Many states around America have brought in penalties and fines for those who are found to be using a cell phone whilst operating their vehicles. This is in a bid to reduce serious accidents that are caused by the distraction created by cell phones amongst drivers, who then pay less attention to the road and their surroundings because they are busy talking, texting or even surfing on their phones.

It has now been revealed that for the first time Palo Alto state senator Joe Simitian is calling for fines and penalties to be brought in for cyclists who use their cell phones whilst they are riding their bikes, as this can cause a similar distraction and could also lead to serious accidents on the roads. He also wants to see fines for motorists being increased.

The state senate has approved legislation by Simitian and it has been sent to the Assembly. A similar bill by the senator was passed last year but was then vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. In his latest call, Simitian is looking to have the base fine for motorists increase to $30 for a first offense and then $60 for any further offenses.

In a statement the senator said: “Research has shown that our distracted driving laws are changing behavior and saving lives. Yet we know there are still far too many drivers texting and talking on hand-held cellphones. This bill would toughen penalties, add the deterrent of a point on a driving record and help fund a program to spread the word that no text or phone call is worth the cost of a life.”

Many people who travel by air are used to hearing the cabin crew put out an announcement for all cell phones and devices to be turned off. This is normally something that is requested upon take off and landing on planes, although the rest of the time travellers are generally allowed to keep the devices on.

However, according to a recent report, some people who travel by air see their cell phones as such necessities that they do not even turn them off when asked to do so on flights. More and more cell phone owners were found to be failing to follow instructions to turn off their cell phones when asked to do so, with a USA poll suggesting that this has become a growing trend.

The study was carried out by the Federal Aviation Administration and involved polling 1200 people. The results of the study, which have now been published, suggested that 25 percent or one in four people admitted to not always following the instructions from cabin crew with regards to turning off their cell phones and other electronic devices.

Passengers are asked to turn off their phones and other devices when taking off and landing due to the risk of possible signal interference with aircraft systems. However, many of those who were polled were sceptical about the necessity of having to turn off devices. Nearly 50 percent of respondents said that they could remember a time when they had left on their devices, albeit inadvertently, with no problem.

Smart phones have become increasingly popular over recent years and there are many people who are addicted to using their phones, which includes both Android based cell phones and the much loved Apple iPhone series. Whilst both operating systems are extremely popular, it has recently been reported that in the first quarter of this year, iPhone sales outweighed Android sales amongst the top three carriers in the US.

Analysis was carried out recently by Wireless Intelligence, which showed that amongst the top three mobile operators in the United States during the first quarter of this year, two out of every three smart phones sold were iPhones, with the Apple device steaming ahead of the various Android devices.

Android devices are not thought to account for around fifty percent of all smart phones being used in the United States. However, when it comes to the top three providers, which are Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint, consumers tend to be opting for the Apple iPhone over Android according to the results of the analysis.

Wireless Intelligence analyst Will Croft said: “It’s clear that the iPhone has wedged itself a near-majority share of gross smartphone additions. The overall growth in iPhone sales has significantly and consistently eroded Android’s share of sales.” He added: “The US is a victory for Apple, but the importance – and growth – of operator share outside of the US remains key, particularly in Asia. The non-US share of iPhone shipments, currently 74 percent, has risen sharply from 55 percent in 2008 and 67 percent in 2010. For Apple, this is the critical opportunity, particularly in its two fastest-growing markets, China and Japan.”

Over recent years, many people have started to use their cell phones on a more regular basis, with some using their cell phones many times each day and feeling positively lost without these devices. With the development of smart phones, people have started to use their cell phones even more, using them for everything from sending and receiving texts, making and receiving calls, entertainment, getting online, and more.

However, a recent report has suggested that heavy use of cell phones as well as heavy computer use could have a severe negative effect on various areas of users’ lives – names in terms of depression and sleep issues. The report claims that stress, sleep disturbances, and depression are some of the effects that can come from the heavy use of devices such as cell phones and computers.

The study involved following over four thousand people aged between twenty and twenty four. One research involved in the research said: “We looked at the effects both quantitatively and qualitatively and followed up the volunteers a year on. The conclusion is that intensive use of ICT can have an impact on mental health among young adults.” She added: “Those who find the constant accessibility via mobile phones to be stressful are most likely to report mental symptoms.”

The study also showed that increased stress was also a risk amongst people that used computers for long periods without any breaks, prompting researchers to highlight the importance of taking a break when using ICT.

Over recent years, contract based cell phone plans have become hugely popular, resulting in these making up the bulk of revenue for cell phone companies. Many people have been happy to sign up to fairly lengthy contracts, often so that they can get a nice new phone as part of the plan either without having to pay anything upfront or at a highly subsidised price.

However, according to recent data the appeal of contract based cell phone plans amongst American consumers has been waning, leaving phone companies in a position where they are losing subscribers and revenues. With many people now having the phone that they want, the appeal of signing up to a lengthy contract in order to get a new handset has been lost. Many are now looking for cheaper, more flexible, contract free options.

A number of phone companies have released figures lately showing a loss in subscriber numbers when it comes to contract based plans. Figures from T-Mobile were released recently, which were similar to reports from other companies also showing subscriber losses for the first time in the first quarter of this year.

In fact, the phone companies are already looking at other forms of revenue to try and make up for losses, with the companies adding everything from smart energy meters through to security services and more.

There are many officials and even parents these days who are very concerned about the high numbers of younger drivers who operate their vehicles whilst also using their cell phones to make or take calls, send or receive texts and even to surf the Internet, which causes serious distractions and can lead to serious or even deadly accidents.

However, according to recent reports it is little wonder that so many younger drivers are engaging in cell phone use whilst behind the wheel after a recent study showed that an alarming number of teens and young adults had seen their parents doing exactly the same thing.

The study was carried out by Consumer Reports and entailed polling consumers aged between sixteen and twenty one years. Of those polled, around 48 percent said that they had seen their mom or dad using a cell phone to chat whilst driving a vehicle. Furthermore, 15 percent said that they had seen their mom or dad using a cell phone to text whilst operation a vehicle.

The survey involved polling over one thousand people within this age group and although 63 percent admitted that they knew it was wrong and dangerous to use cell phones whilst behind the wheel, many still did it. However, many added that having someone else, such as a friend, in the car with them would reduce the likelihood of them using a cell phone whilst driving.

Cell phones have undoubtedly become a huge part of many peoples’ lives over recent years, with people using these devices both in their business and their personal lives. The more advanced these phones have become, the more people have started to use them for all sorts of things, from calls and texts to getting online, listening to music and taking videos.

With today’s cells phones having such great capabilities it is little wonder that so many of us now rely on our phones so much and tend to have them with us at all times and use them for a variety of purposes. In fact, a recent report has revealed that more and more people are now becoming fearful of finding themselves in a situation where they are unable to access their phones.

The condition is called Nomophobia, which stands for No Mobile Phobia. In a recent survey around 66 percent of respondents were found to be suffering from nomophobia. A similar study was carried out four years ago and the figure from the latest study showed a significant increased, up from 53 percent four years ago.

Some official are concerned that cell phones have now become such a pivotal part of our lives that they have started to have a serious effect on other areas of our lives, such as personal communication and relationships. One official stated: “Cell phones are tools that should be used to enhance our lives, not to destroy our interpersonal communication skills with those that we love.”

For many years, we have been trained to ensure that when we go into a movie theater we switch off our cell phones so that other people who are enjoying the entertainment are not disturbed whilst the movie is on. However, although this is a practice that we have all become used to, there could be change on the way, with a group of theater executives wondering whether cell phone use should now actually be permitted.

At a recent event discussing theater industry issues, which was held in Las Vegas, executives are said to have become involved in a discussion about the use of cell phones in movie theaters. It was the view of some executives that since customers are paying to come in and enjoy some entertainment whilst they relax, perhaps they shouldn’t be forced into being without what for many has become an important part of their lives.

Jeff Blake from Sony Pictures Entertainment said that at one point kids were coming to the pictures each and every week but this was no longer happening. He said: “I’m concerned that the moviegoing experience isn’t just for baby boomers.” Regal Entertainment CEO Amy Miles said that while her company does not encourage cell phone use in theaters, “if we had a movie that appealed to a younger demographic, we could test some of these concepts.”

IMAX’s Greg Foster said that banning the use of cell phones in movie theaters may make younger attendees feel ‘handcuffed’. He said that whilst movie and theater companies wanted people to pay to come in, they were also making the same people feel restricted. However, there are also many other people who will not want cell phone ruining their movie experience, and any changes to the current rules could make many movie goers unhappy.

There are many people all across the United States who now sport one of the wide range of high tech, advanced smart phones and cell phones on the market. Many like nothing better than a smart phone with all the bells and whistles, which can do everything short of cooking dinner and washing the dishes! However, these high tech phones are not always ideal for older consumers, many of whom are looking for simplicity and ease of use over high tech features.

For older people who are keen to benefit from having cell phone access but who do not want the complications that often come with today’s super high tech devices, a new cell phone for seniors has been launched by Mobal Freedom. The new senior cell phone comes with a range of special features and benefits, including a handy personal emergency response button, which can prove invaluable for older users.

According to a report on the website of the company, the Just 5 Easy Phone is “the antidote to overly complex cell phones today.” The article went on to state “This great cell phone is designed for optimal ease-of-use, reliability and emergency response, offering basic features that are ideal for people who love things to be simple.”

Having a cell phone to hand can be really important to many seniors, who want the peace of mind and security that having a cell phone can offer. However, most want something that they can use quickly and easily rather than something that will prove too troublesome and complicated to actually make use of.

Many people will remember the time when cell phones were new to the mainstream markets and were used only for calls and texts. However, cell phone technology has grown rapidly, and these days cell phones can be used for all sorts of purposes from taking photos and videos to checking the time, getting online and much more.

Whilst the versatility and capabilities of today’s high tech cell phones provides many benefits, enabling consumers to carry just one device for a multitude of purposes, concerns have been raised with regards to how the cell phone technology of today is affecting other businesses and sectors. Many people are now not bothering to buy gadgets and devices that they would otherwise have considered because their cell phone provides those capabilities.

Some of the products that people no longer purchase because they can use their cell phone include digital cameras, video cameras, portable music devices, satellite navigation systems and netbooks. Many cell phones provide all of these capabilities and more, which means that consumers do not have to worry about buying separate items.

It has now been revealed that fewer people are buying watches because they are simply using their cell phones to get the time. According to reports only 19 percent of Americans bought a watch in 2011 and a massive two thirds of American teens now never wear a watch. This is yet another industry that could end up suffering as a result of the growing number of people who have high tech smart phones and as smart phones continue to evolve the number of affected industries is also likely to grow.