A smartphone is a phone that offers advanced capabilities beyond the typical cheap cell phone that is also wi-fi enabled. Many define a smartphone by the way they use it. Basically, the smartphone is a mini computer and phone combination. The smartphone allows for complete functionality of communication in a small wireless mobile package, offering advanced capabilities beyond a typical mobile phone, often with PC-like functionality.
Basically, smartphones are miniature computers that have phone capability. Smartphones come with a variety of features, including email, Internet browsing, full operating systems, GPS, camera and video capability, organizers, calendars, mp3 players full operating systems, full keyboards, oh and of course the cell phone. Some smartphones also have touch screens, such as the iPhone and the newest Blackberry Storm.
The first ever smartphone was called Simon. Designed in 1992 by IBM and released to the public by BellSouth in 1993. It contained an address book, calculator, note pad, email, fax and games and by today’s advanced standards would is considered pretty limited and low-end, especially in being called a smartphone.
In 2001 RIM released the first BlackBerry phone, which was the first smartphone optimized for wireless email use. The BlackBerry popularity was astounding with a total customer base of 8 million subscribers by June 2007, most of which is based in North America. RIM BlackBerry operating system is focused on easy operation, recently it has seen a surge in third-party applications and has been improved to offer full multimedia support.
The BlackBerry comes in several models, including, Bold, Curve, Pearl and Storm, offering a wide range in prices and features for everyone. This year the long awaited newest model of BlackBerry Storm was released that features the first BlackBerry touch screen that is a unique moving touch screen, which, clicks when you press down to provide tactile feedback when typing, clicking web links, selecting icons and more. Bravo to RIM for adding something different as this isn’t the resistive touch screen usually found on Windows Mobile devices, nor is it the “simple” capacitive display found on the iPhone and a few other phones.
There are several manufacturers of smartphones today, each running their operating system, including Apple’s iPhone which is one of the best sellers of smartphones.
