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!