Playing multiple roles

Any handheld device that integrates personal information management and mobile phone capabilities in the same device is considered a smart phone

However, on a more serious note, smart phones are a reality and they are increasingly becoming the communication device of choice across the globe, at least that's what the numbers show and the experts believe.

According to research conducted by Canalys, a UK-based consultancy, global shipments of smart mobile devices were said to have grown by 105 per cent year on year in the second quarter of 2005.

According to a Canalys release, three companies that dominated the market showed good sales. Nokia, for instance, shipped up to 6.7 million smart phones while Palm smart phone sales grew by 200 per cent.

RIM was also said to have shipped around 900,000 converged devices. Considering a trend such as this, research firm Gartner's forecast that more than 200 million smart phones will be sold in 2008 seems a plausible one.

Fast growth

Gartner's findings claim smart phones are the fastest growing category among devices.

In one of Gartner's press releases, Roberta Cozza, a principal analyst at Gartner, is quoted as saying that global sales of smart phones had broken all records in the first quarter of 2005 and that sales were expected to double in 2006.

The reasons for their rising popularity are obvious: these hybrid devices marry features of both the ubiquitous mobile phone and the highly dependable PDA, and play multiple roles ranging from an organiser to a cell phone and multimedia players to a digital camera.

Access to email, web browsing and office applications are just a few of the other features that are a given in these converged devices.

In addition to having a screen size and resolution to view a document, email or web browsing, these phones synchronise with desktop computers, have touchscreens and a stylus and/or QWERTY or 12-key numeric keyboards to input data and come with the option of memory expansion just as PDAs do.

Smart phones also use an operating system such as PDAs do, which is why it offers the functionality it has gained recognition for, while lending the ability to add on different applications to the phone.

These phones, depending on their manufacturers, run on systems such as Palm OS, Windows Mobile Pocket PC or Smart phone, Blackberry or Symbian.
Some of these tend to focus on PDA functionality and phone applications while others are intended for computing applications or email capabilities.

Smart phones can either be tri-band or quad band devices, which allow them to function on a range of frequencies and thus be used in different regions around the world.

They also use the wireless digital mobile phone network GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) for voice communication and the wireless based GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network to access internet and allow data transmission.

Data transmission

Smart phones also send and receive messages over the GPRS network using an e-mail client (which is basically a software programme that is used to contact and obtain data from a ‘server' software programme on another computer, often across a great distance).

Smart phones also synchronise with desktop computers for updating e-mails, files or contacts using the requisite software.

These phones can use cable via serial or USB ports or wireless options such as Bluetooth or infrared - some of them also come with their own cradle for desktop synchronisation.

Storage capacity is also an important consideration considering that files, downloads and programmes on the phone will increase with need and use.

Depending on the make of the phone, built-in memory can range from 20MB and 80MB, with external expansion cards storing up to 2 GB.

Some of the common expansion card formats include multimedia (MM), SDIO and SD, to name a few. These help provide more options for storage and add-ons.

Operating system

Most smart phones use a rechargeable lithium ion battery that gives an average of about six hours of talk time and between 140 to 300 hours of standby time.

The length of battery life also depends on the operating system as well as the programmes used. In addition to the above, one can buy a range of accessories, third-party software and add-ons to enhance their phones.

These include GPS receivers, Bluetooth headsets or headphones, standalone keyboards, games, travel guides and lot more.

Some of the really popular smart phone models include the PalmOne Treo 650, which combines wireless e-mail through its GSM/GPRS/EDGE support with a worldphone and a Palm OS organiser, the HP iPAQ hw6500 Mobile Messenger, which includes high-end features such as support for EDGE and GSM/GPRS networks, GPS Navigation and multiple messaging capabilities, I-Mate&r