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Smartphones Overview
Home » Handheld Electronics » Smartphones » Smartphones OverviewA smartphone is a handheld device that integrates a mobile cell phone with a personal digital assistant (PDA), camera, MP3 player, games or any other information or entertainment devices. Today, cell phones are used as much for entertainment devices as they are for the cell phone services. One of the main features of a smartphone is that you can continue to add applications to the device.
Most cell phones today have features found on PDAs such as calendars, address books, and memo pads. One of the key differences in a regular cell phone or a PDA and a smartphone is that with smartphones you can generally operate all functions with one hand. Most PDAs require the use of two hands to perform the functions.
The first smartphone was called Simon and was designed by IBM in 1992. In 1993, Simon was released to the public by BellSouth. It contained a cell phone, calendar, address book, world clock, calculator, note pad, e-mail, and various games. The Simon smartphone came equipped with a stylus which could be used to write directly on the screen.
There are a great number of add-ons for smartphones on the market. In addition to the large variety of games that can be put on the phones, there are special ring tones that can be downloaded. Music videos and movie trailers can even be played on some smartphones.
It is expected that in the next few years, all cell phones sold will be smartphones.
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