Image via CrunchBase

The original iPhone represented something of a watershed in mobile phone technology.

It hailed a change that effectively altered the playing field and set many other manufacturers back many years.

It would be some time before others caught up, and at this point in time, it looks like many others will not catch up at all.

The likes of Blackberry, who were hugely popular at times in the past, have had to consolidate their markets and be content with a loyal, if smaller, base of users who prefer buttons and keys to touchscreen technology.

For the iPhone, it has by turns trounced the opposition and slowly converted many once loyal users from their trusted phones. Because of Apple’s success with the iPod, the technology only improved with the phone variety.

But with an ever increasing number of iPhones available, what is happening to the original iPhone or the iPhone 2?

Mobile phone recycling has become a bigger and bigger market that is making a genuine impact on the world and while many who pay for contract phones have upgraded, their old models have moved on.

Many companies can now recycle mobile phones, often refurbishing and refitting them for sale in the developing world. Even first generation iPhone technology is still fantastic, providing many benefits that other phones simply cannot touch.

From intuitive and ingenious applications to rock solid performance and reliability, the iPhone has performed admirably and should continue to perform admirably, especially with Apple’s great software behind it.

Here’s a top 10 list of the best Samsung Galaxy S2 cases, including cases that are the most durable, best selling, lightest and most stylish. There are many Samsung Galaxy SII cases in different colours and styles to choose from, so it’s important to get the ones with the best reviews.

1. Case-Mate Tough Case

When you’re looking for a solid, high quality case that won’t let you down, then the Tough Case should be near the top of the list for the Galaxy S2. The Tough Case has a highly effective dual layer system, with an inner silicone skin for shock resistance and an outer hard plastic shell that provides even more protection and makes the Tough Case easy to hold onto. If you use your phone on the go, then the Tough Case is a great fit.

2. Genuine Samsung Galaxy S2 Mesh Vent Case

This official Samsung product is one of our top picks for a Samsung Galaxy S2 case. Its stylish black mesh design prevents damage from scratches and looks great, allowing you to keep your phone safe and secure whilst showing it off too. You can also plug in your Samsung Galaxy Sii charger and other accessories through the provided easy access ports.

3. Case-Mate Barely There

This low profile, slimline case which comes in eight colours, from classy silver to stylish brushed aluminum, is thin and light, yet provides as much impact protection from falls as a much thicker case. The Barely There series has long been a favourite of smartphone users who don’t want to sacrifice the beauty and convenience of a light phone when choosing a case, and the Barely There for the Galaxy SII is no exception.

4. SGP Ultra Silke

The Ultra Silke is a suitably suave case for the Galaxy S2. It uses high quality silicone for a comfortable, unique feel, and a polymer coating to protect your phone from accidental damage from drops or scratches. Unlike many other products, it also utilises a matte finish that stops dust and fingerprints. This case looks great, and really improves the look of the phone as a whole.

5. Case-Mate Pop

The Pop is a unique case that quite literally stands out from the crowd. It features a handy pop-out stand, which integrates nicely with the case itself when not in use. This case is great for desktop use, allowing you to keep your phone at a suitable angle. It also has all the great protective qualities of similar cases, keeping your phone free from scratches and damage. It comes in three stylish two tone options: white and black, black and grey, and pink and grey.

6. Samsung Moulded Leather Flip Case

This leather mobile phone case provides protection in style, using high quality moulded leather inside and out. It’s got cut-outs in all the right places, as you’d expect, and is perfect if you’re looking for a more traditional and conservative shell for your Galaxy S2. It also has a slew of extra features, including a handy credit card slot and a magnetic fastening system.

7. Advanced Flexishield Skin

This skinny anti-shock case protects against drops and fall damage without increasing the size of your Galaxy S2. It’s an excellent mobile phone case that also includes a screen protector for that extra bit of added protection. The rubber finish of the Flexishield has a non-slip finish, meaning it’s not liable to go sliding off your desk. You have the choice of a clear or solid black variant.

8. ToughGuard Shell

The ToughGuard Shell is made from hard-wearing polycarbonate, meaning that it will keep your phone in good shape if you drop it accidentally. The shell wraps tightly around your phone, keeping the ports and features free, barely increasing the size or weight of the Galaxy S2. The solid construction of the Shell ensures it’s a top choice, and comes in five colours so you can customise your phone’s look.

9. Zenus Prestige Luxury Basic

This stylish grey slimline case is made of quality quilted leather, and protects your phone without adding bulk. It’s made just for the Galaxy S2, so you’ll find that you can access the controls and camera without taking the phone out of its case. Quality leather mobile phone cases are hard to come by, but the Zenus Prestige Luxury Basic is one of the best for the Galaxy S2.

10. Slimline Carbon Fibre Flip Case

This extremely thin case clamps tightly to your Galaxy S2, protecting it from drops and scratches. It features a cool carbon fibre effect, which looks and feels fantastic. It also has a soft interior that will keep the phone in excellent condition. This high quality case is a perfect fit for the Galaxy SII, with cutouts for the camera, buttons and speaker.

The next version of the iPhone is yet to be announced by Apple so watch this space. Whether it will be called the iPhone 5 or perhaps the iPhone 4S is still unknown.

Their are rumours it might have a steel back, though some say it is more likely to still have a black backing.

on the phone - photo by mil8 @ flickr (cc)

Calling abroad on a mobile phone, be it back home when on holiday or out to an overseas friend, used to be the basis of many a mini financial disaster.  Indeed, such was the scale of the problem that the European Union felt compelled to intervene through legislation.  The crux of the matter for many disgruntled mobile users was the way that call charges changed when ‘roaming’ abroad.

‘Roaming’ means connecting to one of the local mobile networks in the country you are visiting to make a phone call, rather than through the usual route of connecting to the domestic network back home.  Charges for routing mobile phone calls through alternative networks vary wildly, and the problem for many has been the fact that the overall cost of making calls is not always easy to establish.  Once people got used to the idea that making an international call while abroad was costly, many still fell foul of the charges involved in receiving a call.

The E.U. has now capped the cost of receiving calls while abroad to 15p per minute.  While this is a step in the right direction, the cost of making international calls on a mobile is still a cause for concern for many.

One way to try and save money on international calls is to simply avoid making them.  Text messages also attract roaming charges, but at least these are fixed per message.  Through use of shortened ‘text speak’, and the expenditure of a little time when composing a message, it can be possible to preclude the need to make many international calls.

However, there are some occasions that really demand a phone call rather than a series of text messages.  This is where looking at the way your phone can connect to different foreign networks becomes important if you are to keep the cost of calls reasonable.  Thanks to the expansion and increasing specialisation of the mobile phone industry, there is now a possible solution in the form of the specialist international calls SIM card provided by operators like Lebara.  These pre-paid sim cards usually beat the rates offered for international calls by standard domestic mobile networks, and can also provide a means of making international calls from the U.K. to specified countries.

We have just added over 20 new iPhone 3GS Speakers and docking stations.

Where possible we have included metrics such as speaker power (watts), portability and of course price – allowing you to quickly sort your results to find the best speaker system for you.

• iPhone 3GS Speakers
• iPhone 3GS Docking Stations

• iPhone 3GS Docking Stations
• iPhone 3GS Screen Protectors

This site aims to help you find and compare the best iPhone 3GS Accessories.

Enjoy the stay!

iPhone 3GS Accessories Team