Home NEWS and INFO WHAT MAKES A SMARTPHONE SMART?

WHAT MAKES A SMARTPHONE SMART?

By
admin
-
1304
98
SHARE

You probably hear the term smartphone tossed around a lot. But if you’ve ever wondered exactly what a smartphone is, well, you’re not alone. How is a smartphone different than a cell phone, and what makes it so smart?

In a nutshell, a smartphone is a device that lets you make telephone calls, but also adds in features that, in the past, you would have found only on a personal digital assistant or a computer — such as the ability to send and receive email and edit documents. So, it’s essentially connected to the internet and offers personalized services as a result. (Some people think that’s so the phone can spy on you.)

But to really understand what a smartphone is (and is not), and whether you should own one, we’ll start with a history lesson. In the beginning, there were cell phones and personal digital assistants (or PDAs). Cell phones were used for making calls — and not much else — while PDAs, like the Palm Pilot, were used as personal, portable organizers. A PDA could store your contact info and to-do lists and could sync with your computer.

Eventually, PDAs gained wireless connectivity and were able to send and receive email. Cell phones, meanwhile, also gained messaging capabilities. PDAs then added cellular phone features, while cell phones added more PDA-like (and even computer-like) features. The result was the smartphone.

Why Are They Called Smartphones?

Key Smartphone Features

While there is no standard definition of the term “smartphone” across the industry, we thought it would be helpful to point out what we, here at Lifewire.com, define as a smartphone, and what we consider a cell phone.

Here are the features we look at:

Operating System

In general, a smartphone will be based on an operating system that allows it to run applications. Apple’s iPhone runs iOS, and BlackBerry smartphones run BlackBerry OS. Other devices run Google’s Android OS, HP’s WebOS, and Microsoft’s Windows Phone.

Apps

While almost all cell phones include some sort of software (even the most basic models these days include an address book or some sort of contact manager, for example), a smartphone will have the ability to do more. It may allow you to create and edit Microsoft Office documents — or at least view the files.

It will usually allow you to download apps, such as personal and business finance managers, handy personal assistants, or almost anything. It will probably allow you to take and edit photos, get driving directions via GPS, and create a playlist of digital tunes.

Web Access

More smartphones can access the web at higher speeds, thanks to the growth of 4G and 3G data networks, as well as the addition of Wi-Fi support to many handsets. While not all smartphones offer high-speed web access, they all offer some sort of access. Long story short, you can use your smartphone to browse your favorite websites.

QWERTY Keyboard

By our definition, a smartphone includes a QWERTY keyboard. This means that the keys are laid out in the same manner as they would be on your computer keyboard — not in alphabetical order on top of a numeric keypad, where you have to tap the number 1 to enter an A, B, or C. The keyboard can be hardware (physical keys that you type on) or software (on a touchscreen, like you’ll find on the iPhone).

Messaging

All cell phones can send and receive text messages, but what sets a smartphone apart is its handling of email. A smartphone can sync with your personal and, most likely, your professional email account. Most smartphones can support multiple email accounts. Others include access to the popular instant messaging apps.

The Rapidly Changing Phone

These are just some of the features that make a smartphone smart. The technology surrounding smartphones and cell phones is constantly changing, though. What constitutes a smartphone today may change by next week, next month, or next year. Stay tuned!

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

98 COMMENTS

  3. Hello, i think that i saw you visited my web site thus
    i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use a few
    of your ideas!!

  27. Veery nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog
    and wanted to say tha I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around
    your blog posts. In anyy case I will be subscribing to
    your feed and I hope you write again very soon!

  34. I’m very happy to discover this page. I need to to thank
    you for ones time just for this fantastic read! I definitely realpy liked every little bit of it aand I have you boookmarked to check
    outt nnew hings in your blog.

  72. I truly love your website.. Pleasant colors & theme. Did you build this site yourself? Please reply back as Iím planning to create my own personal site and want to know where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Thank you!

  74. Hi, I do believe this is a great site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to revisit yet again since I book marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

  83. Hi there! I could have sworn Iíve visited this web site before but after looking at a few of the articles I realized itís new to me. Nonetheless, Iím definitely happy I stumbled upon it and Iíll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!

  87. After looking at a few of the articles on your site, I seriously appreciate your way of blogging. I added it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my website too and let me know how you feel.

  88. Can I simply say what a relief to find an individual who actually knows what they’re talking about over the internet. You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people should look at this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised that you are not more popular because you certainly possess the gift.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here