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... I use the old fashioned method of communication.

We discussed this issue back in 2006, though for a different continent. But if South Korea and China can do it, why not the rest of the world? Seems like it would be a win-win for manufacturing, if nothing else.

You had me right up until you said "more competition, cheaper prices." Sorry dude. You've got four major established players, and you'd naively think this would mean vigorous competition, but in fact there's little evidence for this idea, and more troubling, there's evidence for collusion. (Shock! Gasp! A free Market perfect information perfect competition, doesn't and can never exist in actuality? Sob! Genuflecting at the Alter of Free Markets has done nothing! Cartels exist? Cry! Suicide!)

Hi Anon. I designed the wave bubble project in mid 2004 as part of my research work. While the Bubl Space project is named somewhat similarly, the wave bubble is not based on it or stolen from it or derived from it. The BublSpace project is, in fact, conceptual and never functionally existed: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2004/08/005007.htm Whereas the wave bubble is a fully functional design, completely documented, and open source.

The Sony walkman would have the same quality of headphones that come w with a set of PC headphones (Labtec etc...).

But 32K of memory would take up an entire circuit board.

A 1970's cellphone is probably the closest thing that would match.. If you really want, you can buy a working replica Brick cellphone.

Using texting as a mobile version of instant messaging seems kind of stupid, but there are some uses of texting/SMS that make sense. Software like Google Calendar can text message you calendar reminders. It looks like some banks are starting to use them to send warnings of low account balance or other problems. This could be very handy for people that are holiday shopping (or gambling) so that they don't inadvertently overdraw their account. SMS is being used elsewhere for warning about terror attacks or tsunamis. Although some problems exist (such as causing mass panic when hoax messages are sent out), this seems like a good use of SMS.

Texting isn't inherently stupid, it's just the way that people are using it that is.

... if laws such as this are passed.

Market forces and government requirements will take care of ensuring RFID chips become implanted.

The financial benefits and incentives of voluntarily getting chipped will far outweigh not being chipped.

I'm reminded of a speech given by Michael Chertoff about the role the private sector can play in traveller screening:

There are number of ways in which the private sector can really add value and play a major role in this process ... you've got a lot of people traveling almost always for private business, as we talk about trusted traveler programs getting more of the kind of information that allows us, for example, to let people move freely through airports, as we talk about biometric types of identification which maybe become available on a voluntary basis, the private sector can create a marketplace for this. If people, in fact, see value in having a biometric card and volunteering some information for it in return for getting some kind of trusted traveler status, that will create a marketplace for the technology and a marketplace for the systems that we need to drive that forward.

Once you have a sufficient number of people embracing the technology and reaping certain benefits, it's a small step from there that business can say, "Well, these people that have these chips have better chances of promotion" or whatever.

Besides, the government shall surely love the idea of having a wonderful surveillance mechanism such as this, and they (along with corporations) will continue to propagate the myth that privacy = data security, which it doesn't, in order to still use RFIDs at some point anyway.

This is demonstrated in the SM Daily Journal article when it says:

They also include measures that would bar use of RFIDs in driver's licenses and student identification badges before 2011 and set privacy-protection standards for RFIDs.

A fifth bill by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, is also on the committee's agenda. It would require companies that issue identification cards or other items containing RFIDs to disclose the personal information that would be revealed by the RFID and what steps they've taken to protect that information".

In other words, we'll let them use it anyway, as long as they protect the data, not your privacy (and they're doing such a good job of protecting our data already, of course). From there, it's just a short step to say, "Well, you've got RFIDs in your ID cards, why not get a chip in your arm to speed up time at airport check-in, or purchasing items at the counter, or 0% interest for the next year on purchases ..."

You're not required to have a mobile phone, but market forces and social pressures are pretty damn persuasive.

You're not required to get an implant, but hey, it surely helps.

I do wonder whatever became of this

"Really can't imagine what kind of services people would *want* on their phones. *shrug*"

I can, but then I remember I'm basically carrying a computer in my pocket. It's not an either/or situation. You can have a good phone that does being a phone really well AND it can do a whole host of other things, either by downloads or services. Remember the cell-phone is the one device that people of all economic and social classes have in common. Even the homeless. All those features you mentioned and no bulky "unaffordable" laptop to carry around. The only downsides are battery, power, keyboard, and display. The first two are being solved, and the last two can be resolved in the same manner laptop users do. Docking stations, or if wireless speeds ever keep up?

OK, so I looked at the article which was about a paragraph and linked me to another article which was about four lines long and linked me to another article, again about a paragraph long, linking to a "full story which gives a 404 error.

Of course, this being slashdot, I know better than to be suprised by this.

The chinese article is only three links deep and is actually online. It says "Under the new standard, all mobile phones, regardless of the brand, will be able to share one charger with a USB access, allowing users to charge handsets through laptops." - so it's still pretty ambiguous.

Also, though the Chinese effort seems to be government-mandated, the South Korean program is being requested by carriers, with no government involvement.

• Why do people in the developing world need bicycles? Because they can be used not only for transportation put to pump water.
• Why do people in the developing world need radios? Because they are important educational tools.
• Why could they possibly want video cameras? Because they are tools for encouraging self-representation in broadcast media.
• Why could those poor starving people in Africa need cell phones? Because they are tools for monitoring water safety, obtaining credit and making payments, determining where fishing happens, or simply communicating across distances without drums and smoke signals let alone to demand accountability from those unstable democracies you seem to assume exist everywhere

From the article,

Writing in The International Herald Tribune last year, Rebecca MacKinnon, a research fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, suggested that North Korea's ban on cellphones was being breached on the black market along China's border.

Here's the referenced article. Bit useless unless you live close to the border, but better than nothing I suppose.

in a way, censorship helps the advance of the technology.

http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2004/1 2/006392.htm

Obviously they got all the germs from donated used keyboards...Dirty keyboard cause infections in hospitals

Hahaha, I see. But, why everybody shows always the same image?

MakeZine
Engadget
and
Textually

Someone has another archive image? Not better, only different! :)

may now have sms functionality

http://www.gmpcs-us.com/products/globalstar/Gst_sm s.htm
http://www.satphonestore.com/sms.htm
http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2003/0 8/001300.htm

Definately check out http://www.iridium.com/ and ask how recieving an SMS works - same as normal?

Far better is to gather as much evidence as possible (dates,times,numbers etc..) and submit it to the appropriate service provider. In all cases, the offending party will more than likely have their service disconnected (nothing like a $100 reconnection charge), and a squad car parked outside their front door for an evening. UK research has shown that people who are bullies at school are more likely to become criminals as adults. Here are a good few web pages which provide professional advice:

Bullying.co.uk

BullyOnline.org

Schoolyard Bullying Goes High Tech

The UK also has a Protection from Harassment Act

Textually