| Although credit for the invention of the telephone | | | | use of satellite navigation devices. Also readily available |
| remains in doubt and open to much debate and | | | | in most mobile phones is the ability to access the |
| discussion, there is no such doubt over the impact and | | | | internet. The technology used for this is called Wireless |
| progress seen from this mode of telecommunications. | | | | Application Protocol or WAP. It allows mobile phone |
| Inventors including Alexander Graham Bell, Elisha Gray, | | | | owners to access the internet remotely and |
| Johann Phillip Reis and Antonio Meucci all laid claim to | | | | nowadays most sites are built to be WAP compatible |
| having invented the very first telephone. | | | | in order to capture a piece of this market. |
| The late 20th and early 21st century has seen an | | | | The latest and most recent advancement in |
| incredible rise in the popularity of mobile | | | | telecommunications technology is that of the creation |
| telecommunication devices such as mobile phones or | | | | of Voice Over IP. Known as VOIP, this technology |
| cell phones. Several countries including the United | | | | allows voice communication over the internet. One |
| Kingdom now have more mobile phones in circulation | | | | obvious advantage of this are that most people can |
| than people. The early history of these mobile | | | | use this technology very easily. |
| telephones can be traced back to the 1940's although | | | | Many VOIP providers such as Voipstunt provide the |
| the real strides in development and design of these | | | | services outlined above for free. For example, you |
| phone began in the 1980's and mushroomed in the | | | | may credit your account with a small amount and then |
| 1990's. successful mobile telephone manufacturers | | | | receive free calls to any landline around the world. This |
| include Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola. | | | | in time, as marketing increases and reputation grows |
| Further advances in technology have led to | | | | will provide a stiff challenge to the traditional |
| component parts of telephones becoming smaller and | | | | telecommunications companies. It is already possible to |
| smaller and therefore the telephones themselves | | | | reduce call costs to zero leaving only the land line |
| becoming smaller, more compact and easier to carry. | | | | element of a bill to pay. |
| There is much competition between the companies | | | | In short, the telecommunications industry is huge and |
| who manufacture these telephones to provide smaller | | | | very dynamic. The rapidly expanding market relies on |
| phones packed with new tahcnology. | | | | technological advances to make communications |
| Another major step in the development of mobile | | | | cheaper, more mobile and easier to use, and the |
| phones is the advent of 3rd Generation phones (or 3G | | | | internet will play a huge role in the future of this |
| to abbreviate). Due to these advances, it will soon be | | | | industry. |
| possible for everyone mobile phone owner to make | | | | |