Smartphone

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Definition A large-screen, data-centric, handheld cellular device designed to offer complete phone functions whilst simultaneously functioning as a personal digital assistant (PDA). However, the definition of a smart phone is much deeper than simply running data apps and has recently become even blurred. Smart phones, in fact, of late bear as much in common with PCs as with mobiles. One can add and remove applications just as in a PC.

History

IBM developed the first cellular smartphone known as “Simon” which was marketed by BellSouth. It used a touch-screen to select phone numbers with a finger or create facsimiles and memos with an optional stylus. Text was entered with a unique on-screen "predictive" keyboard. By today's standards, the Simon would be a fairly low-end smartphone. Since then, smartphones have evolved into what amounts to very small computers, offering almost the same kind of flexibility and services that a regular PC offers.

In 1996, Nokia and Hewlett Packard collaborated to develop the first true smart phone – named the Nokia communicator series starting with Nokia 9000. The next in the series - Nokia 9210 was the first color screen Communicator model which was the first true smartphone with an open operating system, while still being referred as commuicator. The latest E90 Communicator includes GPS. The Nokia Communicator model is remarkable also having been the most expensive phone model sold by a major brand for almost the full lifespan of the model series.

Features

In addition to functioning as a cellular telephone, a smartphone's features may include:

• Wireless e-mail, Internet, Web browsing, and fax
• Intercom function
• Personal information management
• Online banking
• LAN connectivity
• Graffiti style data entry
• Local data transfer between phone set and computers
• Remote data transfer between phone set and computers
• Remote control of computers
• Remote control of home or business electronic systems
• Interactivity with unified messaging

Major Smartphone Operating Systems

1. Blackberry
2. Palm OS
3. Symbian
4. Windows Mobile
5. iPhone OS