Newest craze in campaign fundraising: do everything online

The next generation of smart phones are here

The next generation of smart phones are here

by M.C and Z.G.

Parent’s nightmares of a phone with the addictive Instant Message capabilities have finally come true. The newest generation of “Smart-phones” has become a major hit for pre-teens all over the world. The new phones have many genius (or ingenious depending on whom you ask) features that includes full keyboards, Internet connections, and more.

The new Nokia 6820 is the phone the preteen nation has been aching to have. Nokia has an intuitive design allowing the phone’s full keyboard to be flipped up when using instant messaging or e-mail.

This phone also sports a color camera that can take up to 120 pictures that one can send to other people’s phones through multimedia messages. Plus one can use Nokia’s included e-mail address to send photos, text, and sound through e-mail.

The Nokia 6820 weighs in at 3.5 ounces for easy travel. Plus, the Nokia 6820 can store up to 500 contacts in it’s phonebook. Also, navigation is very easy with Nokia’s “D-pad”.

The teen hit American Online Instant Messaging (AIM)is one of the phone’s abilities that has led to larger audiences. The Nokia 6820 has many downloadable ring tones and games for the cell phone that can be charged directly to the phone bill.

Mobile Internet is also a possibility on this phone, using GPRS and EDGE technology. One can access all kinds of sites on the entire Internet, and also special content intended for mobile devices only.

This phone is priced at $150 with a service agreement.

The newly released Blackberry 7780 smart phone has all of the features that one would expect to find on both a cell phone and a PDA. This phone features a high-resolution color screen, and a speakerphone.

Being nearly 5 inches long and 3 inches wide, this phone looks much more like a PDA than a cell phone. The Blackberry is roomy enough to sport a full keyboard as well.

One of this phone’s most popular features is its mobile e-mail and instant messaging (IM) functions. The phone takes advantage of a technology called GPRS, which can allow the cell phone to transfer data at up to 128 kbs, which is twice as fast as a standard modem. Also, it is compatible with multiple clients such as Yahoo messenger and AOL Instant Messenger.

Mobile e-mail is very easy to use, after one gets past the initial setup. One can send and receive messages on one’s existing e-mail account on the Blackberry. Plus, one can use the account that comes with the phone too.

One can also send multimedia messages to other cell phones. These messages can include text, sound, and images. For messaging older phones, one can also send short text messages up to 160 characters.

Included in the Blackberry is the ability to browse the web. One can access news, entertainment, and more. There are also some sites especially for mobile devices that are very easy to use.

The Blackberry also has tools that will allow one’s to organize one’s tasks and phonebook contacts. Plus, one can use the calculator and alarm when one needs it. The calendar functions may prove useful too. A memo pad is also a good feature to have.

The area where the Blackberry falls short is its voice communication features. Trying to make a cell phone call is somewhat difficult, and the speaker may not be loud enough for some people. Also, “image conscious” consumers might not like the fact that the Blackberry is not a true “phone” form factor, and holding it up to one’s ear can feel like talking into a calculator. This phone also sports a hefty price tag of $450.

If one commonly uses e-mail, web, or instant messaging; and have the income, this phone is right. Otherwise, one may want to wait until the price drops.

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Newest craze in campaign fundraising: do everything online

by R.C.

There are crazes in everything from clothing to shoes, even campaign fundraising.

When most people think of campaign fundraising they think of phone calls from volunteers during dinner or holding an expensive party to raise money. Not anymore. Now the way to raise $$$ is online.

Senator John Kerry raised 37% of his money through online fundraising. In total Kerry has raised $185 million. The average donation was $106, not from wealthy people who have all the money, but from average citizens who want to see Kerry in the Oval Office.

Joe Trippi, a manager for the Howard Dean Campaign, predicts that, “In 2008 (the year of the next election)... some innovative, Internet-spun software will accelerate, enable, or alter every element of that campaign...”

Taking the craze even further are Bostonians Benjamin Rahn and Matt DeBergalis. They set up a website called ActBlue. This is a website that allows voters to pledge whatever amount of money they want to their favorite Democratic candidate. The site gives a list of the candidates and a short description of each one. Voters can then read about the candidates and pledge their money to the one they want to support.

Whether it’s fundraising or pledging money, the Internet has forever changed how elections will be run in the future.