| Modern technology moves fast and furious, especially | | | | were also the most expensive, coming in at 20-40% |
| when it comes to capabilities of the smartphone. Just | | | | more costly than its rivals. The Nokia 9210 was indeed |
| what is a "smartphone"? Actually there are no agreed | | | | the first real and true smartphone due to its open |
| upon or exact definitions for the term. Most would | | | | operating system. |
| agree however that smartphones do more - much | | | | Cutting Edge Smart Phones |
| more - than what Alexander Graham Bell first | | | | The 21st century has spawned smartphones that are |
| envisioned when he invented the original telephone | | | | incredibly powerful and easy to use. Touch-screen |
| back in the 1870s. | | | | functionality has become the norm and manufacturers |
| Definition | | | | such as Apple, Nokia and Research in Motion are |
| The smartphone differs from ordinary mobile phones in | | | | furiously vying for the smartphone consumer and |
| that they are capable of advanced functionality | | | | business dollar. |
| because they contain software applications that can | | | | Apple changed the smartphone industry with its |
| be run directly from the phone itself. This software is | | | | introduction of the Apple iPhone in 2007. Nokia has |
| typically open-source, an advantage that makes adding | | | | since countered with the unveiling of its Nokia XPress |
| applications as easy as loading them onto the phone | | | | Music Phone in 2008. The Nokia 5800 is a |
| via wireless downloads. Today, these devices are not | | | | touch-screen lovers dream that includes just about |
| considered very "smart" unless they can accomodate | | | | every feature a user would want. The handset even |
| a datebook/calendar, advanced internet connectivity, | | | | comes with millions of downloadable music tracks at |
| photography, music and even video capability. | | | | no cost. Google recently joined the fray by introducing |
| Origins | | | | it Android phone during the same time period. |
| IBM was the first to venture into the business of | | | | The Future |
| offering consumers a highly advanced mobile phone. In | | | | Could the smartphone get any smarter than it already |
| 1993, the company introduced what could be | | | | is? Sure can! In the not so distant future, virtually |
| considered the world's smartphone - simply called | | | | everyone on earth will be carrying some type of |
| Simon. Considered low-end by today's standard, this | | | | smartphone - devices that will make today's handsets |
| first smartphone featured an amazing array of | | | | pale in comparison. Increased bandwidth and speed will |
| features - email, address book, clock, calendar, note | | | | allow phones to be able to handle video in real-time |
| pad, and even the ability to send and receive faxes. | | | | with no problem. In the future, these mobile handsets |
| During the mid-90's, Nokia began to heat things up by | | | | will be indispensable to daily life, used for a wide array |
| introducing its first line of smartphone - the Nokia 9000 | | | | of functions, including consumer purchases, banking, |
| series. This phone was not only the first in a series of | | | | real-time video connectivity, advanced GPS tracking, |
| popular smart phones manufactured by Nokia, they | | | | entertainment and much more. |