Sony Ericsson T715 on the FCC table
(Credit: FCC)Not a lot went through the FCC this week, but we did notice a few interesting devices on the list. The Nokia RX-51 looks to be some kind of large tablet phone hybrid, and Motorola has something called the Crush in the works -- sounds like a rugged phone to me. Also of note is the Sony Ericsson T715, which has a 3.2-megapixel camera.
Because the FCC has to certify every phone sold in the United States, not to mention test its SAR rating, the agency's online database offers a lot of sneak peeks to those who dig. And to save you the trouble, Crave has combed through the database for you. Here are a selection of filings from the past week on new and upcoming cell phones. Click through to read the full report.
Casio NX9290
LG GU285g
Motorola Crush
Nokia RX-51
Samsung SCH-B319
Samsung SPH-M330
Sanyo SCP-3810
Sony Ericsson T715
As usual this time of year, Samsung continues to make headway in the FCC list. Because the Federal Communications Commission has to certify every phone sold in the United States, not to mention test its SAR rating, the agency's online database offers a lot of sneak peeks to those who dig. And to save you the trouble, Crave has combed through the database for you. Here are a selection of filings from the past week on new and upcoming cell phones. Click through to read the full report.
LG CF360
LG KP275D
NEC 7N2R1-3A
Panasonic 830P
Sagem my421Z
Sagem Roxy
Samsung E1117L
Samsung i7110
Samsung S3030
Samsung SPH-A310
Samsung SGH-A777
Samsung SGH-A867
Samsung SCH-R310
Samsung SGH-L878E
Samsung SGH-T459
Sharp SH8010C
Sharp WX-T825
ZTE C311
ZTE A261+
ZTE A261FM
Scientists told a House of Representatives subcommittee Thursday that more research is needed over the possible link between cell phone use and cancer. While past studies have found that cell phone radiation isn't dangerous, the scientists pointed to research that has found just the opposite.
"I cannot tell this committee that cell phones are definitely dangerous," said Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. "But, I certainly cannot tell you that they are safe."
Herberman, who expressed a similar sentiment in a controversial memo he wrote last July, appeared before the House Subcommittee on Domestic Policy. He and Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany, both cited a group of recent studies showing that long-term cell phone users are more likely to develop cancer.
"Recent studies, primarily from Scandinavia, where cell phones were first developed and manufactured, and where there has been longer use as compared to the United States, are finding significant increases in brain cancer among individuals who have used a cell phone for more than 10 years," Carpenter said.
But Dr. Robert N. Hoover, a director at the National Cancer Institute, exercised caution when he mentioned earlier studies that found no convincing evidence between cell phone use and brain tumors. "There is a fair amount of inconsistency within and between these studies," he said.
The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, which represents wireless companies in Washington, declined to send a representative to the hearing, but it expressed a similar sentiment in a statement released on Wednesday. "The available scientific evidence and expert reviews from leading global health organizations reflect a consensus based on published scientific research showing that there is no reason for concern," said CTIA CEO Steve Largent.
The subcommittee did not reach specific findings, but both Herberman and Carpenter suggested that until more studies can be conducted, cell phone users should limit radiation exposure as much as possible. Adults, they said, should use a headset or their handset's speakerphone while children should completely limit cell phone use while their brains are developing. "Precaution is warranted," Carpenter said. "Even in the absence of absolutely final evidence concerning the magnitude of the risk."
Samsung Soul
(Credit: Samsung)
Q: I'm thinking of buying the Samsung Soul and I'm concerned with its radiation level. But when I looked at the user manual there were multiple SARs listed. Is this typical and how do I know which listing is right?
- Rich
A: It's not a matter of which listing is right since it is very common for a single handset to have multiple SARs. For both GSM and CDMA phones, the radiation level will vary by transmission band, the testing position (at ear vs. at body), and the testing body that reported the results. In CNET's radiation charts we always list the highest at-ear SAR as tested by the FCC. I know that's a lot of qualifications, but the distinctions are important to understand.
I'm glad you mentioned the Soul since that phone is a great example of just how results can vary. First off, the Soul uses three GSM bands (900, 1,800, and 1,900) so it's likely that you're seeing a different reported SAR for each band. As I said before, all of the listings are correct, but for your situation one SAR will be more correct than the others. Of the three GSM bands the Soul uses, only the 1,900 band is used in the United States, so I would concentrate on that listing. Also, you'll want to make sure that the results are from the FCC, which conducts tests specifically for the U.S. market. If the results are form another body, such as the European Union's testing agency or Industry Canada, then you could see a different result. ... Read more
- prev
- 1
- next
