Introduction

What does the term “external communication device” mean? If an Internet search is performed through any popular search engine, the first items it would pull up under “external communication devices” are related to telephones, fax machines and radios. Currently, external communication devices to the “everyday” person include devices that offer communication externally to the outside world. However, there is a growing market for manufacturers to develop more sophisticated products that enable us to become mobile, or move away from what every person today is centrally connected to, a personal computer. Within the last ten years the population has become almost completely dependent upon computers. With this growing fad, manufacturers are monopolizing on an expanding market that enables consumers to step away from computers, but at the same time have everything they are used to at their fingertips. This means that the documents, spreadsheets, phone numbers and addresses can be carried in a paperless form. And in addition to this, email, favorite websites, and personally downloaded music can also be carried anywhere. Basically, everything one would typically acquire through a personal desktop or laptop could be accessed at all times through a device weighing less than two pounds.

The only requirement for the usage of these devices is that each time consumers update or download information to the devices, they need to synchronize the device to their personal desktop or laptop using an external peripheral connection, for example, a USB connection. This is done through the use of a connection cord that connects through your the USB connection or a “cradle” that comes included with each device. The cradle and cord connect the external communication device to a desktop in order to transfer and share data.

This is an example of an external communication device cradle. (Image taken from www.provantage.com/-FC_SNYB.HTM)

This is an example of a USB connection cord. (Image taken from www.jobodigital.com/support/)

During the initial public introduction of external communication devices, the devices were sold at a relatively high price. Thanks to an economy based upon competition and mass production, these devices are now easily available to all at a lower price.