China launched its first satellite mobile phone service yesterday, according to website chinaknowledge.com.

Satellite phones allow communication from almost any location, and the new Chinese model is said to be affordable and similar in size and weight to a typical mobile phone.

The chief of the China Transportation Telecommunication Center (CTTC), Yang Hongyi, said the new phone would provide the service through a portable terminal operated by the international marine satellite system.

The service is already available in Asia and much of Africa and after the launch of a third satellite in 2008, coverage will be global.

Other benefits of the new service include the flexibility to switch between normal GSM service in urban areas and the satellite service in remote locations.

The phone itself will cost between $2000 and $3000, certainly not cheap but still good value for this kind of technology and prices are expected to fall as demand grows.

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A recent survey in the US has found that teenager’s cell phone use rockets by more than an hour per day over the summer.

Conducted by Disney Mobile "Cell and Tell", the results of the research show that children between the ages of ten and 17 are likely to use their mobile phones for a staggering three hours and 45 minutes each day when school is finished.

Some statistics from the survey show that 44 per cent of those questioned will use text messages as their primary form of contact, with over half (52 per cent) admitting to sending messages from the cinema.

For over a quarter (26 per cent) of respondents, texting is the first thing they do in the morning - often within ten minutes of waking up!

However, the kids are not just viewing their cellphones as fun but essential; a third of teenagers said they would give up video games before their mobiles, and a quarter admitted they would rather give up television..

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The US cell phone market is booming as far as consumers are concerned, with a wide variety of new generation handsets coming onto the market.

With huge anticipation surrounding the arrival of Apple’s iPhone, it is easy to forget that there are in fact a wide number of cell phones set to debut in the US market this summer, marking the beginning of a season of cell phones in the country.

All this excitement surrounding the various new arrivals in the cell phone market can only be a good thing as the major players such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG and Nokia are all looking to take a big bite out of the market.

Therefore, prices are expected to fall significantly as rival firms battle it out to promote their cell phones and get more people using their devices ahead of the competition’s versions.

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Taking a diversion from making jeans, Levi’s have announced that they will be making a mobile phone.

Aimed at the younger market, Levi’s has announced its new handset, which is made from steel and comes with a detachable stylish chain, which can be attached to the owners jeans or bag.

"Technology is at the heart of today’s youth culture and mobile phones are the ultimate accessory.

"Adding a mobile phone to our collection is a natural progression for Levi’s, a brand that is driven to meet the desires of young people," said You Nguyen, senior vice president of Levi’s Product.

But the jeans-maker hasn’t made a complete departure from its stylish roots.

The phone will be available in black, silver and copper, as well as "shiny silver" and "shiny sand".

"As pioneers of the connection between fashion and technology, we wanted to create an accessory that combines design aesthetics with consumer needs. We are confident that this phone lives up to the promise of the Levi’s brand," Mr Nguyen added.

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European plane manufacturer Airbus has been given the go ahead to allow for mobile phones to be used onboard and during flights, it has been reported.

Following approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Airbus can now allow passengers to make GSM calls, as well as send and receive text messages and emails, if their phones are compatible.

The service - a joint partnership between Airbus and air communications company SITA - is the first to be awarded an official certificate by EASA.

"This certification is Airbus’ first response to the growing market demand for on-board connectivity," said Rainer von Borstel, Airbus senior vice president for cabin and cargo customisation.

"It paves the way for the subsequent worldwide deployment of cell phone services and internet based services across all Airbus aircraft types."

The announcement will be a positive step for Airbus at a time when the company has been facing difficulties due to delays of the manufacture of the Airbus A350.

Airbus saw major losses throughout 2006 and early 2007 as orders from airlines were cancelled due to the delays.

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