Companies look to take wireless communication beyond the simple cell phone

CANNES, France - Thousands of mobile phone executives are converging on sunny Cannes to try to melt away some of the industry gloom and revive wireless communications by taking it far beyond the simple cell phone. <br> <br> At the 3GSM World Congress that opens Tuesday, companies will show off plans to transform mobile handsets into pocket-sized computers that can take the office on the road, play music, even snap digital photos. <br> <br> Building on the success of text messaging, many companies are looking at ways to encourage consumers to zap multimedia images, photos and audio between cell phones. <br> <br> At this annual gathering for network operators and technology providers of GSM, the dominant cell phone standard in Europe and Asia, much of the focus will shift away from so-called third-generation technology applications. <br> <br> The speedy, much-touted mobile standard is being rolled out far more slowly than expected -- as heavily indebted companies look for realistic ways to make money off technology already in place. <br> <br> About 28,000 people from 120 countries are expected to attend the four-day gathering, including executives from major technology companies in the United States, where GSM is fast gaining traction among carriers including VoiceStream, AT&T Wireless and Cingular aided by an &#34;always-on&#34; bridge technology known as GPRS, or general packet radio service, that accelerates data transmission to nearly the speed of standard dialup modems. <br> <br>