There are all kinds of cell phones (or mobile phones) on sale all around the world. A smartphone is an advanced type of mobile phone that has computing abilities. We can also define it as a portable device that is a combination of a mobile phone and a computer.
While ordinary mobile phones are limited to basic functions such as voice calls and SM# (and sometimes Web browsing), a smartphone also has the ability to install 3rd party software called apps (applications) to extend its abilities. As such, you can do Word processing, email, Web browsing, server administration, photography, video recording, schedule management, personal health management, graphics design, video editing, and more, on a smartphone.
Ordinary phones or feature phones, as they are also called, do not have these advanced computing capabilities. You can make calls on them, and and receive SMS, do basic calculations, and use a few built-in tools. They are nowhere near as advanced as smartphones, many of which are as powerful as today’s PCs and laptops. Some are even more powerful.
Types Of Smartphones
Smartphones are generally classified based on their operating system. Today, there are two types:
- iPhone – manufactured by Apple and running the iOS mobile operating system
- Android phones – manufactured by Google, Nokia, Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, Xiaomi, TECNO, Infinix, and others. They run the Android operating system.
Both iPhones and Android phones have built-in app stores from which users can download and install 3rd party apps. There are millions of mobile apps available to users of both platforms. Some of these apps are free and others require a payment. There are apps for almost every need on the planet. Whatever software is available on a Windows or Mac computer, there is almost certainly an equivalent available for iPhones and Android phones.
But the earliest smartphones were not iPhone and Android phones. The earliest models were from about two decades ago and ran operating systems that are no longer around.
Which were the earliest smartphones?
The Ericsson R380 was the first smartphone. Or, to be more accurate, it was the first mobile device to be marketed as a smartphone. It was released in the year 2000. Other early types include devices by Handspring Treo, HP, Nokia, and BlackBerry, running Palm OS, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and BlackBerry OS, respectively. The Ericsson R380 itself ran Symbian operating system.
What Are The Benefits Of Modern Smartphones
Modern smartphones are great communication tools. With one in hand and an Internet connection, you can interact, in real time, with millions of people from all around the world. Besides email and Web browsing, you can connect on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and others. You can run an online store and sell to the world. You can shop from the comfort of your home or a garden. A smartphone is one of the most enabling tools you can own in today’s world. And there is one available in every price range, so whatever your budget is, there is a one out there for you.
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