Mobile phones and the web
Mobile phones are big business, as Apple’s recent iPhone launch shows. However, the real business comes not only from normal phone calls and text messages, but by linking phones to the other major technological invention of the 20th century: the Internet. WAP and other mobile to web technologies allow users to view and interact with web pages, but this type of communication is now moving even further with the integration of Windows Live Messenger and Skype.
These two services have been supporting mobile phones for a little while, but it’s only now that they are beginning to be fully utilised. Windows Live Messenger allows users to set up the software to allow others to send text messages to the user’s mobile phone. This is a great way to keep in touch while on the move without a laptop or web connection, even if it costs 20p to receive each message.
Skype, on the other hand, allows users to redirect calls to the mobile phones when they are not answered on Skype. This is good as a backup service in case you are already chatting on Skype or have not logged in, and it also means that you can answer Skype calls when you are on the move.
I have now configured these two services for myself to test them out and see how well they actually work in real life.