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Tech Primer
Smartphones
What is a smartphone?
 A
smartphone is a phone that includes features of a personal digital assistant,
and integrates personal information as well as mobile phone capabilities. It
is a handheld device with more memory, a larger screen, built-in modem and an
ability to handle some of the capabilities of a personal computer (PC) in a
handset. Smartphone users can access the Internet through a Web browser to send
and receive e-mail. A smartphone uses a stylus instead of a keyboard for input.
These phones incorporate voice recognition technologies (voice input) along
with handwriting recognition. Some of the features of a smartphone are e-mail,
digital voice service, Web access, and a digital camera. The Microsoft platform
provides access to multimedia files and Outlook to retrieve e-mail.
Simon the smartphone
The first smartphone was designed by IBM in 1992 and was called Simon. This
phone was shown as a concept product at COMDEX (Computer Dealer Exhibition)
and was released in 1993. It was sold by a US telecommunication company in Atlanta
named Bell South. Some of the features of the cell phone were a calendar, address
book, world clock, calculator, notepad, e-mail and games. In 2003, Motorola
and Samsung were the first mobile makers to launch Microsoft technology in a
mobile phone.
The technology
At the development stage, Microsoft initially worked on Windows Mobile 5 as
‘Magneto.’ A major difference noticed between a Pocket PC device and
smartphone is the interface. Pocket PC devices are keypad-oriented whereas smartphones
enable single-hand operation. Some of the major technologies included in smartphones
are Java, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Bluetooth in mobile phones enables data transmission
in a personal area network of up to 1 MB per second. Wi-Fi lets users view online
content. Java improves and advances messaging.
Which operating systems are used in smartphones?
Symbian, Windows Mobile 5 and Linux are a few of the operating systems supported
by smartphones. Each OS has its own advantages. The Symbian Operating System
(OS) enables enhanced communication. Some of its features are calendars, contacts,
messaging, e-mail and Web browsing. It also integrates with enterprise information
systems. Users not only have instant telephonic services in their palms but
they also have instant data access through the same mobile phone. Some mobile
phones supporting Symbian are the Sony Ericsson P900 and P910; Siemens SX1;
and Nokia 6600 and N-Gage. The Windows Mobile 5.0 is powered by Windows CE 5.x
(Windows Consumer Electronics). Some of the smartphones running Windows Mobile
5 OS are Samsung i600, i300 and Motorola MPx220.
Which applications run on the smartphone?
A smartphone works like a normal cell phone but provides access to additional
applications such as sending and receiving Word Mobile, Excel Spreadsheet, and
viewing PowerPoint presentations. Some smartphones also allow access to Adobe
Acrobat PDF files. You can also listen to music in your phone through Windows
Media player 10 Mobile. The player supports album art, play list and synchronisation
with Windows Media player 10 on the desktop.
Which companies manufacture smartphones?
Vendors making smartphones include Motorola, Nokia, Palm One, Research In Motion
(RIM), Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, BenQ and Panasonic.
To learn more about smartphones,
log on to www.symbian.com/technology/smartphone_enterprise.html
—Garima Grover
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