(ARA) – Americans are cutting costs in many areas of their lives — but not, it seems, when it comes to staying connected. While the overall mobile phone industry, like most others, is feeling the recession’s effects, smartphone sales are booming.

Unlike ordinary mobile phones, smartphones offer Internet access, e-mail, music and calendars that sync to desktop or notebook computers — some even offer a touch screen and full keyboard. In addition, they have all the features of a standard mobile phone — contacts, camera, texting, games and the ability to dial favorite phone numbers with the press of a single button.

And while Americans are tightening their belts, they’re also discovering that saving money doesn’t have to be painful, says Lynn Fox, who keeps an eye on smartphone trends at Palm, Inc. “Buying a low-priced smartphone can feel like a splurge without much impact on your wallet,” she says. “It’s a great way to get something nice for yourself or someone you care about, without breaking the bank. And it can actually wind up saving you money.”

In the last quarter of 2008, U.S. smartphone sales rose 12 percent over the same period in 2007, and constituted about 23 percent of all handset sales at the end of last year, according to market research firm, NPD Group. Fox says the smartphone trend may seem contrary to Americans’ new belt-tightening mindset, but actually makes budgetary sense.

“Smartphones are fast, easy, reliable and convenient, and are the most efficient way to stay in touch with personal and professional contacts, news and other information. And you can do it on your own time, at your own pace. Customizable features let you bring the world to your phone,” says Fox.

“Rather than carry multiple devices, like a regular mobile phone and a PDA, you can get all the functions you need in a single, compact device. With prices dropping, smartphones are even more cost-competitive with traditional mobile phones,” she says. And she notes that with a more powerful phone, many customers are able to cancel their conventional landline phone, saving them far more than the cost of upgrading their phone.

Palm’s Centro leads the way in terms of price, typically selling for just $99 — or even as little as $49, depending on the carrier.

“Centro has been particularly popular among college students who have less to spend but need the Internet, texting and other applications at their fingertips,” says Fox. “Many people see smartphones as a luxury that is at once practical and affordable.”

Palm has found that more people are taking the smartphone plunge for a variety of reasons:

* Doing more with less — Smartphones plug people in to their favorite social technologies (like texting, Facebook, streaming music and video services) with a convenient, attractive, easy-to-carry package.

* Communicating any way you like — Smartphones not only let you talk to friends, family and business contacts over the phone, they provide access to voicemail, e-mail, texting and the Internet.

* Falling prices — Some smartphones (like the Centro) are competitive with or even cheaper than traditional low-cost mobile phones.

* Greater control and flexibility — Features like a color touch screen, fast speeds for Web browsing and wireless e-mail, sleek design and the ability to add on applications, make smartphones a “feel good” product that’s also practical.

To learn more about smartphones and the Palm Centro, visit www.palm.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Taking It to the Next Level

*Features like text messaging, photo capture and sharing have all been doable from simple cell phones for years. But smartphones take those functions up a notch by increasing the quality of the experience, and making these features easier to use. For example, typing out a text message on the full keyboard offered by many smartphones is significantly easier than tapping out a message on a 12-key phone.

Staying in touch with your friends and family is obviously one of the main advantages to a smartphone. Going beyond text messaging, look for a smartphone that will also provide wireless access to your personal e-mail accounts, such as Yahoo!, Gmail or AOL. Some even include an instant messaging application that allows you to chat with your buddy list on the go, giving users a variety of different ways to stay in touch.

* Stay organized on the go. Look for a phone that offers a great calendar, address book, even a task list that syncs to your home or work computer. That way you can stay organized wherever you may be.

* Another great thing about smartphones is that the networks they run on are getting faster and faster. So now, smartphones allow you to browse the Web at broadband speeds to find directions, restaurant reviews, or movie times. And with the larger screen of a smartphone, the Web has never looked better. When looking for a smartphone, ask about network speeds and their impact on the browsing experience.

Style

* The look of the phone should fit your personal style. Look for exciting new colors – such as Palm’s Centro which is available in ruby red – and a design that makes a statement about you when you use the phone.

You Don’t Have to Break the Bank

Until now, most smartphones have cost almost as much as your average American brings home in a single week’s paycheck. Prices upwards of $500 have kept a lot of consumers out of the market. Now, however, you can buy a smartphone for less than $100, a price comparable to what you might pay for a quality traditional mobile phone.

Palm, pioneer of easy-to-use mobile products, has just introduced a smartphone that costs just $99.99 after carrier and Palm rebates. Available in stylish red or black, “Centro is definitely not your boss’s smartphone,” says Stephanie Richardson, product marketing manager at Palm. “Today, people are using their smartphones not just for calls and e-mail but as a way to organize their social lives. With a variety of messaging options, a great Web browser, and other fun things like a camera and MP3 player, Centro is designed to better manage your social life.

Centro is available in stores and online. To learn more, visit www.palm.com/centro or www.store.palm.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Now new technology is about to unveil a new application with Smartphones, the VoIP or VoWiFi Smartphones.  The plan for the future is to enable Smartphones with the ability to pick up wireless connections at various hotspots.  Though this technology is new, it is already gaining popularity and customers eagerly wait for its arrival.

VoIP has already taken the world by storm and customers everywhere are turning off the landlines and communicating over the Internet.  Many Instant Messaging programs have turned to VoIP and users worldwide are finally experiencing the power of VoIP for themselves. Programs such as Yahoo Voice, MSN, AOL, ICQ, and even Google’s new instant messaging service are all equipped with voice.  By using your computer, a High Speed Internet Connection, a Microphone, and speakers, users can communicate for unlimited pc-to-pc calls worldwide. 

Skype was one of the earliest Instant Messengers that enabled VoIP free pc-to-pc calls.  Now, Skype is making headlines again as it prepares for the unveiling of the Skype integrated VoIP Smartphone.

VoIP has become widely accepted and consumers everywhere are opting for the freedom, flexibility, and cost efficiency by switching to VoIP.  Wireless technology has joined with VoIP, and the future points to a wireless VoIP phone.  These phones are known as VoWiFi.  VoWiFi stands for Voice Over Wireless Fidelity.  It means a Voice over wireless Internet connection.

Though there are still many issues and concerns regarding VoIP and wireless technology, the two are gaining momentum in both popularity and demand.  People want smart products.  Cell phones are already serving as dual video cameras, are capable of browsing the Internet, and can record music, video, and play computer games.  There is no reason to expect that as WiFi becomes increasingly popular that WiFi phones won’t be equally, if not more as smart. 

The Skype Smartphone is currently designed to work absolutely free between Skype users, and possibly will be free in various hotspots, though this can’t be positively defined. 

VoIP has faced many challenges and obstacles and is currently undergoing rules and regulations by the FCC.  Issues such as 911 and the ability to trace VoIP calls are making headline news.  What the future has in store for VoIP and VoWiFi can’t be determined but the fact that major corporations are preparing their services and developing products point to the fact that they expect VoIP and WiFi are here to stay.

Certain security features need to be addressed and wireless networks will need to assure consumers that their information will remain in highest security before the world is ready to abandon itself fully to wireless, but many people are already enjoying the cost savings from using VoWiFi phones in various hotspots.  Right now, there are no roaming charges applicable to WiFi and Cellular users will embrace this savings with open arms. 

Wireless is also the future of American business solutions.  Along with Smartphones, VoWiFi, and new wireless security, services, and products, Americans are eagerly expecting VoIP and wireless to hit the consumer market full force.

As we wait on new products and services, we can begin to explore the infant stages of what this technology has to offer.  Cingular has already begun their VoWiFi service and phones, and new access spots are sprouting daily.  Before wireless can really take the plugs out of the world, consumers will need to be assured that their data, phone calls, and E-mails will be absolutely safe.  This includes upgrading security protection against viruses, Trojans, and worms, which could potentially infect wireless systems and the future of wireless VoWiFi Smartphones.

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