- By Michael E. Callahan
- Business & Technology
Print 
Since I've been in computers I've gradually seen things get smaller and lighter. If you think a monitor of today is heavy, you should have picked one up in 1982. Or a printer. Or a modem. Or even a hard disk for that matter. Yes, things have gotten smaller, lighter, and even smarter. So I guess it was inevitable that the PDA or "personal digital assistant would give rise to the "smartphone." So, what is a "smartphone?" Lets take a look.
You can't live in the civilized world and not notice that so many people are carrying cellular phones. They're everywhere. People talking as they walk down the aisle in the supermarket, in their cars, as they walk through the parking lot, even in the dentists office. And it isn't just technical people carrying cell phones, it's everyone. Senior citizens who won't touch a computer have a cell phone. So, the number of cellular phones in use has increased dramatically. At the same time, you had a lot of "techie" types who were also carrying around PDA's, like a Palm or Pocket PC device. Utlimately someone came up with the idea to combine the two. Viola! The "smartphone" was born.
Technically, a "smartphone" is any phone that has data functions like a PDA and also allows you to install other programs on it. I recently got a Verizon XV6700 "smartphone" which is made by Audiovox. It's a great phone, but it's also an excellent "digital assistant". For example, it has wireless capability built right in, so I can connect to my network if I need to. In fact, I can connect to any "open" wireless network and go onto the Internet.
The phone also has Bluetooth capability so my smartphone can connect to other devices that have Bluetooth. For example, I have a Bluetooth headset so I can talk "hands-free" on the phone while I'm driving. Or while the phone is in my pocket. If you've noticed more people walking around seemingly talking to themselves, they may well have a Bluetooth headset also.
So, the smartphone allows me to connect to the Internet via wireless and to devices that use Bluetooth, but that's not all. In any area where I have cellular service I'm constantly connected. No wireless network needed, I can check the Tucows home page to make sure the latest articles went "live" on time. I can also check my email. The email program I use on my XV6700 goes and checks my email just like my email program does on my main computer. Oh, and it also has a nice keyboard that slides out from underneath the phone.
I have a one (1) gigabyte mini-SD card in my phone so it also has storage. I can install programs to the card, put documents, music, and pictures on it, and lots more. I even have a utility program to "defragment" the card, just like you'd defragment a hard disk. As you can see, my "smartphone" is pretty much like a computer that I can make calls on. I can record audio notes to myself and take pictures as well. I've installed software similar to things that I use on my desktop computer. I have a program that constantly updates the news, weather, stocks, and more. Another program launches programs for me. Yet another shows me the status of free memory, storage memory, and how much room is on the storage card.
Does everyone need a "smartphone?" I wouldn't think so, but it is truly a sign of the times. As technology helps things to get smaller and more efficient, manufacturers are getting more and more functions into one device. Before you even think about getting a smartphone, think about your needs. Do you really need wireless? Bluetooth? Storage? Constant connectivity? Deciding honestly could save you a lot of money. One benefit for someone like me, who used to carry both a PDA and a phone is that now I only have one thing to carry.
Coming May 8th we're going to start having reviews of software for smartphones and PDA's. We'll be covering both the Palm operating system as well as the Pocket PC, now called Windows Mobile. So, if you have a smartphone or a PDA, stay tuned.
I'd like to thank Alan Davison, Betty Adamsley, Kirk Wagner, and numerous others for asking this question.
About Dr. File Finder
Dr. Filefinder Michael E. Callahan, known around the world by the trademarked name Dr. File Finder, is regarded as the world's leading expert on shareware. Dr. File Finder works with software programs and developers full-time, and in the average year he evaluates 10,000 programs. Since 1982 he has evaluated over 220,000 software and hardware products. He is an active member of the shareware community and a co-founder of the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation. Mr. Callahan is an honorary member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP), the President of the Educational Software Cooperative and the chairman of the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation. Dr. File Finder is also a recipient of the 1993 Shareware Industry Award for lifetime achievement and has been inducted into the ASP Hall of Fame. Mr. Callahan began evaluating software online in 1982 and no one has been at it longer. He currently works doing online PR and marketing for software companies, and is the Manager of Editorial Content on Tucows.----
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