Chapter 2 - Mobile Technology

Class X (Chapter 2): Mobile Technology – In this tutorial, we are going to learn about the various mobile technologies, Types of Mobile Technologies, SMS, MMS, 3G, 4G, etc.
Submitted by IncludeHelp, on October 28, 2020

Mobile Technology: an overview

Mobile technology is technology where the user uses mobile phone to do the operations related to communication system, for example to establish communication with friends, relatives and others. It uses to transmit the data from one system to others. Mobile Technology consists of portable two-way communications systems, computing devices, and the related networking equipment.

Mobile technology is a technology which is used primarily in cellular communication system and other related aspects. It uses a network type in which several transmitters are able to send data on a single channel at the same time. This model is known as Code-Divisions Multiple Accesses (CDMA). This platform allows many users to use single frequencies, as it limits the possibility of frequency interference from two or more sources. Over the years, the channel has grown. Mobile technology is evolving rapidly; its applications are becoming increasingly diverse over the years and are gradually replacing some similar sources on the market that are also used for communication, e.g. post office and land lines. Mobile technology has improved from a basic phone call and texting device into a multi-tasking system used for GPS navigation, internet browsing, gaming, instant messaging, etc. With the rise, professionals argue that computer technology's future depends on wireless networking and mobile computing. Mobile technology is becoming more and more popular through tablets and portable computers.

Nowadays this smartphone system has been upgraded to a very large multitasking computer that is used for GPS navigation, gaming, and internet browsing and instant messaging. Mobile technology has gained growing popularity through tablets and portable computers.

Wireless systems are loosely called the networking networks linking these devices. They allow mobile devices to share speech, data, and (mobile) applications.

Mobile technology is popular and on the rise. The number of smartphone users has gone up over 3 billion1 and by 2022 the global mobile workforce is projected to hit 1.87 billion.

Mobile Technology is characterized as any device with internet capabilities that can be accessed from wherever the user is. Current devices in this class contain devices like smartphones, tablets, some iPods and laptops, although this list will certainly increase in the coming years.

Types of Mobile Technologies

Followings are the key mobile technologies,

1) SMS

"SMS" means Fast Messaging Service. It is nowadays the oldest and most commonly used text messaging service. It includes MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) that allows SMS users to send multimedia content, such as images, audio, and visual files. Both SMS and MMS are sent using cellular networks, so a wireless plan and a wireless carrier is needed.

If you give your phone a typical "email" message it is called an SMS. You just sent an MMS while you are sending the gif.

As a low cost messaging tool SMS is rapidly gaining popularity in the US. The SMS is described as text messages sent to mobile phones, up to 160 characters in length. SMS has been synonymous with every text message sent to a cellular phone in recent months.

SMS is used for sending text messages to cell phones. Usually the messages can be up to 160 characters in length, although some services use 5-bit mode that supports 224 characters. SMS was initially designed for phones using GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) communication, but it is now supported by all major cellular phone systems.

Although SMS is most widely used between friends or co-workers for text messaging, it also has many other applications. SMS subscription services, for example, can transmit weather, news, sports updates, and stock quotes to phones of users. SMS may also notify employees of sales requests, service stops and other business-relevant information. Doctors are able to accept SMS messages about emergencies in patients.

Fortunately, text messages sent via SMS do not require the receiver's telephone to be on for efficient transmission of the message. The SMS service will keep the message until the recipient turns on his or her phone and the message is sent to the recipient 's phone at which point. Most cell phone companies allow you to send a certain number of text messages at no charge per month. Although figuring out what that number is will be a good idea before you go nuts with the text message.

How does SMS Works?

When you send a text message, it goes first over a network called the control channel to a nearby cellular tower and then into an SMSC hub. The SMSC resends the message to the recipient's nearest tower, and then it goes to their cell. SMS also sends message related data including message length, size, time stamp and destination.

Of the 109 text messages I sent yesterday, 15 were, for example, SMS messages sent to people who have phones on other networks, 70 were sent via iMessage, and the rest were sent via OTT apps.

2) MMS

MMS messaging known as Multimedia Messaging Service is a standard way to deliver multimedia content-including messages. In comparison to SMS, MMS can offer a variety of media including up to 40 seconds of video, one picture, a multi-image slideshow, or audio. Most of the modern devices will support texting with MMS. MMS support is usually built into the text message interface and automatically turns on when required. For example, a text-only message will be sent via SMS if you type in. The multimedia portion will be transmitted through MMS, if you add a graphic or video. Likewise, if anyone sends you a multimedia message, your phone will receive the file automatically using MMS. If your phone does not support MMS messages, you will most likely receive a text message which includes a URL from a web browser where you can access the file from.

An MMS message can send rich media content any time, anywhere, directly to mobile devices. It is a powerful and effective tool which helps businesses and businesses to reinforce and deepen customer loyalty by keeping them updated about their products and services with vital information. MMS texts are an important marketing communication tool since the text is packed with photos and videos. And other audios. MMS is really a modern way to connect with people over mobile devices. Text messages are more successful as they provide the receiver with valuable information and services. The more a company approaches its clients, the more likely a long-lasting brand partnership would be built up.

How Does MMS Work?

In a standard phone-to-phone MMS transaction, the method of sending and receiving an MMS message works like this:

The sending phone triggers a data link, usually via GPRS ( General Packet Radio Service), which provides TCP / IP connectivity.
The sending phone encodes the MMS message HTTP POST to the Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC) in the MMS Encapsulation Protocol, as specified by the Open Mobile Alliance; The encoded MMS message contains all of the MMS message text, along with header information that includes a list of intended message recipients. (In most cases, the HTTP POST will be routed via a proxy server. Some devices will use WP-HTTP (Wireless Profiled HTTP) and TCP via a WAP 2.0 proxy server while other devices will use the Wireless Session Protocol via a traditional Wireless Application Protocol [WAP] proxy server / gateway.)
The MMSC receives the MMS message sent, and validates the message sender.
The MMSC stores MMS message content, making it accessible as a dynamically generated URL connection.
The MMSC generates an MMS message, which is sent to the recipient(s) of the message via WAP Push over SMS. This MMS notification message contains a URL pointer for the content of the dynamically generated MMS.
The receiver receives an MMS notification message and then initiates a data link providing access to the TCP / IP network (usually via GPRS).
The receiver phone executes a GET HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) to retrieve the MMS message link URL from the MMSC.

3) 3G

Number three in 3 G's name means third generation access technology which allows mobile phones to be connected to the internet.

Every new technology has new frequency bands and higher rates of data transmission.

The 1980s saw the first generation emerging. Know mobile phones? First-generation networking was used on those voluminous phones that were typically mounted in cars because they were too heavy to hold comfortably. Sometimes that large briefcase a bureau worker was carrying around wasn't full of important papers, but he was lugging around a massive "mobile" phone instead!

The second generation network, which became available in the '90s, allowed text messaging to be used. This significant and groundbreaking improvement also offered a more secure network and paved the way for the ever-present 3 G and 4 G technologies.

In 2001, 3 G connection-based networks were launched, marking the beginning of widespread Internet use on mobile phones. Smartphones were introduced soon after, offering all the possibilities of a device in the palm of your hand.

How 3 G technologies work?

3 G data technology uses a network of telephone towers to transmit the signals, ensuring a stable and relatively fast long distance link. The tower closest to the mobile phone of the user is transferring data into it. Although it may not sound complex, at the time it was launched 3 G technology was groundbreaking.

Today we enjoy more mature 4 G technology which will soon be replaced by powerful 5 G networks themselves. Many people will use 3 G when 4 G is unavailable, but even after almost two decades of use the system will holds up. You might have noticed the connectivity on your own mobile phone moving from 4 G to 3 G depending on which service is more readily accessible at a given venue.

3 G networks can upload speeds up to 3 Mbps (about 15 seconds for uploading a 3-minute MP3 song). By contrast, up to 144Kbps (about 8 minutes to download a 3-minute song) can be achieved with the fastest 2 G phones.

With your new 3 G enabled phones you may be shocked to visit some countries and it refuses to pick up the network until you choose the 2 G search mode! 3 G systems are designed for digital mobile phones with a full display screen and improved connectivity.

Requirements for 3 G Use

Unlike Wi-Fi, which you can use in hotspots for free, you need to pay to a service provider to get 3 G access to the network. This sort of service is sometimes referred to as a data plan or a network plan.

Your computer is connected to the 3 G network through its SIM card (in the case of a mobile phone) or 3 G data card (which may be of various forms, such as USB, PCMCIA, etc.), all of which are typically supplied or sold by the service provider.

These cards are how the system connects to the Internet when it's within a 3 G network's range. The technology is also backward compatible with older technologies, which is why a 3 G compliant phone will get 2 G service when there is no 3 G service available.

4) 4G

4 G is the fourth generation of mobile networking technology. It carries on from mobile technology of 3 G and 2G.

2 G technology introduced in the 1990's allowed digital telephone calls to be made and texts sent. Then 3 G arrived in 2003, allowing you to search web sites, make phone calls, and stream music and video on the move.

4 G technology builds on what 3 G does but does it all at a much quicker pace.

Naturally, there is now also 5 G, which follows the same trend. It's the fifth generation and still is quicker.

To put it simply, 4 G is described as the fourth generation of mobile technology which follows the preceding 2 G and 3 G networks. It is often referred to as 4 G LTE, but this is not technically correct because LTE is just a single 4 G type. Currently it is the most mature technology embraced by most mobile network service providers.

However, as you might have read, 5 G is growing alongside current 3 G and 4 G mobile networks and is beginning to operate.

When it first came out 4 G changed the way we use mobile internet easily. Although 3 G networks were reasonably small, 4 G network connectivity allowed users to access the web and display HD videos on mobile devices that effectively turned smartphones into modern-day computers.

Today, on handheld devices such as smartphones or tablets, you can perform most of the tasks that you do on a laptop or desktop computer. 4 G networks mean you can maintain reliable speeds virtually anywhere, no matter how much data you need.

4 G released in UK in 2012. Right now, its forerunner 3 G is dwarfing the number of mobile users who use 4G. Nevertheless, expect that to change in years to come as 4 G contracts decline in price and 4 G network coverage expands further across the UK.

How fast is 4G?

Compared with 3 G, the 4 G networks are very good.

Premium 4 G provides download speeds of about 14 Mbps, which is almost five times faster than that provided by its predecessor, the 3 G network. Currently, 4 G networks can reach speeds as high as 150 Mbps, enabling users to download gigabytes of data in minutes or even seconds, rather than hours like with 3 G networks.

Uploading data is also much quicker – typical 4 G upload speeds are around 8 Mbps, with potential rates reaching as high as 50 Mbps, while 3 G caps off at approximately 0.5 Mbps. It is a substantial difference, no matter how you look at it.

Today, with data plans being more accessible, the use of mobile and local WiFi networks has been mixed by many users, as both have similar speeds. Some companies also sell home-based 4 G networks for people who want a mobile hotspot that they can take wherever they go with them.

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