Share of 2010 Q1 smartphone sales
to end users by operating system,
according to Gartner.
A smartphone is a mobile phone that offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary basic 'feature phone'. Smartphones and feature phones may be thought of as handheld computers integrated within a mobile telephone, but while most feature phones are able to run applications based on platforms such as Java, a smartphone allows the user to install and run more advanced software applications ('Apps' eg Android Market) based on a complete operating system such as Google Android, Symbian, Blackberry RIM, Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows mobile or Linux.
Simon - the first
Smartphone in 1992
The very first smartphone was designed by IBM in 1992. This phone called 'Simon' contained a calendar, address book, calculator, note pad, e-mail world clock, games and fax with a touch screen instead of buttons.
So what can be called a smartphone? A smartphone can be defined as:
“a mobile phone that provides additional information accessing features. Any mobile telephone that combines voice services with e-mail, fax, pager or Internet access is called a smart phone” (by CEVA). or
"Electronic handheld device that integrates the functionality of a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or other information appliance". or
"a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality. There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone. ..."
Acer Stream
runs on Android
Today’s smartphones have Internet access, high speed downloads & uploads (High-Speed Downlink & Uplink Packet Access - HSDPA & HSUPA) and Bluetooth connectivity. They also enable you to edit your information on-the-go including presentations. An Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed so you can view PDFs. That is just the tip of the iceberg, with many note taking & recording applications also available.
Archos 5 Internet Tablet
runs Android OS also
used in Smartphones
Current smartphones also go beyond simple information access, and into the realms of entertainment; some of the larger-screened phones are almost akin to dedicated portable media players such as the Archos 5. Many smartphones also include games pre-installed on the device, or available through an application market after sale. Video and audio playing applications are present on most phones these days, so you can have your phone, mp3 player and work documents all on one handy device.
Smartphones are, in essence just super mobile phones. You can call and text just as you can on a normal mobile phone, but there is so much more available. With the added functionality and the dedicated operating system also comes customisability which is just not possible on a conventional phone – the look and feel can be changed completely, as seen in our blog ‘What is Android?’
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