Many PDAs such as the newly announced Nokia 810 Internet tablet are not cell phones...that is it does not include the necessary radio transmitter/receiver chips required to connect to the cell phone networks. These PDAs rely on Wi-Fi for Internet access.
However often WiFi is not available. Far more ubiquitous ...at least at this moment... are the cellular networks that carry voice and data.
In this case a USB or SDIO form factor 'modem' card would be useful and desirable. (Of course, an appropriate cellphone with the capacity to be connected ...often by Bluetooth...can be used easily and readily as a modem but its a cumbersome two piece solution.)
The iPhone and other PDA phones solve this readily because they have both Wifi radios and cellular radios but I like the idea of a PDA with a cellular network card.
The PDA requires no carrier contract...most of the time peer to peer Internet-based voice is available though Skype, for example, ...is often slightly larger with therefore a much better screen. Of course a cellular data card will require a data contract with a carrier...but somehow that seems less of a burden than the contracts required by AT&T for example.
Here is an example of a USB form factor implementation but its a very awkward implementation: http://www.jiwire.com/sprint-u720-usb-modem-product-overview.htm
Its really no advantage from a cell phone tethered by cable or connected by bluetooth and therefore wireless.
I looking for an sdio form factor radio with all the circuitry contained within the sd card form..maybe this is impossible given the antenna requirements but I've read of them I'm sure. I just at the moment cannot locate a supplier or find Linux drivers.
Here is a reference to existing SDIO cards.
Here is an example of CFIO cellular modem. An SDIO 3G modem shouldn't be far away.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Cell Phone Payment Systems
I envision two types of payment schemes:
1. Via text messages such as announced by PayPal and eBay: http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/49559.html
2. Touch-less (so-called) or near field..a scheme that permits the cellphone to be
placed in proximity to a merchants receiver to initiate a transaction: http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/08/motorola-m-wallet-cellphone-payment-system-coming-to-us/
1. Via text messages such as announced by PayPal and eBay: http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/49559.html
2. Touch-less (so-called) or near field..a scheme that permits the cellphone to be
placed in proximity to a merchants receiver to initiate a transaction: http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/08/motorola-m-wallet-cellphone-payment-system-coming-to-us/
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The Perfect Cell Phone...most agree that even the iPhone or latest Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, HTC etc is not yet 'perfected.'
It seems a particularly propitious time to create a web-log to discus the characteristics of a 'perfect' cell phone...that theoretical device which meets all needs for electronic-based functions in a single mobile (free from connection to a utility) battery?-powered device. (this discussion has not separated out functions that are hardware, software, web-service, SDIO form factor-based or network provider service-based.)
This web-log acknowledges readily that the functions listed below are probably not possible in a cell phone form factor acceptable in weight or size to the public or power consumption to the engineers and not important enough to a sufficiently large customer set to justify the R&D required to develop a technology solution.
Rather the solution to the provision of this proliferation of functions, at this moment, appears to be:
1. the inclusion in the mobile cell phone device of, for example, an SDIO form factor device that within its capacity can include functions that the basic cell phone within its practical limitations cannot accommodate or
2. web services via the web browser ...a solution toward which the iPhone and Apple appear to be headed.
Any comments to this posting should include a critique of a listed function or a description of a new function and a design that will permit it to be offered within the cell phone form factor and within the practical power limits of existing technology and any examples of existing products that incorporate the function.
First off the high sound fidelity, low power signal acquisition, sound processing electronics required to make the device an excellent telephone. (The lack of basic sound quality is often a problem of 'converged' multi-purpose devices.)
Wi-Fi (many cellphones offer this today) and WiMax or similar (none) radio transmitters and receivers to augment the basic cellular data network provided by the carrier.
High speed data cell network access...a criticism of the iPhone is that it is limited to the low speed data network (Edge) of AT&T...(removed by new iPhone 3G)
Blue-tooth for wireless headphones and connection with other compatible wireless devices (such as the door opener mechanism in automobiles)
Infrared for wireless exchange of electronic business cards etc
serve as modem for laptop
voice recorder and telephone call voice recorder
5 mega pixel camera with 2.8 28-105 mm zoom lens, flash, and video recoding and optical image stabilization
stereo speakers and speaker phone function,
e-mail... GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail pushed from server
good thumb keyboard or virtual keyboard with predictive software such as that contained in the iPhone
quad band GSM and tri band CDMA...use anywhere in the world...Samsung IP 830 w ...http://mobilitytoday.com/articles/sprint_ip830w_first_look.html
mp-3. .iPod substitute
FM radio... probably in SDIO form factor..but the duplex stereo analogue sound stream received on the antenna must be digitized on the card if the radio card is to provide the sound stream to the internal phone audio circuits...so for example its possible to listen to the FM radio via the bluetooth ear piece...because the sd connection pins only take digital data.
http://radio.about.com/cs/productreviews/a/aa102603a.htm
radio must play through the cellphone sound system either loud speakers or blue tooth
also http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&cat=73
satellite radio...perhaps available via browser from Sirus web site with subscription
GPS with map software...available via Compact Flash card: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/item-menu.php?idSubCat=6
unlocked..not tied to a carrier..GSM/CDMA ...just slip in an sim card/software widget (key to use around the world..`.need a carrier)
long battery life..equal to iPhone
simultaneous voice call and wifi use (e.g., call using cell phone with speaker phone and web surfing simultaneously)
device to decide whether a phone or data call call is initiated using cell network or WiFi network based on users parameters of preferences.
functions initiated by voice command and voice recording via voice recognition
include function of remote TV control and door buzzer -opener...e.g., Novii Remote Blaster for Treo 650
use with Skype or other VOIP systems...system figures out whether Skype or cell phone call is best and cheapest and initiates that connection automatically based on user criteria
VGA out and presentation bundle (for projection presentations)
address book settings stored on public server to enable re-population of next phone
cellphone disk drive as an auxiliary PC drive or as a USB, for example, mobile storage device
bar code reader for grocery stores etc...Treo SDIO Add-ons Barcode
Socket OrganizeIT Suite for Treo 650/600
emotion language for SMS messages for illiterates...for use in Pakistan, for example among illiterate earthquake affected populations in rural areas.
VGA Plus (320 x 240 pixels) screen..althouh iPhone now has 640-480 and HTC 7501 has hihger?
lose it alarm..when the phone is more than 10' away from a key chain fob, both buzz
Other means of theft prevention such as a biometric device
stores car unlock and other tone controlled lock tones. .probably requires Software defined radio frequency chip because the cell radio, the wifi radio, the car door opener radio all use different frequencies...http://keyetv.com/consumer/local_story_097212459.html
dog collar radio transmitter
cell phone finder capacity
cell phone front door lock opener
panic button. .some implementation that enables quick unobtrusive calls to 911 but capability is not available to use by accident or by children
receiver/transmitter for broadcasts in Museum or any area
wireless laser pointer presenter
radar detector...integration with GPS and auto memorization of radar traps
windows media player/Quick time Player for video playback such as movies, YouTube videos and video surveillance applications
ring tones selected from any audio source available to the device
This web-log acknowledges readily that the functions listed below are probably not possible in a cell phone form factor acceptable in weight or size to the public or power consumption to the engineers and not important enough to a sufficiently large customer set to justify the R&D required to develop a technology solution.
Rather the solution to the provision of this proliferation of functions, at this moment, appears to be:
1. the inclusion in the mobile cell phone device of, for example, an SDIO form factor device that within its capacity can include functions that the basic cell phone within its practical limitations cannot accommodate or
2. web services via the web browser ...a solution toward which the iPhone and Apple appear to be headed.
Any comments to this posting should include a critique of a listed function or a description of a new function and a design that will permit it to be offered within the cell phone form factor and within the practical power limits of existing technology and any examples of existing products that incorporate the function.
First off the high sound fidelity, low power signal acquisition, sound processing electronics required to make the device an excellent telephone. (The lack of basic sound quality is often a problem of 'converged' multi-purpose devices.)
Wi-Fi (many cellphones offer this today) and WiMax or similar (none) radio transmitters and receivers to augment the basic cellular data network provided by the carrier.
High speed data cell network access...a criticism of the iPhone is that it is limited to the low speed data network (Edge) of AT&T...(removed by new iPhone 3G)
Blue-tooth for wireless headphones and connection with other compatible wireless devices (such as the door opener mechanism in automobiles)
Infrared for wireless exchange of electronic business cards etc
serve as modem for laptop
voice recorder and telephone call voice recorder
5 mega pixel camera with 2.8 28-105 mm zoom lens, flash, and video recoding and optical image stabilization
stereo speakers and speaker phone function,
e-mail... GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail pushed from server
good thumb keyboard or virtual keyboard with predictive software such as that contained in the iPhone
quad band GSM and tri band CDMA...use anywhere in the world...Samsung IP 830 w ...http://mobilitytoday.com/articles/sprint_ip830w_first_look.html
mp-3. .iPod substitute
FM radio... probably in SDIO form factor..but the duplex stereo analogue sound stream received on the antenna must be digitized on the card if the radio card is to provide the sound stream to the internal phone audio circuits...so for example its possible to listen to the FM radio via the bluetooth ear piece...because the sd connection pins only take digital data.
http://radio.about.com/cs/productreviews/a/aa102603a.htm
radio must play through the cellphone sound system either loud speakers or blue tooth
also http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&cat=73
satellite radio...perhaps available via browser from Sirus web site with subscription
GPS with map software...available via Compact Flash card: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/item-menu.php?idSubCat=6
unlocked..not tied to a carrier..GSM/CDMA ...just slip in an sim card/software widget (key to use around the world..`.need a carrier)
long battery life..equal to iPhone
simultaneous voice call and wifi use (e.g., call using cell phone with speaker phone and web surfing simultaneously)
device to decide whether a phone or data call call is initiated using cell network or WiFi network based on users parameters of preferences.
functions initiated by voice command and voice recording via voice recognition
include function of remote TV control and door buzzer -opener...e.g., Novii Remote Blaster for Treo 650
use with Skype or other VOIP systems...system figures out whether Skype or cell phone call is best and cheapest and initiates that connection automatically based on user criteria
VGA out and presentation bundle (for projection presentations)
address book settings stored on public server to enable re-population of next phone
cellphone disk drive as an auxiliary PC drive or as a USB, for example, mobile storage device
bar code reader for grocery stores etc...Treo SDIO Add-ons Barcode
Socket OrganizeIT Suite for Treo 650/600
emotion language for SMS messages for illiterates...for use in Pakistan, for example among illiterate earthquake affected populations in rural areas.
VGA Plus (320 x 240 pixels) screen..althouh iPhone now has 640-480 and HTC 7501 has hihger?
lose it alarm..when the phone is more than 10' away from a key chain fob, both buzz
Other means of theft prevention such as a biometric device
stores car unlock and other tone controlled lock tones. .probably requires Software defined radio frequency chip because the cell radio, the wifi radio, the car door opener radio all use different frequencies...http://keyetv.com/consumer/local_story_097212459.html
dog collar radio transmitter
cell phone finder capacity
cell phone front door lock opener
panic button. .some implementation that enables quick unobtrusive calls to 911 but capability is not available to use by accident or by children
receiver/transmitter for broadcasts in Museum or any area
wireless laser pointer presenter
radar detector...integration with GPS and auto memorization of radar traps
windows media player/Quick time Player for video playback such as movies, YouTube videos and video surveillance applications
ring tones selected from any audio source available to the device
The Perfect Cell Phone
The point of this Web Log is to describe a hypothetical 'perfect' cell phone or small hand held digital device.
The availability of the new iPhone from Apple makes this discussion especially relevant because it is almost a perfect realization of the 'Perfect Cellphone' with several exceptions.
Actually the iPhone offers no new hardware functions (maybe except the acceleramator,) but it does offer new attractive software functions such as 'multi-touch' and technology innovations such as the touch sensitive, large, bright, high pixel count screen and it is so beautifully packaged and supported.
This web log acknowledges that a cell phone that includes all the capability listed is probably impossible to package in an acceptably sized form factor, impossible to power within present battery technology, and impossible to price competitively.
And it is not clear that any single user of a cell phone would, in fact, want, or use all these features.
The best solution may be to provide as much function as possible via an SDIO (because its the smallest form factor) memory card or via web (server)-based functions. Aplle offers web-bsed functions and the new#G phone permits controlled native applications. But at the moment Apple has not yet decided to offer an external additional memory.
The format is to list a feature and then to identify, if any exists, examples of actual product availability as an indication of feasibility.
Any comments to this blog entry might describe a function and describe an implementation strategy that takes into account the cell phone form factor and power limitation.
The Functions of a 'Perfect Cell Phone:'
Wi-Fi and WiMax transmitters and receivers...Wi-Fi is available now, of course...iPhone has Wi-FIi but it is tied to AT&T subscription plans...jailed broke versions are available but its unclear whether Apple and AT&T will devise means to defeat the restrictions.
No hardware/software limitation to full use of the cellular high speed networks for internet access..... New 3G iPhone available in July, 2008 removes this restriction by providing web access via the 3g network.
Blue-tooth for wireless headphones and connection with other compatible bluetooth-enabled wireless devices (such as a door opener mechanism in automobiles..although I know of no such enabled auto door or house front door lock.)
Infrared for wireless exchange of electronic business cards etc
serve as modem for laptop...commonly available now
voice recorder and telephone call voice recorder
5 mega pixel camera with auto flash and video and 6 X zoom and optical image stabilization
stereo speakers
speaker phone
e-mail... GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail, pushed from the mail server
good thumb keyboard or screen-based keyboard with hepatic feedback or good voice recognition.
quad band GSM and tri band CDMA...use anywhere in the world...
Samsung IP 830 w ...http://mobilitytoday.com/articles/sprint_ip830w_first_look.html
mp-3...iPod substitute..of course the iPhone manages this nicely.
FM radio...http://radio.about.com/cs/productreviews/a/aa102603a.htm
satellite radio...available via browser from Sirus web site with subscription
gps with map software...available via Compact Flash card: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/item-menu.php?idSubCat=6
unlocked..not tied to a carrier..GSM ...just slip in an sim card (key to use around the world..`.need a carrier)
(Note: GPS satillite signal acquistion needs to be much speedier than current implementations...e.g., for personal use while walking or even for use in cars...the time to acquire is too long.
long battery life... see iPhone specs..but even using 3G and Wi-Fi at megabit transfer rates..battery operation for 24 hours
simultaneous voice call and Wi-Fi use (e.g., call using cell phone with speakerphone and web surfing at the same time)
software to decide whether a call is initiated using cell network or WiFi network depending on parameters set by user
voice recognition and voice command..maybe the best 'input' capabailty
remote TV control and door buzzer -opener...e.g., Novii Remote Blaster for Treo 650
enable Skype or other VOIP systems...
VGA out and presentation bundle (for projection presentations)
address book settings stored on server to enable population of next phone
can use cellphone disk drive as an auxiliary PC drive or as a mobile storage device
bar code reader for grocery stores etc..Treo SDIO Add-ons Barcode Socket OrganizeIT Suite for Treo 650/600
emotion language for SMS messages for illiterates...for use in Pakistan, for example, after the earthquake among illiterate populations.
VGA Plus (1078 x 790 pixels) screen
lose it alarm..when the phone is more than 10' away from a key chain fob, both buzz
stores car unlock and other tone controlled lock tones..probably requires Software Defined Radio (SDR) frequency chip because the cell radio, the wifi radio, the car door opener radio all use different frequencies...http://keyetv.com/consumer/local_story_097212459.html
dog collar radio transmitter...probably again a function of a software defined radio function
Remote 'bricking' of cellphone if lost irretrievably
cell phone front door lock opener ..see above..an SDR enabled fucntion
panic button...some implementation that enables quick unobtrusive calls to 911 but capability is not available to use by accident or by children
receiver for broadcasts in Museum or any area...again probably a function of a software defined radio
wireless laser pointer presenter
radar detector...an SDR receiver would be able to manage this.
Integration with GPS and auto memorization of radar traps...see Trapster
windows media player/ Quicktime Player for video surveillance applications...see WiLife.com
Air quality senor..touch finger to phone
blood sugar sensor..touch finger to phone
reader for blind..brail reader via camera ...see Ray Kurzweil.
The availability of the new iPhone from Apple makes this discussion especially relevant because it is almost a perfect realization of the 'Perfect Cellphone' with several exceptions.
Actually the iPhone offers no new hardware functions (maybe except the acceleramator,) but it does offer new attractive software functions such as 'multi-touch' and technology innovations such as the touch sensitive, large, bright, high pixel count screen and it is so beautifully packaged and supported.
This web log acknowledges that a cell phone that includes all the capability listed is probably impossible to package in an acceptably sized form factor, impossible to power within present battery technology, and impossible to price competitively.
And it is not clear that any single user of a cell phone would, in fact, want, or use all these features.
The best solution may be to provide as much function as possible via an SDIO (because its the smallest form factor) memory card or via web (server)-based functions. Aplle offers web-bsed functions and the new#G phone permits controlled native applications. But at the moment Apple has not yet decided to offer an external additional memory.
The format is to list a feature and then to identify, if any exists, examples of actual product availability as an indication of feasibility.
Any comments to this blog entry might describe a function and describe an implementation strategy that takes into account the cell phone form factor and power limitation.
The Functions of a 'Perfect Cell Phone:'
Wi-Fi and WiMax transmitters and receivers...Wi-Fi is available now, of course...iPhone has Wi-FIi but it is tied to AT&T subscription plans...jailed broke versions are available but its unclear whether Apple and AT&T will devise means to defeat the restrictions.
No hardware/software limitation to full use of the cellular high speed networks for internet access..... New 3G iPhone available in July, 2008 removes this restriction by providing web access via the 3g network.
Blue-tooth for wireless headphones and connection with other compatible bluetooth-enabled wireless devices (such as a door opener mechanism in automobiles..although I know of no such enabled auto door or house front door lock.)
Infrared for wireless exchange of electronic business cards etc
serve as modem for laptop...commonly available now
Serve as a wifi hot spot...see Joiku for S60-based phones as an example
voice recorder and telephone call voice recorder
5 mega pixel camera with auto flash and video and 6 X zoom and optical image stabilization
stereo speakers
speaker phone
e-mail... GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail, pushed from the mail server
good thumb keyboard or screen-based keyboard with hepatic feedback or good voice recognition.
quad band GSM and tri band CDMA...use anywhere in the world...
Samsung IP 830 w ...http://mobilitytoday.com/articles/sprint_ip830w_first_look.html
mp-3...iPod substitute..of course the iPhone manages this nicely.
FM radio...http://radio.about.com/cs/productreviews/a/aa102603a.htm
satellite radio...available via browser from Sirus web site with subscription
gps with map software...available via Compact Flash card: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/item-menu.php?idSubCat=6
unlocked..not tied to a carrier..GSM ...just slip in an sim card (key to use around the world..`.need a carrier)
(Note: GPS satillite signal acquistion needs to be much speedier than current implementations...e.g., for personal use while walking or even for use in cars...the time to acquire is too long.
long battery life... see iPhone specs..but even using 3G and Wi-Fi at megabit transfer rates..battery operation for 24 hours
simultaneous voice call and Wi-Fi use (e.g., call using cell phone with speakerphone and web surfing at the same time)
software to decide whether a call is initiated using cell network or WiFi network depending on parameters set by user
voice recognition and voice command..maybe the best 'input' capabailty
remote TV control and door buzzer -opener...e.g., Novii Remote Blaster for Treo 650
enable Skype or other VOIP systems...
VGA out and presentation bundle (for projection presentations)
address book settings stored on server to enable population of next phone
can use cellphone disk drive as an auxiliary PC drive or as a mobile storage device
bar code reader for grocery stores etc..Treo SDIO Add-ons Barcode Socket OrganizeIT Suite for Treo 650/600
emotion language for SMS messages for illiterates...for use in Pakistan, for example, after the earthquake among illiterate populations.
VGA Plus (1078 x 790 pixels) screen
lose it alarm..when the phone is more than 10' away from a key chain fob, both buzz
stores car unlock and other tone controlled lock tones..probably requires Software Defined Radio (SDR) frequency chip because the cell radio, the wifi radio, the car door opener radio all use different frequencies...http://keyetv.com/consumer/local_story_097212459.html
dog collar radio transmitter...probably again a function of a software defined radio function
Remote 'bricking' of cellphone if lost irretrievably
cell phone front door lock opener ..see above..an SDR enabled fucntion
panic button...some implementation that enables quick unobtrusive calls to 911 but capability is not available to use by accident or by children
receiver for broadcasts in Museum or any area...again probably a function of a software defined radio
wireless laser pointer presenter
radar detector...an SDR receiver would be able to manage this.
Integration with GPS and auto memorization of radar traps...see Trapster
windows media player/ Quicktime Player for video surveillance applications...see WiLife.com
Air quality senor..touch finger to phone
blood sugar sensor..touch finger to phone
Pressure sensor to enable altitude and perhaps weather information applications... Read this!
reader for blind..brail reader via camera ...see Ray Kurzweil.
Recognition software for sign language...use video camera to capture and software to interpret the images into text for viewers which do not understand sign language.
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