Smartphones are handheld devices that integrate mobile phone capabilities with the more common features of a handheld computer or PDA. Smartphones allow users to store information, email, install programs, along with using a mobile phone in one device. For example a amartphone could be a mobile phone with some PDA functions integrated into the device, or vice versa.

Now that we understand what a smartphone phone is, let's look at the genesis of the smartphone. Recently I heard someone talking about the smartphone as if it was a brand new device. However, the smartphone has been around since 1992 when IBM unveiled the Simon, shown in Figure A, at the computer trade show, COMDEX in Las Vegas.

FIGURE A

The Simon was a big phone. Photo courtesy of The-Gadgeteer.com. Click picture for a larger image.

Even though the Simon was a brick, it was designed to have a mobile phone, pager, PDA, and a fax machine, and it opened up, housing a keyboard. Special thanks to our friends at The-Gadgeteer.com for having such a rare picture in their archives and giving us permission to use it.

Today's smartphones
Returning to modern times, some popular smartphones today include:

• The Apple iPhone, which some consider to be the crème de la crème of smartphones.
• RIM Blackberry
• Palm Treo and Centro
• O2 XDA
• Nokia E70
• Motorola Q

Making life interesting, there's some debate about whether or not the iPhone is actually a smartphone. Some experts contend that a smartphone can only achieve smartphone status if the user can download and install additional applications to it. While Apple has announced a programming environment for the iPhone, non-Apple iPhone applications are not yet available.

How to choose the right smartphone for your purposes
Not all smartphones are the same and therefore different types are better suited for different individuals.

Depending on why you need to get a smartphone, certain features play a major role in any purchasing decision. Bear in mind that among the two main types of smartphones are those that are more like traditional mobile phones and those that are more like PDAs. If you expect to do lots of typing, you are better off with the PDA-type smartphone.