Kris Kumar
08-17-2004, 10:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.cnn.com//2004/TECH/ptech/07/30/phone.dummy.ap/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.cnn.com//2004/TECH/ptech/07/30/phone.dummy.ap/index.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A poorly dressed plastic dummy with a liquid-filled cranium and cell phone strapped to his hand is much like millions of other mobile phone users across the country: He is trying to get better reception. Magnolia Broadband Inc., a small company in Clinton, New Jersey, has been driving the life-sized dummy, "Bob," around New York and Kansas City, Kansas, to determine how its new wireless technology called "antenna diversity" fares in different environments. The company is researching chipsets that incorporate a second, internal antenna into wireless phones. By combining two signals, users get stronger reception and faster data rates."</i><br /><br />I wonder why they didn't hire the Verizon <i>"Can you hear me now?"</i> guy. :-) Getting back to the article, I was very happy to read the news. One of my biggest concerns has been that all the phone manufacturers are launching phones with internal antennas. Why? So that their phones can look cool. I am very much interested in owning a cool looking phone, but what good is it if I cannot dial a number or receive a call. I don't mind the antenna poking me on the side when I clip the phone to my belt, as long as I don't have to keep repeating <i>"Can you hear me now?"</i> It's good to see companies focusing their resources on improving the reception quality. What are your thoughts? And till these new antennas become a common feature, may I suggest <a href="http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Id=798">this device</a> to improve the signal strength at home and work.