Cell phones are no longer just phones. A large majority of cell phone users only use their devices for calling and sending texts, but the latest cell phones are capable of doing so much more! The wireless industry has sought out to combine phones with other electronic devices for your benefit. This way you won't need a backpack full of all your gadgets anytime you leave your house.

In this article I am going to touch upon several features currently available in phones but either underrated or unknown. These features may help make your life incredibly more efficient and convenient.

1. Bluetooth
Bluetooth is best known for the increasing popularity of wireless earpieces. The use of earpieces is becoming more popular as states begin enforcing laws prohibiting use of phones in cars without them. The state I live in doesn't have a law for this (yet), but I personally couldn't drive my car and talk on the phone without a bluetooth (my car's a manual). It's just too difficult and unsafe.

However, this is not the only thing Bluetooth technology is capable of. Quite the contrary, in fact. Bluetooth utilizes several "profiles" that each serve a unique purpose. I will touch upon each profile in another article, but I will highlight a few.

Most bluetooth phones are capable of file transfer; in other words, sending pictures or music from one phone to another without using a MMS. The transfer is free and downloads much faster than MMS. Also, you can purchase stereo headphones to listen to music on your phone (see #2).

2. MP3 Player
Don't have an iPhone but wish you could use your phone to play music? You certainly can!

Any phone with some sort of memory card capability can be used as a MP3 player. The number of songs you can play all depends on the size of your card and the file size of each MP3. One of the most recent SD formats to come out, SD High Compression (SDHC), packs a lot more disk space in a MicroSD card and enables you to use cards containing 4 or 8 GB of space. This will net you 600-1200 songs at least.

Not all phones will accept the SDHC format; be sure to check the specs of the phone before you make the purchase. Phones that do not accept SDHC should still hold up to 2 GB cards, however.

3. Google Text
Disclaimer: to take advantage of this feature you will be charged for texts, so I highly recommend adding a text package first.

Google has set up their own texting service with which you can send queries and receive a response within seconds. You can use it for directory assistance; translate words to other languages; check stock quotes, sports scores, and weather; convert measurements; and you can even check the status of a current flight. To check out all the other things you can do with google text, visit www.google.com/sms.

4. Video Messaging
Multimedia messages aren't just for sending pictures back and forth; they are for sending videos and audio clips as well. If you have a camera phone capable of video capture this is highly beneficial! Whatever important event is going on, capture it on your phone and send it to friends and family without any problems.

5. WiFi
WiFi gives you the ability to connect to wireless networks. Whether it be hotspots or your wireless router at home and work, WiFi gives you faster internet access than you can get through the cell phone towers.

This also is a free alternative to accessing the internet on your phone, unless the particular hotspot you are using charges a fee. However, make absolutely certain you are using the internet through WiFi and not your phone's internet, otherwise you may be charged per kilobyte.

6. Memory Card Slot
Similar to #2, memory cards actually do more than just allow you to listen to music. You can store most types of files on these cards; my personal memory card holds 3 different movies that I can play on any multimedia PDA phone, and plenty of pictures.

Even if you don't use a memory card for much, it's a good idea to supplement your phone with at least a 1 GB card if your phone has limited space. This keeps your phone's performance optimized.

7. Voice Dial
Some phones have voice command, which asks you to "say a command". At this point you can tell the phone who you want to call, or which application you'd like to view. This can be a nice time-saving shortcut for you if the application you need is buried in menus or if you need to call someone not on your speed dial list.

8. Organizer
Phones have a few organizer functions installed to make your life easier. Tools typically included are to-do lists, calculators, memo pads, alarm clocks, and calendars that will remind you when appointments are approaching. PDAs will allow you to download extra organizational tools as well.

9. GPS
GPS can be found on phones in different forms. Some cell phone services offer a service in which you can keep track of your children by their phone, while others offer navigation services when you pay a monthly subscription. Yet others will only utilize GPS through 911 services, so if you call for an emergency you can be found more easily.