Cell Phone Technology in Canada and Japan - Case Study Example

Running Header: Cell Phone Technology in Canada and Japan Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Name & Code: Date of Submission: Cell Phone Technology in Canada and Japan Introduction Telecommunications has a wide category in the global market and cell phones have changed the modern world into a new era of Internet enabled cell phones with cameras, GPS and also advanced multi-media for entertainment. Cell phones in the contemporary society are part of basic needs because many business deals, relationships and communication with anyone in the global community often occur through a phone. Canada initiated telephone technology through Graham Bell in Brantford Ontario. It also has the first Trans-Atlantic radio transmission and other discoveries which led a more modernized form of cell phone technology in Japan and other developed countries (Logan, 2010). Canada cell phone users are still using the phone for basic functions such as to make and receive phone calls and texts while Japan has moved to another level where cell phones are also used for entertainment and learning for kids (Watanabe, 2001). THESIS STATEMENT: This essay will discuss cell phones as part of telecommunications in both Canada and Japan, compare the cell phone markets and explain the reasons why Japan has the best cell phone technology. Cell Phone Technology in Canada Telephone was invented by a Canadian, Graham Bell and radio transmission also came from Canada. In recent years, Canada has also established a means through which European countries and America can use their SIM cards while in Canada. This has been made possible through the invention of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM). This system allows a person to use a phone which has a removable SIM card that is encoded with the same number and also account information (Karr, 2010). To activate this service, phone users have to contact their service providers to activate GMS at a fee. Many students in Canada do not use cell phones for entertainment but for lecture updates, exam schedule and communication with peers. Akhtar & Arinto (2010) observed that entertainment in Canadian universities and colleges is made possible by the use of desk top computers and laptops. While people in developed countries and developing countries have embraced cell phone technology as a constant changing telecommunication, Canada phone users still view phones as a tool for making and receiving both calls and texts. Karr (2010) suggests that tourists who are going to Canada especially in densely populated regions will not be able to use their cell phones everywhere they travel because the cell towers are far between each other and also few in numbers. The major cities in Canada however have good cell phone reception. Canada’s GMS system only allows cell phones from Samsung, Motorola and Ericson and other few models but a wider range of cell phone models currently developed cannot access the GMS system (Olson, 2010). Charges for making international calls after using a GMS are unfortunately high in Canada as from $1 to $1.50 per minute to European countries while the charges rise at $5 per minute to Indonesia or Russia (Jewers & Daugherty, 2010). Pan (2010) discovered that Canada is importing BlackBerry from China while the rest of the world is on a fast track to Android and iPhone. North America phone users see a phone replacement after three to five years, during which the rest of the world has witnessed a surge of amazing and creative cell phone technology. Japan’s Cell Phone Technology Japan is known for its advanced telecommunication devices which are cheap and more sophisticated as compared to the rest of the world. The US is famous for creating superior software for both cell phones and computers while Japan provides the devices for the software (Akhtar & Arinto, 2010). The world is however experiencing a new era of leveled computer skills and experience across the world which allows Japan labor force to possess the same form of knowledge as skilled people in the US. Japan uses satellite communications to make cell phones access Internet, GPS, and also send text, picture or video information to other parts of the globe (Morse, 2003). Japan has a very large population and many people in this population can afford a cheap cell phone which has Internet, and advanced multimedia for entertainment purposes. People in Japan use cell phones for watching or reading digital news across the world, mobile banking, wireless connectivity, travel arrangements, online games and also dictionaries for educational purposes (Watanabe, 2009). These cell phones are constantly being replaced with newer versions that are light in weight and also affordable. Japan’s cell phones can download and even play MP3 music using advanced media players. Phone users can assign different ringtones for different callers on the phone book. This is part of social psychology that makes people aware of the caller before they pick or ignore the calls. Phone users get everything when the phone has Internet and an interface for advanced software that allows businesses and learning institutions to use cell phones while preparing a power point presentation. Japanese major cell phone company, NTT DoCoMo makes billions of dollars in the cell phone market alone. Internet providers in Japan are local corporate that lock out foreign Internet providers from this competitive market. Twenty nine million Internet subscribers in Japan receive wireless Internet from DoCoMo which allows users to access more than 60,000 websites, e-mails and social networks included (Logan, 2010). Demand for cell phones in Japan and other countries give service provider and cell phone manufactures a driving force for new and advanced services and devices for communication and entertainment. The major limitation to Japan’s cell phone technology is the cost of maintaining a cell phone. Additional cell phone features, airtime, email- messages and streaming data can cost up to $ 40 per month for a basic cell phone (Heinrich & Galan, 2010). Advanced Cell Phone Technology in Japan as Compared to Canada Canada uses GMS for cross border communication which allows tourists to still maintain their SIM cards while in Canada. This a sophisticated technology that has saved a lot of people who would like to keep in touch with families, friends and business associates without extra expenses for new SIM cards. Canada was also the first country in the whole world to carry out its citizens’ response on census questionnaire online (Brown, 2010). Japan on the other hand has employed the use of cell phones for communication, learning and also entertainment. Phone users can reserve tickets to games or concerts, shop online and make restaurant reservations through their phones either by calling for these services or through online search. The digital culture in Japan is broadly represented through online communication, motion pictures, animation and online gambling all which can be done using an advanced cell phone (Morse, 2003). Social networks such as Twitter and My Space were made accessible through cell phones in Japan but also in Japanese (Heinrich & Galan, 2010). This enabled many phone users in Japan to communicate with their friends worldwide through their common language. Cell phones that have Internet allow people to send messages cheaply through emails as compared to making expensive phone calls to local and international phone users. Japan cell phones have also enabled phone users to actually see the emotions of other cell phone users even when they send messages online. Emoticon is the software that displays the mood of a person when typing an e-mail or an instant message during a chat. Online social networks have created a new era where people can meet many people worldwide using a cheap cell phone and Internet connection as compared to a desktop computer or an expensive laptop. The reasons why Japan has a better telecommunication is that cell phone allow users to download applications such as GPS for location while driving or commercial premises location and also a new and improved application for scanning 2D barcodes has been developed. This eliminates the use of expensive imagers in most retail shops across Japan (Bellavista et al., 2010). Klemens (2010) observed the market trend of Japan’s cell phone market industry was very poor before the year 2000 and one company, DoCoMo took a risk in reducing phone, airtime and internet charges to allow local people to buy cell phones at the cheapest costs. This strategy made DoCoMo gain monopoly over cell phone manufacturing and also Internet service providers. Logan (2010) observed that the first cell phone inventions were mainly to allow users to communicate by talking with a wireless device, and then countries like Japan and Korea took cell phone technology to the next level giving people a device that takes photos, sends e-mails with 3G services, plays video games and also allows text messaging (Polishuk, 2010). The Japanese took elements that only fit in a PC and converted them into tiny chips that were small enough to be used in cell phones (Plunkett, 2011). Conclusion Canada paved way for advanced technology when Graham Bell invented telephone. The first cell phone invention also gave Japanese creative ideas when phones were earlier meant for making calls only. A new era has emerged which enable cell phone users to withdraw money from the bank without physically presence in the bank, people buy online items from different countries which are delivered within a few weeks and communication is more advanced. Japan’s economy continues to grow due to cell phones and Internet services while Canada still takes years to catch up with cell phone technology. When cell phone market has a high competition, the prices of these communication devices and Internet services reduce to fit into the budget of a local Japanese employee and other phone users worldwide who import cell phones from Japan. The world is moving towards a solitary global market that has high demand of quality telecommunication device. This means that the constant change in cell phone development means quality services and gadgets at affordable prices. REFERENCES Akhtar, S. & Arinto, P. (2010): Digital Review of Asia Pacific 2009-2010. Washington DC: IDCR Bellavista P, Chang R, & Han, H. (2010). Advances in Grid and Pervasive Computing: 5th International Conference.UK: Springer. BillBoard (2001). Japanese Cell Phone market. New York: Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Brown, L. (2010). Experimentation and evaluation plans for the 2010 census: interim report. Washington CD: National Academies Press Heinrich, P & Galan, C. (2010). Language Life in Japan: Transformations and Prospects. UK :Routledge Taylor and Francis Jewers, J & Daugherty, C (2010) Frommer's Ireland. Ireland: Frommer’s Karr, P. (2010). Frommer's Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island. Ireland: Frommer’s Klemens, G. (2010). The Cellphone: The History and Technology of the Gadget That Changed the World. California: McFarland Logan R, (2010). Understanding New Media: Extending Marshall Mcluhan. Barcelona: Pompeu Fabra University Morse R. (2003). The Battle for the Global Entertainment Industry: Japan's Growing Strength in Digital Culture. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA International Institute Olson, D.(2010). Frommer's Vancouver & Victoria 2010: With Whistler. With Foldout Map.Ireland: Frommer’s Pan, H (2010). China Telecom Monthly Newsletter January 2010. New York: Business Monitor Plunkett, J (2011). Plunkett's Advertising & Branding Industry Almanac. New York: Plunkett Research Ltd. Polishuk, P (2010). Japan telecom. New York: Information Gatekeepers Inc. Watanabe, C. (2009). Managing innovation in Japan: the role institutions play in Helping or Hindering how Companies Develop Technology. UK: Springer   Read More