You have probably heard of the term smartphone, and for many, this term is a bit of a mystery. What was previously only shown as a prototype in 1994 has now become a phenomenon in the wireless cell phone industry. To learn more about smartphones and what they are, read below.
So what is a smartphone? If you’ve had an iPhone or Android phone in your hands, you’ve had a smartphone. These popular devices are not only taking the wireless industry by storm, but are even beginning to outsell laptops and desktops combined at a phenomenal rate. Yes, even computers.
Smartphones, first and foremost, are mobile phones. They make and receive calls just like any other cellular device, however there is one main distinction that separates them from the rest of the pack of our handy mobile devices. They can run full operating systems (OS). If you’ve ever been familiar with the term PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), then a smartphone is a cell phone/PDA on steroids.
An operating system is exactly what is on your current computer right now. Just like Windows XP/Vista/7 for PC or MAC Snow Leopard for Apple computers, a smartphone runs on an operating system. While the brand of operating system may vary from the brands mentioned above, a smartphone works much like a computer. In fact, you might as well call them a computer phone.
So, with these phones, you can basically send emails, send instant messages, access your online social sites, perform online searches, edit text documents, take photos, record videos, and more, all while on the go. However, the main big trend that goes beyond these functions are the so-called applications.
What are apps? Well, first of all, apps is a lazy shorthand term for apps. Apps are basically small versions of software that are compatible with smartphone operating systems. These apps can be anything from a daily weather update, a photo editor, a document creator, to a multi-level game.
Currently every cell phone manufacturer has a version of a smartphone. Some of these phones for 2010 include the BlackBerry Torch, Motorola Droid, Samsung Intercept, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, HTC Aria, and more.
Common attributes with a smartphone generally include a phone with a touch screen and/or QWERTY dashboard, large screens, multimedia capabilities (video, music, etc.), USB connection, bluetooth (wireless conversation), Internet access (Wi- Fi, 3G, 4G WiMax, etc.), a photo and/or video camera, a memory card slot, and sometimes even more.