More and more people are looking into getting a government cell phone for low income families. By providing this kind of provision, these family members can feel much safer in their communities during an emergency.

Low Income Cell Phone Programs

Many people can have access to Internet services even if they do not have a computer in their homes, because they can go to public libraries and other public spaces where Internet access is free to everyone. However, the same cannot be said for cell phone service, since it is highly personalized and mobile.

Low income families seeking free or subsidized cell phones should expect to receive very cheap mobile phones if they are approved for the programs described below, but this is still a monumental step up from having nothing at all.

Safelink Wireless

One of the largest programs in the United States addressing this growing concern is Safelink Wireless. This is a government supported program that can provide a free handset and airtime for income-eligible customers. Interestingly, while it may seem that the government is funding the entirety of the Safelink Wireless service, the phones are not paid by taxpayers or the federal government. Instead, the service is supported by TracFone Wireless and is only available to individuals who qualify. Typically, these low income individuals are also being supported by programs like Food Stamps, Medicaid, and National Free School Lunch.

With this service, customers are provided with a mobile phone and a cheap cell phone plan that includes a limited number of minutes. They can choose to buy additional airtime as needed, but at their own expense.

Lifeline Across America

Intricately related to Safelink Wireless is a government program called Lifeline Across America. The main service supported here is called Lifeline and it "provides qualified consumers with a discount on monthly charges for their primary phone line."This is mostly targeted at conventional landline telephones, but the service is also applicable to families where the primary phone line is a cell phone. With Lifeline, consumers can save at least $10 a month on their phone bills

For a government cell phone for low income families, the other program offered by Lifeline Across America is called Link-Up. This program will pay up to $30 for a qualified consumer's home phone startup fees, even if it is a cell phone.

Free and Subsidized Phones

To best allow for the entire country to connect with one another, these government-supported programs can issue free or subsidized cell phones to those who qualify. If you already have a social worker or a relationship with someone in a similar profession, ask them for more information to see whether you qualify.

It often seems like a new generation of cell phones is hitting the market every other day. With this constant momentum behind technological development, many consumers are left feeling like they need to be on the cutting edge of new phone technologies. Unfortunately, this often leads to many perfectly good phones being thrown in the trash, where they can cause major problems for the environment. Thankfully, there are a number of very simple phone recycling options for consumers to take advantage of when they do upgrade their old phone.

Best Buy Recycling

Most people know that Best Buy is one of the world's largest electronics retailers, but not everyone knows about the extensive recycling program Best Buy has set up. There is no signup for this service. All you need to do is show up with the cell phone you want to recycle and drop it in the supplied recycling bin. Best Buy has even made a video that shows an in-depth look at what it does with the electronics that get recycled at its stores.

SellCell.com

SellCell.com compares online recycling websites that will actually pay you a base rate for the cell phone you recycle. This is because the cell phone may be refurbished and sold to someone else or used in some other way. This is a great way to get rid of your old cell phone without polluting the environment, especially since having a phone reused is even better than having it recycled. It saves all the energy required to process and repurpose the individual components of your phone by keeping the whole thing intact.

Once you have selected the program you want to use, you'll follow instructions for shipping for that particular website and then await the arrival of your money. This is a great way to get the most for your phone without having to search multiple websites for the best deal.

Apple Recycling Program

Apple has been running its own recycling program for quite a while now, and they offer a few different options for people looking to recycle their cell phones. One of the simplest ways you can recycle your phone with Apple is to simply drop it off at an Apple Store where it will be sent off for processing. On the other hand, you can fill out an online form to recycle your phone through mail for free. As an added perk, Apple will offer a 10% discount on a future Apple purchase when you physically take your phone into an Apple Store for recycling instead of mailing it in.

GRC Wireless

GRC Wireless bills itself as the largest grassroots cell phone recycler in North America. There are a few different options for people who recycle through GRC Wireless, including packages that dictate who benefits from the recycling. For example, people who recycle through GRC Wireless can have the proceeds of the recycling go to care packages for troops overseas and can even have the proceeds go toward a local school. Of course, people recycling their phone also have the option of getting the fair market value of their phone in return for recycling there. Due to the many options it offers and the great customer service it provides, GRC Wireless has become one of the most trusted names in cell phone recycling.

AT&T Recycling Program

AT&T offers a recycling program that is as easy as dropping your phone off at any AT&T store for recycling. As an added benefit, some phones will qualify you to get a promotional card that is good for a discount on AT&T products. The AT&T recycling site also has an excellent guide on how to protect your privacy when you do decide to recycle your phone with them or any other recycling vendor.

Gazelle

Gazelle is very similar to SellCell.com in that it provides you with the option of selling your used phone to the company for recycling. Gazelle is the actual company you use, versus choosing from the options available through SellCell.com. It also distinguishes itself through the myriad of payment options it provides to people who recycle their cell phones through its service. When you recycle with Gazelle, you have the option of getting a check, being paid via PayPal, or you can receive an Amazon gift card. They also offer very fast service. All you have to do is find your phone on the site and answer a few questions to see how much your phone qualifies you for in the program.

Earthworks Recycling Program

Earthworks is an environmental non-profit agency in North America whose goal is to promote sustainable alternatives to irresponsible mineral extraction methods while protecting local environments and communities. The organization has set up a cell phone recycling program that accepts phones in any condition. The proceeds of the cell phone recycling go toward supporting the mission of Earthworks as it works to protect pristine natural environments from being sullied by irresponsible mineral development. You can ship your phone to them very easily using the online form they provide on their site, and if you can ship 20 at a time they will cover the shipping.

Recycling Batteries

Sometimes your phone is in perfect condition, but your battery needs to be replaced. Simply throwing the battery in the trash can lead to big problems for the environment, so it's smart to find places where you can recycle cell phone batteries on their own. Laws surrounding the disposal of batteries vary from state to state. For example, in California retailers are required to provide recycling resources for rechargeable batteries but not non-rechargeable batteries. There is a similar law in New York state and other states around the United States. It's important to keep these laws in mind since cell phone batteries are rechargeable batteries that fall under the jurisdiction of these laws. This means that you can be fined for knowingly throwing away your cell phone battery instead of recycling it.

To recycle your cell phone batteries, you can just take them into any retailer that sells rechargeable batteries. In most states, these retailers are required by law to take your rechargeable batteries from you free of charge. This is the most effective way to ensure your batteries aren't leaking dangerous chemicals into landfills or anywhere else.

There's Always an Option

No matter what, recycling your batteries will always be more of a hassle than just turning to a garbage can and tossing it away. However, it has never been easier for people to ethically dispose of their unwanted electronics than it is now. Most cities and towns have many different places that offer cell phone and battery recycling free of charge for everyone. These days, there's no excuse for tossing a cell phone into the trash.

Staying on top of cell phone trends can almost be a full-time job in and of itself. Eric Ronaydoesn't quite understand the appeal of having the hottest new mobile phone, but he seems to be in the minority. We want new toys and we want them now.

Current Cell Phone Trends

Just as what's fashionable in clothing changes from season to season, cell phone trends evolve and change all the time as well. Here are some of the biggest current cell phone trends and we fully expect the mobile phone industry to continue along this path at least in the short term. Then again, who knows what kind of cell phones we will all have five, 10 or 20 years from now.

Slider Phones

Not that long ago, people were jumping all over the flip phone craze, perhaps best recognized by the unique Motorola RAZR phones that were released a few years ago. People loved the clamshell form factor and they really appreciated the slim profile that these handsets offered. Fast forward to today and we look to Samsung cell phones as being among the industry leaders, pushing the slider cell phone into the mainstream.

There are many advantages to the slider form factor, because they typically offer a larger main diplay than their flip phone counterparts, while maintaining an equally compact footprint. There are also HTC smartphones that slide horizontally to reveal QWERTY keyboards, again offering a larger display than something like the Motorola Q or BlackBerry Curve.

Smartphones

Speaking of smartphones, it seems that there is a growing interest in smartphone software, not only among the business community, but also among the general public. This is because many people are tired of restricting themselves to the basic suite of applications preloaded on their phones. When you look at the Windows Mobile or Symbian platform, there are innumerable third-party applications available that significantly expand the functionality of mobile phones.

The "home" screen on smartphones is also a major plus, because it grants the user instant access to pertinent information like missed calls, upcoming appointments, and other key functions. Devices like the Apple iPhone offer much more versatility than more conventional mobile phones. We want to do more with our phones these days.

Touchscreen Displays

The Apple iPhone isn't the first phone to offer a full touchscreen display, but it is certainly being credited with bringing that feature into the mainstream. PocketPC phones have had touchscreens for some time now, but after the release of the iPhone, people have recognized the versatility of eschewing physical buttons in favor of virtual ones on a touchscreen. From the HTC Touch to the LG Prada, there are touchscreen phones coming from nearly every manufacturer.

One of the most hotly anticipated touchscreen phones is the Verizon Voyager cell phone. This handset is the spiritual successor to the LG enV, featuring a full QWERTY keyboard on the inside and a large touchscreen on the outside. Nokia is reportedly working on a touchscreen technology (S60 Touch) that offers tactile feedback too.

Multimedia: Music and Camera

Mobile phones aren't just for making phone calls. Mobile entertainment has become an important component to many cell phones and critical to this package as multimedia. Music phones like the Sony W580i merge the functionality of a phone with an MP3 player, whereas camera phones are taking pictures that are almost as good as standalone digital cameras. Staying connected means staying entertained.

In addition to music and pictures, mobile Web surfing is gaining in popularity. The Safari web browser on the iPhone is particularly powerful, even when compared against Pocket Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile devices.

The Latest and Greatest

Cell phone trends are a tricky business, so you've got to keep your ear to the ground and pay attention to popular culture. On their way out are phones like the Motorola RAZR and on their way in are phones like the T-Mobile Sidekick Slide and Apple iPhone. Of all the trends, the one that is the most prominent is an obvious one: more functionality. We're a culture of wanting more of everything and cell phones are no exception.

It used to be only a problem for the elite, but driving safety and cell phones have quickly emerged into the forefront of public debate. Nearly everyone is carrying around a mobile phone these days, from BlackBerry power users to casual music listeners. Yes, even grandma is using a cell phone nowadays.

This also means that a fairly substantial amount of motorists on the road also have a cell phone within arm's reach, and as such, driving safety is of utmost importance. Add to this the pre-existing distractions of checking one's schedule, checking one's makeup in the vanity mirror, and adjusting the radio and you can see how little attention is left for actual driving.

Driving Safety and Cell Phones

When you're first learning how to operate a motor vehicle, the driving instructor usually tells you that the most important skill is that of observation. It is absolutely vital to be aware of your complete surroundings at all times, anticipating any potential hazards not only on the road ahead of you, but also beside and behind you. You never know where the next danger may come from.

When you're talking on a cell phone, however, driving does not have your full and undivided attention. This could result in a potential disaster. This is above and beyond the possibility of tumors caused by cell phones. But that's a separate discussion altogether.

Laws on Talking on Cell Phones While Driving

Laws vary from country to country, state to state. What may be perfectly legal in one city, for example, may warrant an infraction ticket of several hundred dollars in another only minutes away. It is best to stay informed on all the laws regarding the use of cell phones while on the road. Just as wearing a seatbelt is law for your own safety, the same can be said about laws that ban the use of cell phones while driving.

Safety Tips

Whether it is legal to do so or not, we here at LoveToKnow recommend that you avoid talking or text messaging while behind the wheel. Here are a few driving tips that you may want to keep in mind.

• Use that voicemail. All mobile phone operators give you the option of adding voicemail to your cell phone plan. Why not just let the machine take it? You can always return the call when you get to your destination.
• Let someone else answer. If you have passengers in the car, it is better for them to take the call on your behalf than to have your attention diverted from the road.
• Use a Bluetooth headset. This lets you keep both hands on the wheel so that you can best react to the road conditions. Some have said that it is more about the distraction of being in a conversation that results in accidents, as well as the fact that the person on the other end of the line isn't aware of your current road conditions (upcoming intersections, merging, etc.). Having a headset may not be a complete "cure", but it certainly can't hurt.

Better Safe Than Sorry

The concerns surrounding driving safety and cell phones will only become more important in the coming years. Thankfully, there is a variety of new technology available on the market that is trying to aid this effort, but it is ultimately up to you as the concerned citizens to do your part and make the roads safer for ourselves, our parents, friends, children and loved ones.

If at all possible, please pull over on the side of the road before making or taking that important call. Better still, wait until you are at your destination before calling back.

The use of cell phones in a school setting is hotly debated for both students and teachers. While some see a teacher's cell phone as another learning tool, others view it as a distraction. However, there are experts that make valid cases for both sides.

Advantages of Teachers' Cell Phones in the Classroom

Many professionals believe that cell phone usage by a teacher is acceptable. There are different reasons that teachers think cell phones are acceptable and even helpful in the classroom.

Cell Phones Improve Communication

Amanda McDonald, a veteran 4^th grade teacher, notes that cell phones can be helpful teaching tools and communication aids. Not only are they valuable for looking up facts, but teachers can have quick access to things like timers and calculators. Experts in a Huffington Post article on technology in the classroom agree that cell phones can be beneficial for communicating with parents about behavior or scheduling changes, and Common Sense Education says that they can be helpful for streamlining parent-teacher communication in several ways. They are also useful in case of an emergency.

McDonald does note, however, that ensuring that the security and material on a teacher's cell phone is appropriate at all times is important since it will be used as a learning tool. She also recommends that teachers notify the students of what they are using their cell phones for.

Educational Learning Apps

Teachers can also use their cell phones for educational learning or behavior management apps with students. Not only can the students and teacher use the apps to learn about subjects or engage in learning, teachers can also use learning applications to invoke better time management and studying.

Cell Phones Help With Classroom Activities

Using cell phones in learning can make it easier. A whopping 73 percent of teachers stated that they used cell phones to help with classroom activities. This is because it makes it easier to engage students if teachers can connect their learning to digital platforms they understand like Twitter and Snapchat. Additionally, cell phones can make grading, attendance and behavior management easier. A 2017 study in India showed that 86 percent of teachers in the study were in favor of cell phone use for classroom activities and felt it was not a distraction.

Arguments Against Use of Teacher Cell Phones

While there are many teachers that support the use of cell phones by teachers and students alike, there are some individuals opposed to the idea, especially in younger grades. The reasons they see cell phones as a menace are quite varied.

Cell Phones Are Not Necessary

With access to a computer and phone within the classroom, many feel there isn't any reason that a teacher needs to use his or her personal cell phone. Schools may also provide teachers with access to tablets for their use, which makes the use of a personal cell phone unnecessary.

Cell Phones Are Distracting

While teachers are professionals, the need to check messages or respond to a call could distract from learning and students. This could lead to children not getting 100 percent of the teacher's attention. While checking a message might not seem like much, doing it throughout the day can lead to an unproductive and even unsafe environment.

Compromises Data and Information

Using a personal cell phone to document children through a video, photo, communicate with parents or even record grades or information could violate confidentiality. Since the information was recorded on a personal device, it could be hacked or leaked in a way that is not approved by a parent. Additionally, it could even be against the law if the photos were posted in the wrong area or without parent consent. This could also be a safety issue if the images get into the wrong hands.

The Board Is Still Out

Whether teachers should have cell phones is a valid debate currently raging through schools. While they can be a great communication and learning tool that students already have, using cell phones could cause teachers to be distracted. They could also very well be a security liability. While there is not a right or wrong answer on this topic, teachers should consider both sides before taking a cell phone into the classroom.

The source of much public debate, the issue of whether to allow children and teens to bring their mobile phones to school has been discussed and debated at length across the country. Even now, there is no clear-cut answer or conclusion. There are many arguments against allowing cell phones in the classroom.

Distractions

When a child is in school, his or her purpose there is to learn. Young people can be easily distracted from their studies - and having easy access to a mobile phone during class can make it easier for them to lose focus. According to a 2010 study from Pew Research Center, 64% of students say they have texted in class and 25% have made or taken a call. And it's not just talking to others. That same study noted that 46% of students play games and 23% access social networks on their phone at any time. If they become bored with the class material, it doesn't take much for them to take their cell phone to play some games or to check their news feed on Facebook or Twitter. How can you expect a child or teen to absorb the knowledge they need to learn if they're not even paying attention?

Cheating

Obviously, kids won't be able to take out their cell phones and talk to one another in the classroom during an exam, but the concept of "passing notes" has stepped into the age of technology, thanks to text messaging. Texts can be sent quite discreetly while in the classroom. Taking it one step further, a student can excuse himself to go to the washroom, only to use that time to send text messages about important questions.

It's also important to bear in mind that cell phones are advancing and improving faster than ever. Smartphones can surf the web, providing high-tech ways for students to look for test answers online. Some models have advanced calculators, and depending on the software, may even be able to run custom applications that can contribute to academic dishonesty. Just to look at the statistics, a study from The Benenson Strategy Group in 2009 stated that 35% of students have used cell phones to cheat. Additionally, 41% of students admit to storing notes on phones to use during tests and 46% of teens admitted to texting friends about answers. The possibilities for cheating and copying are literally limitless when students have access to cell phones in class.

Theft

Cell phone theft is a problem in America with 3.1 million cellphones being stolen in 2013, according to Consumer Reports. Now add still developing brains, hormones and social status to the mix, and you can have the perfect combination for stealing if a particular individual brings an especially expensive cell phone to school. The last thing you want to do is to tempt the would-be thieves by sending your child to school with a piece of equipment that make him or her a target. Lockers are more likely to be broken into, for example, if they know there is something of value in there.

Illicit Pictures

Kids will be kids, so with hormones raging during their school days, there is a distinct possibility that some students may take pictures or videos that they shouldn't be taking. Given that nearly every cell phone these days has a built-in digital camera, it becomes too easy to take a picture of someone without the person even noticing. These photos are also easily uploaded and shared over the Internet, social media or texted to friends. All it takes is a simple Google search to see news stories of teenagers expelled or suspended for distributing illicit pictures of others like these students in Shakopee Public Schools. Can you imagine the uproar if pictures were to arise of girls in the dressing room or boys in the locker room?

Cyberbullying

Along the same lines, cell phones also make it easier to cyberbully, which is when a person uses electronic communication to intimidate, threaten or humiliate a person. Not only can cell phones make it easier for rumors to spread like wildfire through the school with a simple click of a button, but students can also send mean or hurtful texts to students and post inappropriate pictures of students.

Data from the Cyberbullying Research in 2016 showed that 33.8% of students have been bullied in their lifetime, 11.9% have been threated through a cell phone text and 11.1% have had a hurtful image of them posted. In addition, a whopping 25.7% have had one or more different types of cyberbullying done to them. With cell phones readily available in schools, cyberbullying can become a lot easier to accomplish.

Socioeconomic Diversity

Cell phones can easily become seen as status symbols among students. In some schools, it is the more privileged kids that own cell phones or that have the latest phone on the market. This can lead to envy and cause socioeconomic diversity among students. Those with lower-end phones or no phones at all often become jealous and resentful. Those with the higher-end phones can show them off and look down on those who don't have the latest phone.

Inappropriate Material

Cell phones are becoming more and more advanced mini computers that allow students to access material at the click of the screen. While most schools have filters and regulations to block out inappropriate material, with 48% of students looking up unsuitable sites, they can find a way around this. This coupled with larger classrooms can make access to inappropriate material easier. Now imagine students texting that material to other students. Pretty soon, it will be everywhere.

Target for Predators

Many students use the internet or access social media sites without teacher or parent supervision. These students can be targeted by predators. Predators lurk in chat rooms, on social media sites and other websites that are of interest to students. With the use of smartphones and other devices, it can be hard to monitor a student's online activity.

Harmful Physical Effects

The EPA has regulations that discourage too much exposure to technology and allowing students to have cell phones in school can increase their screen time during the day. Cell phones give off a low level of non-ionizing radiation for which the long-term effects at low levels are still being studied. However, allowing students to use their cell phones during school adds to their exposure to this radiation, which can in turn have increased harmful effects on the developing bodies and minds of teenagers.

The Other Side of the Story

Realize that cell phones are not necessarily a bad thing for students to have and carry to school. Just as there are a number of cons to allowing cell phones to be used in school, there also a number of pros too. Parents can decide if a phone is appropriate for their child and set guidelines on how they want it to be used. Many schools also have set rules on whether cell phones are permitted or not so it is best to check with the school's specific policy before sending your child in with a cell phone.

As more cell phone towers go up across the country, and more people start using cell phones, more cell phone users are questioning whether or not they need to use a cell phone anti-radiation shield.

Do You Need A Cell Phone Anti-Radiation Shield?

If you search hard enough, you'll be able to locate legitimate scientific studies that indicate there may be a cancer risk from the radio wave radiation that's emitted from your cell phone. On the other hand, you'll be able to find just as many studies that prove there's no danger from the levels of radiation coming from your phone. What do you believe?

Unfortunately, the current state of cell phone radiation research is similar to the early days of tobacco research. It wasn't until 1999 when the U.S. Department of Justice finally filed a racketeering lawsuit against the major tobacco companies for engaging in a "50 year scheme" to counteract any scientific evidence that showed that cigarettes are harmful to a person's health. Is the potential cell phone cancer link the same sort of scenario? Are cell phone companies funding and promoting research that "proves" no link from cell phone radio radiation in an effort to discredit those studies that are uncovering problems?

The Body of Evidence

When you examine the studies that exist on both sides of the debate, it can feel overwhelming. It seems like every year there are new studies that find harmful health effects of cell phone radiation, as well as studies that show no health effects whatsoever. So who do you believe? Should you get a cell phone anti-radiation shield?

Studies that Show Harmful Health Effects

• In February of 2008, a research study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The study, conducted at Tel Aviv University, examined 500 Israelis who had developed salivary gland cancer and compared their level of mobile phone usage to 1,300 healthy adults. The researchers discovered that within the entire group, those who used their cell phone for a few hours a day had 50 percent higher odds of developing a salivary gland tumor.
• A 2004 research study conducted by a research team in Stockholm, Sweden reported in the Epidemiology Journal that using a cell phone for over ten years quadrupled the risk of developing a rare tumor called acoustic neuromas. The World Health Organization (WHO) funded the study.

Studies that Show No Effects to Health

• In June of 2008, a Japanese study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, considered how mobile phone radiation levels affected different parts of the brain. After studying the mobile phone use of 322 brain cancer patients and 683 healthy adults, the study concluded that using a mobile phone "regularly" did not increase the risk of brain cancer.
• In 2006, a study from Denmark, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, followed 420,000 cell phone users and compared their records to the Danish Cancer Registry. The study found that there's no increased risk of suffering from cancer by using a cell phone.

With all of these studies, we have to remember that correlation does not imply causation. Are cell phones causing (or not causing) the damage or is it a third factor that has been left unaccounted for?

The Decision to Use a Radiation Shield

Lately, more news has surfaced regarding the potential damaging health effects of extensive cell phone use.

Reasons for Concern

In one disturbing story from 2003

In 2008, the most surprising news article reported that Dr. Ronald Herbermann, the director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, advised his 3,000 faculty and staff to keep the cell phone away from the head by using a headset and to keep children from using cell phones except in emergencies. He cites unpublished scientific studies as the source of his concern.

Where to Find a Cell Phone Anti-Radiation Shield

If you are concerned about the possible health effects of radio wave radiation emitted by your cell phone, your options are simple and cheap. This kind of radiation is at its highest levels nearest the antenna. Also, not all cell phones are created equal. Sar Shield offers a useful radiation chart for cell phones that provides an accurate "Sar rating" for every cell phone model. It's important to realize that at these low radiation levels, if you keep the cell phone away from your head and body, you are perfectly safe. However, if you'd rather not use a headset, then there are plenty of resources to obtain a radiation shield for your phone.

• Amazon also offers plenty of products, such as this Anti-Radiation and Battery Salvager
• If you prefer clipping your cell phone to your pants pocket, consider buying some phone-radiation EMF blocking underwear from Swedish underwear maker, Isa Bodywear.

Making Your Decision

A few years ago, the science regarding links between cell phone radiation and various health ailments was a very emergent science. Even today, most scientists disagree about many of the findings. However, the fact that so many new studies are discovering effects that cell phone radiation can have on human biology, it makes sense to play it safe. If there are no negative health effects, then you're only out a few bucks. But if it turns out there really are serious health issues related to cell phone radiation, then by protecting yourself early, you can protect your health and potentially save your life by getting a cell phone anti-radiation shield.

As they have become ubiquitous in just about every aspect of everyday life, it is interesting to consider how cell phones have helped businesses grow. Remember that mobile phones have only become mainstream devices in the last couple of decades; in this very short amount of time, they have had a tremendous impact on society at large.

Five Ways Cell Phones Have Helped Businesses Grow

When cell phones first emerged on the scene, they were relatively expensive to purchase and even more expensive to maintain. The monthly plans were quite costly, considering the relatively few number of minutes that users were able to get for that amount of money. These days, however, mobile phones offer much more than just voice calls. In addition to impacting the lives of everyday people, it is interesting to consider how cell phones have helped businesses grow in the last ten or twenty years.

Out of Office Communication

Before there were mobile phones, workers who left the office would effectively not be able to communicate with the office unless they found a pay phone or borrowed the telephone at a neighboring business. Even then, the office would not be able to reach the employee unless he or she had a pager or some other similar device. This is terribly inconvenient.

However, with the rising adoption of company cell phones, employees can stay in touch with the office no matter where they happen to be. They could be at a business meeting across town or at a conference across the country; they're still reachable. This makes it infinitely more useful for the office, as quick questions can be quickly answered at will. It also means that customers can be more easily reached (and they can more easily reach the specific employee), helping to accelerate the growth of any given business.

Mobile Professionals on the Go

Perhaps even more profound is the impact that cell phones have had on professionals who are always on the go. From TV repair technicians to shuttle bus operators, mobile phones have allowed them to be accessible to whoever needs to contact them. If you have an appointment with a plumber and then you suddenly realize you wont' be home later in the day, you can call him and tell him to come back another day. This is even bigger for professionals like real estate agents.

Social Media Promotions

More recently, society has seen a greater adoption of smartphones, as well as the rising popularity of social media. When you look at how cell phones have helped businesses grow, you can consider social networks like Foursquare. People are advertising where they are (for free), helping to promote the businesses that they are visiting. These "check-ins" add to the brand presence and brand awareness, helping businesses reach an increasingly large customer base.

Spawning Tangential Businesses

Just as how the automotive industry helped to grow businesses related to car repair, car rental, and gasoline, the same kind of phenomenon happened with mobile phones. As more cell phones filtered into the market, a greater need emerged for cell phone cases, cell phone headsets, cell phone charms, and other cell phone accessories. Related businesses like cell phone unlocking services, cell phone repair, cell phone rental, and so forth also grew tremendously.

Smartphone Applications

The rise of smartphones has also given rise to smartphone applications. These have huge potential for growing businesses as well. Consider the UrbanSpoon app as an example. If someone is out and about, looking for an interesting place to have dinner, he can take out his iPhone, launch the UrbanSpoon app, and find a nearby restaurant. This restaurant may not have otherwise attracted this particular customer had he not had access to such a mobile application.

Looking Toward the Future

Success in business is heavily related to taking advantage of opportunities. Mobile phones may not be directly related to the business of running a financial institution, but you can be sure that cell phones have impacted that industry. Looking to the future, many other innovations could lead to even greater growth and an even stronger economy.

Tracing a mobile phone location can give you peace of mind, especially if you have teenagers, or anyone else you'd like to be able to keep tabs on! You don't need a GPS-enabled phone if you have a cell phone tracking program through your service provider. That makes tracking anyone on your family plan easy. However, if you're worried about being tracked by a mere acquaintance, your ex, or a stranger who came across your phone number, you're protected.

Services for Tracing a Mobile Phone Location

There are a few ways to use mobile phones to trace the locations of those you want to "watch." You can opt for a family plan, which is good if you have teenagers or a spouse you'd like to keep tabs on. Not only that, but if you're a business owner and have traveling employees, this type of service will be helpful for keeping track of where they - and critical shipments - are.

Another option is a social networking solution where users broadcast their locations to their friends. This gives the seeker less control because it's easy for the cell phone user to turn off the service that allows them to be found.

Family Plans

• AT&T has a plan called FamilyMap that allows users to locate any other cell phones on their family plan using a PC or their own mobile phone. You won't be able to do it discreetly, however, because the other cell phone user will receive texts alerting them to the fact that they are being watched. You can track the location via an online map (real time) or receive texts of your own with location updates. The price varies based on how many phones are on the plan and uses GPS technology to locate the cell phones.
• Sprint has a similar plan called Sprint Family Locator. There is a free 15-day trial period and an accompanying Android app to help you locate your kids from your phone.
• Verizon also has a Family Locator program where the app must be downloaded onto every phone you want to locate. There is an Android app to receive arrival and departure updates for each family member, as well as to create scheduled location updates.

Social Networking

Take things up a notch from social networking methods like Facebook and Twitter. Allow your friends to find you by locating your cell phone. You're in control of your security settings with these, so you can hide from everyone or be detectable by only a few friends.

• Google Latitude: With this service, you can share your location with whomever you wish. When you don't want to be found, simply turn off Google Latitude. You will also be able to see your friends' locations either on your phone or your computer.
• Foursquare: This is another social networking service based on location, but users have to actively "check in" to each venue that they visit. This information is then shared with friends at the discretion of the user.

Smartphone Apps

All kinds of apps are available to smartphones these days and GPS tracking is no exception.

• GPS Tracker by InstaMapper is available for the Apple iPhone and Google Android. It is a free real-time GPS tracking service, including the ability to record tracks for later analysis. Up to 100,000 positions can be recorded for each device and a map of your current location can be embedded on nearly any webpage.
• GPS Tracking Pro is an Android app offered by Family Safety Production. The free app lets you track family or friends in real-time using GPS technology. It is also available for iPhone or for a standalone GPS locator device.

Turning Your Phone into a GPS Device

You can do even more than trace a mobile phone location. When you turn your phone into a GPS device using tools like those from AccuTracking, you can:

• Find out where your phone is
• Find out which direction it is headed
• Get a text message alert when the driver goes over the speed limit or leaves a designated area

If your cell phone and service provider are compatible with the service, you have to load software onto your mobile phone first. You can then trace where your phone is on an online map. The phone will have to be in the network area; if it is outside, it will not show up on your online map.

Privacy and Security

Does the idea of tracing a mobile phone location make you nervous because you're afraid someone who means you harm may be able to track you down? Take comfort in this: if someone isn't already on your cell phone plan, it should be next to impossible for them to acquire the information they need to trace your mobile phone location and find you - unless you choose to allow them into a social network that you use to share your location.

Legal Protection

According to I.C.U. Tracer Services, it has been "illegal to sell, transfer, or possess confidential phone records" since President Bush signed off on the H.R. 4709 The Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006 on January 12, 2007.

I went to the car emissions place recently (a requirement before we renew our license plates each year here in Tennessee), and as I was leaving they handed me a small vinyl bag.

I asked what that was for, and they said it’s an easy way to recycle your cell phone.

This reminded me of other websites I’d previously bookmarked as being “reputable” sites for cell phone recycling.

So I’m passing those sites along to you, as well as:

• Explaining why cell phone recycling is important.
• Showing you what to do before you donate old phones.
• Highlighting the best options for recycling cell phones.

Why Recycle Your Old Cell Phone?

A study by the EPA showed that only 11% of e-waste is made up of mobile phones — which means almost 90% of them are ending up in landfills or sitting in desk drawers.

Also according to the EPA, for every million cell phones we recycle, we can save 35,000 pounds of copper, 774 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium.

Not to mention the toxic chemicals you would be keeping out of groundwater, air, and soil.

Before You Recycle Cell Phones

Kim Komando was the first person that I heard recommend cell phone recycling. She’s an online and radio host who talks about all things electronic — including computers and cell phones.

On her radio show, I heard her share these tips:

• Before you decide how you want to recycle your cell phone, you should delete all personal data — even if you’re passing it onto someone you know.
• These are the steps to effectively erase the data on your phone. (There are also a number of data eraser apps, too.)

Now that your personal information has been safely removed from your device, it’s ready for donation.

There are a variety of options from phone carrier and manufacturer-sponsored initiatives to third party organizations — such as drop-off centers that recycle cell phones, mail back programs, websites, and charity drives.

Cell Phone Recycling Centers & Donation Programs

Here are a few other cell phone recycling options:

#1 – Operation Gratitude – seeks to lift troops’ morale and bring smiles to their faces by sending care packages to service members in harm’s way and to Wounded Warriors. 

#2 – Smartphone Recycling – a great program from industry leader GRC Wireless. GRC Wireless has helped tens of thousands of nonprofits, community organizations, and schools raise over $15 million through cell phone and smartphone recycling.

#3 – Hopeline Phone Recycling – exclusive to Verizon Wireless, they donate money towards domestic violence victims.

#4 – Gazelle – One of the most popular trade-in options for old cell phones. You can ship it for free and receive a check or gift card to Amazon.com or PayPal — after they verify that the phone is in the condition you stated.

#5 – Any Phone Carrier – For example, AT&T has a trade-in program for unwanted phones and accessories regardless of manufacturer or carrier. You get a “promotion card” which can then be used to take money off a new phone or any other purchase.

#6 – Eco Cell – they partner with nonprofits and organizations. Bins are located in coffee shops and other businesses around the country — where the collected phones are shipped to an Eco Cell location in Louisville, Kentucky. If the phones are reusable, they resell them and pass some of the money back to the owner.