D, but with the two 5 MP cameras rear-facing, it can also shoot in 3D. The Optimus 3D sports a dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and runs Android 2.2 for the operating system.  It also fully supports Flash 10.1The video breakdown is still the show stopper: 1 080p@30fps (2D) and 720p@30fps (3D). The device comes with only 512 MB of RAM, but this is sectioned into two 256 MB banks that the company claims heightens memory bandwidth.

Whatever device fits your desired functionality or price range, these smartphones have the capacity to serve notably. Summer is a time when we all spend amazing amounts of time on our phones, shoot pictures and videos, access the web in random places for random reasons, and listen to tons of hours of music. Hopefully reading this will help you decide which device you want to couple up with this summer.

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By Jon Ryan of ReversePhoneLookup.com, which offers users a way to find corresponding information on a phone number for free.

The abilities of new Android tablets means that a bunch of apps work so much better than they do on phones.

The functionality of tablet computers is quite similar to that of smartphones. However, the increased computational power and larger HD screens means that a lot of apps work so much better on tablets than they did on smartphones.

1. Dolphin Browser HD

This web browser is more intuitive on a tablet, and the screen makes full use the Dolphin’s HD capabilities.

2. Documents To Go

The use of a touchscreen keyboard on a tablet is so much easier than on a phone. So editing your documents and getting some work done on-the-go is even easier using a tablet.

3. Kindle

This book reading app from Amazon turns your tablet into a Kindle – this app was previously available for smartphones, and it’s clear that it’s far more better suited for tablets.

4. Financial Times

This app for the Financial Times has been exclusively developed for Android tablets.

5. Angry Birds

The iconic game works loads better on a tablet – it’s way easier to play and the graphics look much better on a larger screen.

6. Google Earth

Another obvious one that benefits hugely from the large touchscreen of new Android tablets.

7. Cordy

Cordy is an addictive 3D puzzle game, and is way more fun on a tablet, with all the benefits of larger HD screens.

8. Fuze Meeting

This is a Face-2-Face meeting app. Once you’ve used it on your tablet, you won’t ever bother using your phone again.

9. DrawFree

The superior touchscreens of new Android tablets mean that drawing apps such as DrawFree are a lot easier to use, and so you’re capable of creating some incredible drawings (ignoring the one above!).

10. TouchDown

Get your e-mails, contacts, calendar and tasks rooted in one app in an easy-to-view tab format. The new version optimized for tablets is so much quicker and easy-to-use.

This guest was provided by Danny who loves to blog about the best Android tablets at his blog: Android Tablet Fanatic.

Before today the actual porting of the existing cell phone number to Google Voice had been only a rumor. Now it is live and available to all current users of the service. Once they conquer this feat, the service will go live to new Google Voice users in the weeks to come. Presently the whole process of porting the number has a number of steps and could be a bit labyrinthine to some.

The process of porting one’s number allows the user to use the number in conjunction with their Google Voice account. This will remove any need to spread a new number to contacts. The actual Google Voice service allows a call to ring all, some, or none of your phones as well as you Voice account depending on what you choose. This means that the number which everyone already associates with you can be tricked out with the numerous Google Voice goodies like the transcribed voicemails (and even including the low-cost international calling).

The whole process is a large step for VoIP technologies. Still, you do have to contact your mobile service provider to let them know you want to have the number ported with Google Voice. They will need to stop and restart your service. Those who have done so have reported that the porting process can take a few days, causing you to miss certain correspondence. During the port, your former Voice number will be terminated, so you will have to publicize to some that you no longer use the number, but the domestic calls remain free so feel free to do so from your new Google Voice cell number.

By Jon Ryan of ReversePhoneLookup.com

Here’s the process some follow when switching cell phone carriers; it may be helpful for you in your own cellular plans.

Use your old bills as a basis for what you’ll do in the future. Looking at the last six months of our old bills, it became clear that we are paying for far too many minutes and so we’re looking for a lower-minute plan for our next purchase.

Do the research before you leave. Visit the websites of major providers and know what their plans are before you leave. You should especially know what sort of options you will want on your plan and which ones you don’t want, because salesman will often throw on services you don’t want if you don’t explicitly tell them that these are the only options you want. Also, have some idea of the phones available and what you want.

Know what you want before you walk in the door. For example, we just want a basic calling plan with only a relatively low number of text messages, because that’s what we use now, and also the ability to access a small amount of web data (limited data transfer, for Remember the Milk, for example). We also need new phones, but we don’t need high-end ones or Blackberries or anything like that.

Specify EXACTLY what you want and don’t want in your plan. Make it clear what you specifically want in your plan as soon as you begin talking, then tell them you’re going to browse the equipment for a bit. Why? This gives them a bit of time to think about their commission before you finish off the deal.

Don’t bother negotiating on the service plan. Plan prices are set by the national provider and local stores simply don’t have the option of negotiating with you, so don’t even waste their time. Instead, look for stuff you can ask for instead, like…

Ask for lots of other stuff. Ask for your activation fee to be waived. Ask for some free (or at least reduced) equipment. Since the salesmen typically don’t earn a commission on the equipment, they’re often happy to give a discount in order to seal the deal and get their commission from the plan. They’re going to be thinking “easy commission,” so take advantage of that mindset to get cheap phones.

This is almost exactly what we did when we first signed up for a cell phone service and we ended up getting no activation fee, all of our phones for free (they weren’t low end phones, either), and a few random items in the store for free, too. The guy behind the counter was about ready to explode with desire for getting his commission, so he was waiving everything and giving us all sorts of goodies just to get his commission on the plan we were purchasing.

To find cell phone stores in your area, visit the CellySource cell phone store directory.  This allows you to search for stores by city or zip code.

If you’re using Verizon or T-Mobile, you can have your minutes in your web browser window. Just check out the Verizon Minutes Used Firefox plugin or the T-Mobile Minutes Used Firefox plugin to track your minutes. Both are quite useful for keeping track of how many minutes you’ve used without any effort. These both require that you’re using the Firefox web browser – there is no alternative for IE users.

Take a detailed peek at your cell phone bills. Make sure you’re not getting dinged with overage charges or other such charges. If you never see any and are using far fewer minutes than you’re paying for, that’s also a concern.

Call up your cell phone provider and ask for a plan change. If you’re going over your minutes every month, it’s almost always cost-effective to pay a bit more each month for a plan that includes those minutes. On the other hand, if you’re nowhere near your limit each month, then you can save some cash by dropping your total minutes down a bit.

I usually check this every six months or so; it takes about three minutes to figure out if a change is needed and about two minutes more to make that change. In just five minutes, I can often save $60 over the course of six months, which is a very healthy time investment.

While you’re at it, you might also drop any extras from your plan that you don’t use. I send maybe ten text messages a month, but at one time I was paying for unlimited text messaging. Dropping this down to a very small allotment of messages saved me some additional cash.

As you can see understanding your cell phone plans can be very important to your financial health.  Many people ignore this simple task and end up spending too much money every month and year.  Take the time to follow the steps above and your bank account will likely be appreciative.

An old cell phone has plenty of worthwhile uses, ones that don’t result in the phone winding up in a landfill somewhere, wasting space and leeching chemicals into the environment. Even better, many uses for a cell phone can save you money.

Recycle It

If you’re really thinking of just tossing that cell phone in the trash, at least think of recycling it instead.  The easiest place to do it is at your cell phone store or at a large electronics store – most stores like this have a bin available where you can just drop in your old cell phone for recycling, ensuring that the chemicals don’t get into the mix.

You can also use a service like RecycleMyCellPhone.org, which will help you print off a mailing label that will allow you to mail the phone to a recycling center. This can be a good option if you live in a very rural area.

Sell It

You can also sell your old cell phone if you want to go to a bit more effort. Services like CellForCash.com will buy your old cell phones for a few dollars (obviously, the price depends on the model). You might be able to get even more than that if you have a local phone reseller who buys old phones – check the yellow pages to see if any are near you.

Donate It

My preferred option, if you’re simply looking to get rid of the phone, is to donate it to an organization that can put it to good use.  My top preference is to donate phones to spousal abuse centers. Such centers can then give the phones to women and children who are in abusive situations so that they can use the phones to call for help in the event of an abusive situation. Check the yellow pages to find a spousal abuse center in your local area.

Another excellent use for used cell phones is the Cell Phones for Soldiers program, which takes used cell phones and gives them to members of the United States military deployed overseas, enabling them to call their families with ease.

Think Outside the Box

There are also many personal uses for old cell phones. Here are four ways you can actually reuse that outdated piece of equipment.

1. Use it as a 911 phone. Charge it up, turn it off, and stick the phone (along with the old charger) in your glove box. Then, if you’re ever in an accident or other emergency, you can pull the phone from your glove box, flip it on, and use it to dial 911. This will work because all cell phones are required to allow you to dial 911, even without an active service plan to the phone.
2. Give it to a child to use as a toy. One of my two year old son’s favorite toys for many months was an old Kyocera flip phone with the SIM card removed. He’d open it up, turn it on, and play with it, pretending to talk to Grandma and so on. We didn’t charge it at all – he would use it quite happily without power
3. Use it as part of a magic trick. With a single cell phone, you can do any number of “disappearing” or “unbreakable” item tricks, such as this one, where you appear to make the item vanish before someone’s eyes.
4. Even better, if you happen to have two identical phones, you can do a “switcheroo” trick where you appear to have smashed the phone, show the people the parts, then swap the parts back for the real phone.

All of these tricks can be key pieces of an amateur illusionist’s repertoire.  Experiment with it (or give it to a tinkerer). Another great idea for old cell phones is to use them for tinkering. There are many parts within a cell phone that can be used for building things, including the key pad and the LCD screen. Here’s details on how to reuse a cell phone display and also how to utilize cell phone parts for other uses. I can’t help it – I’m really into this kind of thing (and I’d do a lot more if I had more spare time). Even if you aren’t into this kind of thing, if you know someone who is, an old cell phone can be a treasury of bits and pieces.

What’s the message here? Don’t throw an old cell phone away. There’s still value in it yet, whether it’s in terms of direct compensation by selling it, additional value by reusing it, or social worth by finding a good cause to give the phone to.  You can also view a list of cell phone recycling companies to learn more.

While most cell phones have the option of buying and uploading music directly on the phone, the majority of people will store their music on their computers, then upload the music to their phones.  Even if you choose to buy all your music directly on your phone, there may be some CDs that you already own that you’ll want to put on your phone.  Most smart phones offer the basic drag and drop solution of getting your music onto your phone. All you have to do is drag your music from its folder and drop it into the software program for your phone. Then you connect your cell phone to your computer with the USB cord that came with your phone and transfer your music from your computer to your phone (also known as synching). The problem is that with basic software you don’t have a whole lot of options for organizing your music on your phone. So your music goes on your cell phone as either individual albums or tracks. Thankfully there are software programs that you can use to help you organize your music better.

iTunes is the most popular music program for smart phones. Even if you don’t own an iPhone, you can download software that makes using iTunes possible on an Android phone.  iTunes has some intuitive aspects to its software and will actually create playlists for you. But you also have the option of creating your own playlists based on artist or genre or really anything that you want. The software is easy to use and allows you to create a new listening experience anytime you want to. If you get bored with current playlists all you have to do is create new ones and synch your phone.  The option of creating playlists really comes in handy when you have a lot of individual songs in your music folder. You most likely don’t want a long list of individual tunes on your cell phones music player. Pop the songs into playlist and then transfer them on your phone. It will be much easier to find songs and play the ones that you want to play.

The best tip for organizing your music on your cell phone is to realize that you don’t need to have every single song that you own on your phone at the same time. You can pick and choose what you upload onto your phone depending on your current mood and musical interests.  Of course if you are a diehard audiophile then you will want to have all of yoru music with you at all times. If this is the case consider using an external SD card to store your extra music.

Storing and organizing your music on your cell phone doesn’t have to be hard. Take advantage of one of the software packages available to help you organize your music so that you always have your favorite playlists available.

BIO: Diane Ferraro is a marketing expert, specifically in the music industry.  She is now a writer for a cell phone ringtones company.  When she is not writing or blogging, she loves to spend time with her twin daughters.

Basic Cell Phones

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a smart phone to take a mobile credit card payment.  Many credit card processors now offer dial-in systems that can process a card in real-time.  With these systems, the merchant simply calls a dedicated number to access the system.  Upon connecting to the system the merchant will enter a login I.D. and password and then follow the prompts for entering the card number and information.  The system will process the card immediately and either read back a transaction confirmation number, or indicate that the card was declined.  When the card is approved the merchant simply writes the confirmation on the receipt and has the customer sign to show proof of authorization in the event of a dispute.  The only problem with this type of processing is that it can take over a minute to process a single transaction.  Higher volume merchants may want to invest in a smart phone.

Smart Phone Apps

With the advent of smart phones and apps, software developers quickly realized that creating credit card processing applications could be very lucrative.  These apps allow for a multitude of features such as capturing signature right on the phone, attaching photos to the transaction, emailing receipts and online account management tools. Processing a card with a smart phone app is also much faster than using a dial in system.  Not only that the credit card information is encrypted once the transaction is complete.  This way, the chances for fraud are greatly reduced.   Although using a smart phone app is faster, it does require the merchant to type in the credit card information which makes it slower than the final choice in this article.

Cell Phone Hardware

The fastest and most secure was to process a card is using a smart phone combined with a dedicated card swiper.  Several developers have entered this market by combining a smart phone app and optional credit card swipers for iPhone and Android cell phones.  These pieces of hardware allow a merchant to attach a card swiper to the cell phone and swipe that card right on the phone.  Not only is it much quicker, it’s the most secure way to process a mobile transaction.  This added security also lowers the processing fees of the transaction, so high volume merchants will want to invest is this equipment.  Some attachments even include receipt printers; however, merchants can also email the receipts.

Whatever you mobile card processing needs may be, you can now find technology to match.  This writer recommends matching your processing volume to the corresponding technology.  There is no need to pay more for speed and added features if you really do not need it them.

Phillip Parker is a mobile merchant account expert with CardPaymentOptions.com, a merchant services watchdog website that offer review, tips and advice for credit card processing.