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Choosing a Smartphone. http://xkcd.com/662/. Dameon D. Welch-Abernathy March 2010. Overview. What, Where, Why’s of Smartphones Mobile Operators Mobile Operating Systems & Phones Market Share Data Sample Applications General Advice.
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Choosing a Smartphone http://xkcd.com/662/ • Dameon D. Welch-Abernathy • March 2010
Overview • What, Where, Why’s of Smartphones • Mobile Operators • Mobile Operating Systems & Phones • Market Share Data • Sample Applications • General Advice
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fishbraintexas/3607335901/
What Is A Smartphone? • There is no agreement in the the industry about what precisely constitutes a smartphone, and definitions have changed over time.
Why A Smartphone? • Web Browsing • Email (Corporate, Personal) • Social Networking • Music/Video on the Go • Third Party Applications
Terms and Conditionsof buying a Smartphone • Handset Exclusivity • Different Technologies (GSM vs CDMA) • Handsets “Locked” To Carriers • Different Frequencies • Contract Requirements • Required Data Plan (up to $30/mo/line) • Larger Early Termination Fee (Verizon)
Unlocked Phones • Pros: • More Choices • Not Tied to Operator • No Contract • Usable Worldwide • Cons: • Harder to Obtain • Higher Up-front Cost • Only US GSM Carriers • Not all frequencies covered by all handsets
Know Your Gs • G = Generation of wireless network technology • 1G = AMPS (Analog Voice) • 2G = GSM, CDMA, iDEN, TDMA (Digital Voice) • 2.5G = EDGE, 1XRTT (Data) • 3G = UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA, EVDO (Voice/Data) • 4G = LTE, WiMax (Data)
CDMA, 1XRTT, EVDO Best Overall Network Most Expensive Android, BlackBerry, WinMo 4G = LTE (2011) Know Your Operators • GSM, EDGE, HS(D)PA • OK Network • Average Cost • Android, BlackBerry, WinMo, iPhone, Symbian • 4G = LTE (2011) • CDMA, iDEN, 1XRTT, EVDO • OK Network • Below Average Cost • Android, BlackBerry, WinMo, WebOS • 4G = WiMax (Now) • GSM, EDGE, HS(D)PA • Smallest Network • Lowest Cost • Android, BlackBerry, WinMo • 4G = HSPA+ (2010), LTE (2012)
Are You Covered? • Verizon Wireless: http://bit.ly/vzwmap • http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/ • http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/ • http://coverage.sprint.com/
Platform Fragmentation • Applications don’t necessarily work across different handsets by the same manufacturer running the same operating system.
Android • Pros: • Google Services Integration • Multitasking • Touch Support • Strong Web Browser • MS Exchange Support • Many Manufacturers • Cons: • Inconsistent Interface • Platform Fragmentation • Exchange Support Not Complete • Limited # of Installed Applications
Motorola Droid • Verizon Wireless exclusive • $200 with 2/yr contract • 480x854 screen with hardware keyboard • 5mp Camera w/Flash • WiFi, GPS, Accelerometer • MicroSD Slot • Free Turn by Turn Navigation
Nexus One • Only from google.com/phone • T-Mobile/AT&T (now), Verizon/Sprint (soon) • $179 with new 2/yr T-Mo contract, $529 w/o contract • 800x480 AMOLED touchscreen • 5mp Camera w/Flash • WiFi, GPS, Accelerometer • MicroSD Slot • Free Turn by Turn Navigation
Samsung Moment • Sprint Exclusive • $200 with 2/yr contract • 320x480 AMOLED touchscreen • 3.2mp Camera w/Flash • WiFi, GPS, Accelerometer • MicroSD Slot • Free Turn by Turn Navigation
Motorola Backflip • AT&T Exclusive • $100 with 2/yr contract • 320x480 touchscreen • 5mp Camera w/Flash • WiFi, GPS, Accelerometer • MicroSD Slot
BlackBerry • Pros: • Excellent Email Client • Blackberry Messenger • Lots of Applications • Devices can be controlled centrally • Cons: • Requires BlackBerry-specific server for corporate email • Weak Web Browser • Limited Multitasking • Limited # of installed apps • Platform Fragmentation
BlackBerry Bold 9700 • T-Mobile and AT&T • $130-$200 with 2/yr contract • 480x360 display • 3.2mp Camera w/Flash • MicroSD Slot • WiFi, GPS
BlackBerry Tour 9630 • Sprint and Verizon Wireless • CDMA and GSM • $100-200 with 2/yr contract • 480x360 display • 3.2mp Camera w/Flash • MicroSD Slot • WiFi, GPS
BlackBerry Storm 9530 • Verizon Wireless • $130 with 2/yr contract • CDMA/GSM Capable • 480x360 display • 3.2mp Camera w/Flash • MicroSD Slot • GPS
iPhone OS • Pros: • Touch Interface • MS Exchange Support • Strong Web Browser • 100k+ Apps • Can Move Apps Between Handsets, iPod Touch and iPad • Cons: • No Multitasking (yet) • Only Apple-Approved Applications • No Flash Support • Tied to iTunes
Apple iPhone 3GS • AT&T Exclusive • $199 (16GB) or$299 (32GB) with 2/yr contract • 480x320 touch display • 3.2mp Camera w/AF • WiFi, GPS, Accelerometer
Symbian • Pros: • #1 Smartphone Platform Worldwide • Variety of Handsets • Touch Support • MS Exchange Support • Good Web Browser • Lots of Applications • Cons: • Difficult to obtain in US • Platform Fragmentation • Limited Flash Support
Nokia E72 • Available On nokiausa.com and other retailers (not US operators) • $359 (no contract) • 320x240 display • 5mp Camera w/AF, Flash • Supports 3G on AT&T (850Mhz/1900Mhz) and Euro/Asia (2100Mhz) • Free turn-by-turn navigation (download)
Nokia 5800 XM • Available On nokiausa.com and other retailers (not US operators) • $269 (no contract) • 640x360 touch display • 3.2mp Camera w/AF, Flash • AT&T 3G (850Mhz/1900Mhz) or Euro 3G(2100mhz) depending on model • Free turn-by-turn navigation (download)
WebOS • Pros: • Touch Support • Excellent Web Browser • MS Exchange Support • Multitasking • Best Contacts/Calendar • Cons: • Not A Lot Of Apps • No Flash Support (yet)
Palm Pre (Plus) • Sprint, Verizon Wireless • $149 w/2 year contract • 320x480 display • 3mp Camera w/Flash • WiFi, GPS, Accelerometer
Palm Pixi (Plus) • Sprint, Verizon Wireless • $50-80 w/2 year contract • 320x480 display • 3mp Camera w/Flash • WiFi (Verizon Only), GPS, Accelerometer
WindowsMobile (WinMo) • Pros: • Touch Support (newer models) • MS Exchange Support • Microsoft Office • Lots of Applications • Flash Support • Cons: • Inconsistent UI • Poor Browser • Platform Fragmentation • OS Upgrades Vary
HTC Touch Pro 2 • T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T (Tilt 2) • $200-$300 w/2 year Contract • 480x800 touch display • Slide-out QWERTY keyboard • 3.2mp Camera • WiFi, GPS, MicroSD
Samsung Omnia II • Verizon Wireless Exclusive • $100 w/2 year Contract • 480x800 AMOLED touch display • Slide-out QWERTY keyboard • 5mp Camera w/Flash • WiFi, GPS, MicroSD
Edit DOC/XLS/PPT • Android: Documents to Go ($20) • BlackBerry: Documents to Go ($70) • iPhone: Documents to Go ($10-$15), Quickoffice ($10) • Symbian: OfficeSuite ($15), Quickoffice ($40) • WinMo: Included • WebOS: Documents to Go (Early 2010)
Expense Tracking • Android: My Expense Tracker ($10) • BlackBerry: Expense Manager ($13) • iPhone: iXpenseIt ($5) • Symbian: Expense Tracker ($30) • WinMo: Expense 2.0 ($10) • WebOS: None
Twitter Clients • Android: Twitdroid (free or $5) • BlackBerry: Twitterberry (free) • iPhone: Tweetings ($2), others free to $5 • Symbian: Gravity ($10) • WinMo: PockeTwit (free), moTweets (free) • WebOS: Tweed ($4)
Photo: Marco Bellicci http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcobellucci/3534516458/
General Advice • Won’t get everything you want • Check coverage maps, ask your friends • Try before you buy • Understand store return policies • Consider previous application investment • Always something new on the horizon • Buy for today, not for tomorrow