Cell phone - A utility?

Years ago,people treated most of the basic needs, which are known to us as "Utilities", as luxuries. For instance it was a surprise that a tap when turned gives water, a touch of a finger on a switch would light up the entire house. Today we know atleast most parts of the world don't have to be surprised at these wonders. Its not different from the fact that we breathe air and we don't realize it.


Although, most of us concur the above fact, it is intricate to categorize the

various materials in our life as utilities, we cannot live without.

One such material at question is our very own communicating tool, "Cell Phones". Have we really become accepted this device as our everyday utility that has become a necessicity?

How-stuff-works.com quotes "To start with, one of the most interesting things about a cell phone is that it is actually a radio. -- an extremely sophisticated radio, but a radio nonetheless. " Perhaps one did not imagine, then, a radio turned into cell phone would completely change the way people communicate today.

A cell phone in itself is a compilation of several utilites that it provides people in various scenarios. Text messaging, applications involving games, pictures, sounds and the like, wireless applications(WAP) are some of them, apart from the ability to make calls to anywhere in the world!

Various technologies are emerging that claim to make this device more of a utility than just an option for most of us. GSM, GPRS, 3G technologies have made it possible for faster data rates and coverage of network.

Also with that goes, needless to mention, cell phone network providers are growing in number as well. Infact interestingly subscription paying sytem that exists for our utilities like electricity, gas and what have you, holds good for cell phone bills as well!

As you read this post, several cell phones are probably buzzing around the world waiting to connect to someone!
Can we really fathom a world without cell phones?