The Cell Phone Handbook [Paperback]

P J Stetz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

Cellular phones have gone from a "gee whiz" curiosity to an indispensable communications link for more than 224 million U.S. subscribers. Despite cell phones' enormous popularity, it has been difficult to get reliable, objective information on which to base purchases and maximize performance. This bestseller is the bible of the exploding wireless telephone industry. It provides a solid understanding of wireless technologies so you can make an informed purchase decision the next time you buy wireless equipment or services. Learn everything you need to know about cell phones and get an insider's view of how the industry works and where it's headed.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Cellular phones have gone from a "gee whiz" curiosity to an indispensable communications link for more than 70 million U.S. subscribers. Despite cell phones' enormous popularity, it has been difficult to get reliable, objective information on which to base purchases and maximize performance. Until now.

This book will answer questions such as:
-What's the difference between analog and digital cellular, and which is best for me?
-What's the difference between GSM, TDMA, PACS, and CDMA?
-Which carriers are available in what cities, and how do I choose one?
-What is PCS, and how is it different from regular cellular?
-How does the service by Nextel fit into the picture?
-How do I transmit fax, e-mail, and data over cellular?
-How do I know what rate plan is best for me?

This book will give you a solid understanding of wireless technologies so you can make an informed purchase decision the next time you buy wireless equipment or services. You will also get an insider's view of how the industry works and where it's headed. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Author

In the two and a half years since the first edition of this book was published, 59 million people signed up for new wireless phone service. That's a growth of 84 percent! There have been some terrific reductions in the cost of wireless phone usage. In fact, a growing number of people are using cell phones as their only phones or to replace their long distance carriers.

3G promises some very exciting applications. Technological advancements such as OLED displays s will give us cheaper phones, and 3G data speeds will allow us to do things with our phones and palmtops that we can only dream of today. Bluetooth, finally becoming a reality in 2002, will help us cut the cord even more than wireless phones have.

There has never been a better time to get a wireless phone. There are lots of options for all types of users. I hope this book makes buying and using a wireless phone a more gratifying experience for you. You can find updates on URLs listed in the book at The Wireless Whiz website. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 436 pages
• Publisher: FindTech Ltd; 2 edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097876370X
• ISBN-13: 978-0978763701
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,806,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides a good history and knowledge of cell phone systems, August 19, 2000

By 

K. Morris (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cell Phone Handbook: Everything You Wanted to Know About Wireless Telephony (But Didn't Know Whom or What to Ask) (Paperback)

Ever wonder what people did for portable telephony before cell phones? Ever wonder how cell phones came about and how they have developed? Ever wonder how a cellular system works? Ever wonder what the difference between cellular and PCS is? Or digital vs. analog? Or a dozen other questions regarding cell phones? Then this is a good book for you.

This book tries to answer just about every question you could have about cellular phones and the technology associated with them, and it does a pretty darn good job of doing so without having to have an engineering degree to understand it all.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, No-nonsense, and VERY readable. Recommended., January 18, 2000

By 

Amrit B. Tiwana (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cell Phone Handbook: Everything You Wanted to Know About Wireless Telephony (But Didn't Know Whom or What to Ask) (Paperback)

Comprehensive, insightful, and fun to read This book is a very well written and in-depth treatment of cellular telephony technology. Not only does it provide extensive coverage of the basics of cell phone technology, it also covers more advanced topics such as roaming and zoning. If you've been unfortunate enough to fall into the trap of a cell phone service provider with a '$20/month' plan and soon realized that you're trapping footing $60/month bills for your service, you'll soon realize why this book is is also very practical. I love the way the author discusses (p.75) the process of making service choices using an interactive worksheet. Having taught classes on telecommunications in a business school at the university level, and having gone through the proces of making a book choice for my entire classes, I truly believe that this book is the best I've seen on the topic. A comprehensive index, a fun to read FAQ chapter (that answers questions that are sometimes even embarrasing to ask), and a clear writing stuyle make this a cool addition to my book shelf. For sure, this book is worth every dollar.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cell Phone Handbook - A MUST READ!, May 8, 2000

By 

Kris Howe (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cell Phone Handbook: Everything You Wanted to Know About Wireless Telephony (But Didn't Know Whom or What to Ask) (Paperback)

A MUST read for anyone who wants to know a little or a lot about cellular service! The Cell Phone Handbook can give you all the information, (and then some,) that you need to become a knowledgeable member of the wireless phenom. It is well written and succinct. If you happen to be in the cellular industry then it is a great reference guide as it is also more than the basics. Regardless of your reason for reading, from basic to advanced, you will get your money's worth. The GLOSSARY alone makes this book a bargain!