Smartphones are loaded with features and capabilities that make them more than a phone

                              

A smartphone is a type of mobile phone that differs from feature phones in that it has more powerful hardware and software capabilities as well as a wider range of mobile operating systems. Smartphones provide a variety of capabilities such as multimedia functionality such as music, video, games, and photography, voice and video calls, internet access including online surfing, and a variety of software functions. A smartphone can run a variety of operating systems, including iOS (Apple), Android (Google), Windows (Microsoft), Blackberry Operating System, and others. The popularity of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter has increased smartphone usage. Over the years, smartphones have massively evolved and are integrated with innovative technologies including global positioning system (GPS), gyroscope, flash memory, optical fingerprint sensors, near field connectivity (NFC), augmented reality, virtual reality, etc.

When was the first smartphone released?

The first unofficial smartphone was developed by IBM in 1992. It was a prototype device, with PDA-like features, including maps, news feeds, and stock quotes. The prototype resulted in an improved version being released to the market in 1994, called the Simon Personal Communicator. This device was the first official smartphone, with capabilities to send and receive e-mails, and included apps like an address book, calculator, calendar, and a notepad.

What can a smartphone do?

Smartphones are loaded with features and capabilities that make them more than a phone. Below is a listing of the most popular features of a smartphone.

• Make and receive phone calls text messages.

• Take, show, and store pictures and video.

• Browse the Internet, and send and receive e-mail.

• GPS capability for location and navigation.

• Record and play audio and music.

• Display time and date and other functions such as alarm clock, stopwatch, and timer.

• Display weather and temperature information.

What type of storage medium is used in a smartphone?

Smartphones use flash memory to store apps and data. The flash memory is usually built into the phone and non-removable. Some smartphones may also have a flash memory card slot, often designed for an SD card, allowing users to utilize external storage.