This Cellular Call Will Be On Your Dime

Airtime charges are typically the most expensive part of communicating via cellular phones.

That’s partly because cell phone users in the United States generally are charged by the minute for incoming calls. It’s not that way in other areas, where the rule is the calling party pays.

Now, there’s a move afoot in the U.S. to adopt a similar standard.

Newsday

Adding sparkle: From humble beginnings as a text-only medium, the Internet has developed into a kaleidoscope of graphics and other highly visual elements.

And there’s more to come. As more consumers get high-speed access to the Net, online retailers and others are starting to use streaming audio and video, realistic 3-D graphics, high-magnification images and animation.

It’s all a function of network bandwidth. Bigger “pipes” free Web site designers from many of the limitations they’ve had to live with until now.

Knight Ridder

The following stories appear in more detail at www.spokane. net/technology Online Glance, compiled by Bill Sallquist, appears each Monday on the Business page.