PHONE BOOK. A HANDY GUIDE TO THE WORLD'S FAVOURITE INVENTION

Mobile, Cell phone, Handy, Keitai, Telefonino - whatever you call it, this ubiquitous little gadget has changed forever the way we live. Here is the first book to celebrate this global phenomenon. The perfect mix of information and entertainment, it not only gives an insider's view of phone design, but also highlights those little (and not so little) differences in phone use around the world, from the way in which Japanese schoolgirls set global trends to the fact that texting is big news during Ramadan. Visually stunning, witty and entertaining, the book looks at phone fashions globally, presenting the fifty most influential handset designs - from the 1980s' `bricks' to 21st-century biometric phones - possible future designs and the influence that phones have on other products. It also provides in-depth case studies of leading brands, including Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Vertu and Motorola, as well as the low-down on technologies such as camera phones, texting, connectivity and 3G. With over 500 illustrations, a glossary, texting dictionary and directory of online resources, Phone Book is set to be a ringing success.