Accessing the Internet With Your Cell Phone

For most of us, cell phones are just, well, telephones. But technology buffs want cell phones with instant access to the Internet -- with both e-mail and browser capability.

The newest cell phones are time-savers for busy people who need instant access -- to information like stock quotes, e-mail, and news -- without being tied to a computer.

"E-mail and Internet capability are becoming very important in phones," said Mark Powell of Motorola. "Being able to stay in touch and have e-mail capability while you're not at home or not at your desk is very important to people. Also being tied to a desk to look at information on the Internet is something people prefer not to have to do, so they want to see that capability in their phones."

According to Powell, the kind of people who are drawn to phones with e-mail and browser capability tend to be, in many cases, business people who need that functionality for on-the-road access to information that helps them in their jobs. Many experts believe that in the not too distant future, wireless portable devices will be the most common way for people to access the Internet.