Today’s world has witnessed the inculcation of wireless technology into our everyday lives.  Mobile phones, in particular, have changed and improved the ways in which people connect and interact with each other.  Mobile technology successfully bridged the gap of time and distance, enabling people to instantly get in touch with one another at any given time and place.

However, as there are benefits when it comes to instant connectivity, it is not without its corresponding price.  It happens with just a click of the mouse.  The moment you make your identity “open” for the public to see, you are not only opening yourself up to connecting with potential friends, clients and partners.  Unfortunately, you also leave yourself vulnerable to fraudulent and malicious characters lurking in the Mobile Web.

A number of factors are at play when it comes to mobile privacy and security, especially now with the recent emergence of additional technology.  For instance, the advent of camera phones have caused quite a stir.  There have been incidents wherein camera phones, clipped to the belt or placed in a discreet location, were used by “undercover” criminals to document and send to the internet, or an associate/accomplice, the location of valuable contents of a victim’s home, or sometimes even more private/scandalous material.

Another privacy concern that has sprung up is the increase in the sending and receiving of unsolicited SMS messages, the mobile version of Internet Spam.  Mobile phone companies have been labeled as the main culprit here and the public has become more vocal about the irritation factor that this service has caused.  In some cases, mobile users have complained about being annoyed after opening a text message only to find a promotional message from a retailer advertising about a new product.  To top it all off, it came with a fee and the message was actually charged to a mobile phone user.

In addition, mobile phones with built-in bluetooth functions are immediately exposed to the prospect of being hacked.  Also, possible threats may emerge with the combining of mobile phone networks and the Internet.  Especially now with the advent of mobile sites.  People uploading their personal profiles and information into the Mobile Web are immediately prey to malicious peers.  However, a number of mobile site providers, Mobilemo for example, are addressing this issue by offering privacy setting features that enables mobile site owners the discretion to choose only a specific list of contacts and networks that may view their mobile sites and personal information.

It must be noted, however, that more than the technology, it is the people themselves that are responsible for these security and privacy concerns.  The technology is only there for people to use and take advantage of.  Ergo, as with every human encounter, there will always be risks that come along with its corresponding benefits.

Today, mobile phones have become a staple in every person’s bag or pocket.  It has revolutionized the way people communicate and connect with one another.  It has successfully bridged the gap once caused by distance and space.  It has broken barriers.

Current statistics have revealed that there are thrice as many mobile phones now than there are personal computers.  According to Cellular Online, global mobile phone subscribers in 2003 amounted to 1.52 billion, around 20 percent of the current world population.   To say that the mobile phone has become one of the most successful inventions in the 20th century is an understatement.

In just a span of 20 years, the global demand for mobile phones has exponentially increased.  With people from across the globe instantly connecting with one another through calls, text messages or, most recently, video phone conferences, it is quite hard to imagine there was a time wherein getting in touch with a friend or business partner was a challenge.

The mobile phone started becoming one of the major communication devices in the late 90s.  The first commercial mobile phone system started in the late 1970s in Japan.  Mobile phones were invented for the sole purpose of enabling users to communicate easily and freely wherever they want.  In the late 90s, however, the invention of a new mobile technology, SMS, made it even easier for people to interact.  SMS is a transmission of a short text message from one mobile phone to another.  This revolutionized mobile technology and elevated mobile phones into a device that not only allows simple voice to voice telecommunication.   It evolved into a mobile lifestyle.

Eventually, the years that followed witnessed the emergence of the mobile phone as an entertainment device.  With functions such as cameras, FM radios, MP3 players, and Personal Digital Assistance (PDA) functions built into the mobile phone, the desire to own a mobile phone has increased tenfold.  From early stages of analog cellular to the latest 3G mobile phone system, mobile technology has been witnessing rapid changes.  Every change has also been a major improvement–from mere voice-to-voice communication, to WAP and GPRS internet connection to the eventual rise of the Mobile Web.  The mobile phone has indeed become one of the leading technologies in the world.

The convenience brought about by mobile technology has changed the life of people in society.  Businesses, for one, are able to gather information about the latest industry news and reports at any given time and place.  The emergence of mobile site providers has also provided a new avenue wherein they can freely promote their products and services through the mobile web.  On a more social aspect, mobile site providers have also given people the opportunity to form mobile communities with peers sharing similar interests.

Along with mobile phone developments, other subsidiary technologies have also been introduced by mobile phone companies.  These products include Bluetooth, Symbian (operating system designed specifically for mobile phones) and other programming software.  These technologies have helped improve the interactive aspect of mobile phones, generating wider usage from users.  More and more companies are now aiming to claim a chunk of the mobile phone market.

Tech experts are also predicting that a new mobile phone network system, Fourth Generation Mobile or 4G, will be introduced to the market in the near future.  This will mean stronger and clearer signals and higher speed connection through the internet.  From the looks of things, mobile phones may even replace personal computers in the future!

In the lives of many, the iPhone and iPod are more important than their very heartbeat. Working out, driving, mowing the lawn, rocking their baby, making love . . . it doesn’t matter to these people, their iPod or iPhone is as integral a part of their life as breathing. But what happens when these beloved devices turn on you?

Think Megatron in iPod form: although these devices might bring joy to the entire human population, Apple has done everything to hide their true dangers behind a vibrant and brightly colored marketing campaign.
Throughout the past decade, Apple has done an excellent job promoting their products. However, rarely do we see the dark side of iWorld. After thorough research and thought, we have discovered 13 deadly, or near death experiences involving the iPhone or iPod.

As you can guess, getting hit by a car while listening to your iPod or talking on your iPhone is the most common way to die, but you wouldn’t believe some of the other iFatalities. Some of these will simply blow your mind, while others will have you considering switching back to the Sony Walkman.

Welcome to the iCurse:

1)iEpileptic Seizures:

If you thought horrible Japanese anime was the only thing that caused epileptic seuizures, think again. Stacey Gayle of Queens loved her reggae music . . . but there was one major problem. When she began listening to the song “Temperature” by Sean Paul on her iPod, she began convulsing at the 2 minute mark of the song. This condition was heartbreaking for Gayle, to the point she was nearing suicide before submitting to brain surgery. Go ahead . . . see if you can make it through the song without dropping to the ground:

2) iLightning Conductor:

If the iPhone or iPod had a 4 foot metal pole attached to a golf club and the guy were standing in the middle of a prairie field during a thunderstorm . . . we could understand getting struck by lightning. However, in 2006, Jason Bunch was sitting in his Denver, CO living room listening to his iPod when he was struck by a bolt. He stated:

“From where the iPod was, it damaged my hearing and it ruptured my eardrums. Where the cord was, it burned me all down my body,” said Bunch. “We need to shave my head because my hair is like dreadlocks. It’s all sticking together.”

Here are a few lightning stats:

Number of thunderstorms occurring at any given moment: 2000

Number of lightning strikes every second: 100

Number of lightning strikes per day: 8 Million

Number of lightning strikes in the USA per year: 20 Million

Number of VOLTS in a lightning flash: 1 Billion

Number of AMPS in a lighting flash: between 10,000 and 200,000

And his iPod made Jason the unlucky guy to catch one of these.

3) iCaught my Pants on Fire:

Everyone’s been caught with their pants down before, but Danny William’s pants had flames coming up to his chest. All because of an iPod nano he had tucked away in his pocket.

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Thank you for bearing with our downtime last week.  We’re now back with a completely redesigned site! The new Mobilemo has a cleaner, more user-friendly interface.  It’s not merely a cosmetic change, though.  We’ve also updated the platform with new features and enhanced the ones you’re already used to.

Here’s a summary of the changes:

• Totally redesigned interface
• Live preview when creating mobile pages
• All mobile pages are now editable
• Additional text-wrapping layout (two-image text-wrapping, left and right)
• Multiple file uploads (maximum of 5 files per upload, each not exceeding 5MB)
• Multiple accept/decline of friend invites
• Broadcast feature (you can opt to automatically alert your contacts via email every time you update your mobile site)
• New control panel / user home layout
• Add friends through mobile phone

Another feature coming up is an email alert for each tool.  This will make it easy for you to keep track of all of your contacts’ mobile site activities.

Check back in to try out and enjoy the all new Mobilemo.  We appreciate the feedback of those who have already posted their comments here.  Stay tuned as we continue to improve your Mobilemo experience.