h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A580727

The current guide entry on Mobile Phones doesn't really look at the technology sitting behind them, or what their capabilities might be in the future, so there seemed to be a need for something a bit more detailed (especially when it's this sort of technology which might make a real world version of the Hitchhiker's Guide possible in the future!).

Anyway, I've had a stab, based on my own knowledge of the area, so let me know what you think!

Cabby

Having had a look at your entry, I think you need to rename it. You only mention GMS and UTMS (part of the present and future), you don't really say anything about the previous generation (amps and tacs/etacs). You don't mantion anything about other current digital mobile phone offerings (IS-95, whatever the japaneese system is ) and why they're different from GSM.
Perhaps calling it "mobile data services, present and future" as that seems to be what you're talking about.
I think you need to cut down the number of footnotes, other than the above it seems a good basic introduction to mobile data and what you can (or maybe will be able to) do with it.

I don't know if the stuff from before the BBC is still on site about the mobile H2G2.

I'd agree with you on the subject. I was struggling to come up with a reasonable title!
I was trying to stick to European systems to limit the scope a bit (and I know very little about how the Japanese and US networks work!). Perhaps there's scope for a companion piece there from someone who does?
I'd agree that it has too many footnotes too , but I was trying to gain some sort of flow to the article, without getting bogged down in the technical details.

If you're just defining an acronym how about putting the definition after the first use of the acronym.

Congratulations, this entry has been approved for editing! It will be placed in the queue for sub-editing and editing. This could take a while. To find out what's happening to your entry, go to the official Sub-Editor's Page. You will recieve an e-mail when your entry has been edited, containing another congratulatory note and the new entry number (A number).

*Michael Notforyou*
Official Scout, h2g2
Researcher U113408

Doh! Just re-read the entry and in the bit about GPRS the section, 'along with similar protocols such as HSCSD' is just wrong!
HSCSD isn't packet based at all, that's why it's called High-Speed Circuit Switched... It does provide a higher bitrate connection, but doesn't give the other advantages of packet-switching.
I'd be grateful if whichever Sub gets hold of the entry could take that bit out!

Editorial Note: This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review forum because this entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

If they have not been along already, the Scout who recommended your entry will post here soon, to let you know what happens next. Meanwhile you can find out what will happen to your entry here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/SubEditors-Process

Congratulations!