Ubiquitous Communication with Smartphones
Computer/Internet/Software Articles
Submit Articles Back to Articles
Considering trading your cell phone and PDA for a Smartphone? Let's begin
with some of the basics...
What exactly is a Smartphone?
Essentially a Smartphone is a cell phone and PDA (Portable Data Assistant)
merged into one, allowing:
1 - Verbal phone communication along with email
2 - Messaging
3 - Internet
4 - Fax
5 - Data transfers between the Smartphone and your office computer
Let's have a look at the pros and cons of the Smartphone solution.
A Smartphone is a single item, instead of a series of items. You can to check
email, search directions, or find info from a single unit. Minimal versions of
powerful computer applications are available for use. By using a keyboard
instead of a phone pad, it becomes easier to type longer messages. The initial
cost runs almost three times as much as a regular cell phone including the fees
for the network access needed for Smartphone features. If you're used to using a
small phone, the Smartphone may seem big clunky to use. It could take some time
to adjust to using the Smartphone. Maybe it's a bit difficult to read text-heavy
messages on the smaller screens, and finding your way around and understanding
all of the features has it's own learning curve. Now that you've decided to
switch to a Smartphone, which one will you buy?
Before selecting hardware, examine the plans of various service providers. By
purchasing the hardware and plan together, you may get a good package plan
discount. Evaluate your plan including usage as unforeseen charges can be a
costly lesson. Know exactly what terms you're on before the first invoice
arrives.
After you find a good plan, the selection of models will be narrowed down to
just a few. Consider which features can you live without; the MP3 player and
camera may be nice, but will these big files fill up your memory make Internet
browsing slow?
Allow time to play around, making sure your Smartphone is enjoyable to use.
You may consider adding a Bluetooth device if it isn't. Feel the weight of the
device as well. It may be great to have this much memory, but if the unit is
cumbersome then will you really bring it with you? Have a look at how things are
organized; does it make sense to you, and can you to find what you're looking
for? There are different software packages to purchase for your Smartphone which
could help better organize it in your preferred style.
So now that you have a Smartphone, what next? Browse for free software on the
Web! However the standard for synching Smartphones appears to be Microsoft
Windows Mobile for Smartphones 5.0.
For a review of the Smartphones that come packaged with Microsoft Windows
Mobile, check out Microsoft online.
About the Author
Nick Pegley is VP of Marketing at All Covered Inc, the only nationwide
information technology (IT) services company focused solely on enabling the
success of small businesses. Serving thousands of firms across every industry,
the company helps clients achieve their business objectives by lowering the cost
and maximizing the performance of their IT systems. For more information visit
www.allcovered.com.
Follow us @Scopulus_News
Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2008-01-07 21:01:11 in Computer Articles
