It may surprise you that there is no industry standard definition of a smartphone. Howver, by the end of this article, you’ll feel confident that you can distinguish between a smartphone and a ‘dumbphone.’
You can usually spot a smartphone by its larger screen, powerful processor and its large memory capacity (we’re talking gigabytes here...) To put it simply, if a laptop and a mobile phone were to get together, they’d produce something that looked and functioned like a smartphone.
Smartphones, just like a computer, run on a standardised operating system. Smartphones can also have the capacity to function as a camera, MP3 player or movie player.
Other ways to spot a smartphone:
Cost – a smartphone will generally be more expensive than a standard phone. It’s easy to see why a smartphone will leave our wallet a little lighter given its advanced features. A smartphone could cost anywhere from $600-$1500.
Size – it may not always be the case, but a smartphone handset will generally be bigger in size. This not only helps to accommodate all those extra features that are available, but also to provide you with a larger screen. Many smartphones also feature a touchscreen and room for a full QWERTY keyboard – whether it is virtual (iPhone) or modest-sized buttons (such as a BlackBerry Bold or Nokia E71). Smartphones can arrive in the form of a standard candy bar, or could be a slide, touch or flip phone.
Applications – Smartphones allow you to install applications, or ‘apps,’ onto your mobile phone. The range of apps available will depend on the software that your smartphone runs on. Apps will help you to perform specific tasks a number of times.
Synchronisation with a PC or Mac – The ability to sync your smartphone with your computer or laptop allows you to sync your contacts, events, music and photos. This not only provides a backup of your mobile’s contents, but also makes it easier to organise your files when you’re back at the office.
Email – This feature allows you to receive emails (in real time) as they are detected by your phone. This saves you from having to constantly check your inbox – great for email junkies.
Mobile Operating System – The most popular operating systems include Symbian OS (Nokia, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson), iPhone OS, BlackBerry or Android (HTC). The mobile operating system will allow you to perform specific tasks such as editing a document or viewing a PDF file.
Do I need a smartphone?
You’ll have to work this one out for yourself. Smartphones are great if you need to perform ‘office tasks’ out of the office. Rather than waiting to arrive at work each morning to your inbox, you could be done by the time you step off the train. Smartphones are for people who need to have constant access to their emails, contacts, calendar and the web.
Smartphones also provide you with a large portable storage space. Some phones, such as the Samsung Omnia Icon, also include an internal MicroSD card slot for extra memory storage. However, smartphones are not only for the people in suits – people of all ages and interests are using the smartphone as a mini portable entertainment unit to watch videos or browse the web.
I want one! I need one!
While smartphones can be more expensive, there are 24 month plans that include a free handset, or an affordable repayment option. To compare mobile phone plans, you can search here. Smartphones are also available to purchase on prepaid.
If you purchase a smartphone, make sure you have a reasonable amount of data included in your plan. We also recommend that you purchase a smartphone with Wi-Fi capability (such as the iPhone or the HTC Touch Diamond), so that when you’re in a hotspot at home or in a cafe, you don’t have to use up the data from your plan.