Cell phones operate on the same principles as radio broadcast. They use radio waves to transmit conversations.  These radio waves can be at different frequencies, just in the same way as regular radio stations broadcast at different frequencies. Cell phones that conform to the  most popular standard for mobile phones,Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication, use frequencies within 5 different frequency bands measured in Megahertz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 and 2100 MHz. A phone that works in one frequency band unfortunately cannot operate in another frequency band next to it unless added as a specific extra frequency band.  To overcome this problem Dual, Tri, and Quad GSM Phones have been developed that utilize two, three or four frequencies respectively. Quad-band phones work as broadly as possible, in over 200 countries worldwide.

Cell phones have come a long way both in design and function since they were first introduced in 1983. Since that time, literally thousands of models of cell phones have hit the streets. Some have become highly sophisticated devices by virtue of acquiring more complex features.  The much sought after iPhone 3G, which can take a picture, play a video, or run one of the 35,000 applications available from the Apple Store is drastically different from the prototypic Motorola analog phone, DynaTAC, designed strictly for voice. These advances in cell phone technology beg the question, “What is a smart phone?” 

Even the experts don’t agree on what phone should be labeled a “smart” phone. Although there is no general consensus on the topic, we know that smart phones differ from ordinary mobile phones in two basic ways: how they are built and what they can do. Other definitions put different stresses on these two factors. Some experts say a smart phone is a cell phone which offers advanced capabilities, often with PC-like computer functionality. The techies argue that a smart phone must run complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers. Yet for others, a smart phone is simply a phone with advanced features like e-mail, internet and e-book reader capabilities, and/or a built-in full keyboard or external USB keyboard and VGA, the display screen.  Simply put, “Smart phones are computers you talk to”.

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There is a growing global demand for smart phones or “advanced mobile devices”. The smart phone market is bourgeoning because in this digital age there is a belief that your information should follow you wherever you go. This information can live on your phone (all the better because it is easily accessible), on your office or home computer or even on the internet. As such a smart phone is essentially a miniature computer that can function as a phone supporting an earlier prediction, “The phone will be your PC”. In future, the demand for smart phones which can boast of powerful processors, abundant memory, large screens and open operating systems will outpace the rest of the cell phone market for several years.

Smart phones today use an identifiable operating system (OS), often with the ability to add applications (e.g. for enhanced data processing, connectivity or entertainment). This is in contrast to regular cell phones. The smart phone applications may be developed by the manufacturer of the mobile device, by the network operator or by any third-party software developer since the OS is open for the so called “Third-party applications”. Although the Symbian OS is the leading operating system in the “smart mobile device” market, other competitors such as Apple’s iPhone OS, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, and Google’s Android mobile are rapidly making inroads into this market.   

As expected, the features of smart phone vary from phone to phone. But most smart phones support email capabilities with the functionality of a personal organizer.  The features may also include a miniature keyboard, a touch screen, a built-in camera, a built-in GPS system, and the ability to read business documents in a variety of formats such as PDF and Microsoft Office. Some smart phones incorporate media software for playing music, browsing photos, and viewing video clips, internet browsers, or even just secure access to company mail such as provided by Blackberry. One common feature of the majority of the smart phones is a contact list able to store as many contacts as the available memory permits, in contrast to regular phones that have a limit to the maximum number of contacts that can be stored.

Currently, out of the 1 billion camera phones shipped in 2008, smart phones make up the high-end of the market. This represents about 10% of the total cell phone market or about 100 million units. In addition to the iPhone, smart phones include name brands such as the RIM Blackberry the Nokia N-series, and Palm Pre to name a few.  It must be noted that regular cell phones are getting ever smarter, though, and it’s only a matter of time before all phones have some of the advanced levels of functionality associated with today’s smart phones.