A Smartphone is basically a combination of a regular cellular phone and a handheld PC. It is a multifunction device which comes along with an integrated PDA(Personal Digital Assistant). It is an all-in-one device which can be used to perform both computing and communicating functions.

So now that we have a brief idea of what a Smartphone is like, let’s move ahead and see what factors have to be considered for selecting the right Smartphone:

Is the Operating System right for you?

Majority of the smart phones available in the market today are either based on the Windows OS or on the Symbian OS. The debate about which OS is better still continues and frankly speaking it all depends on which one suits the individual’s needs. For example those who do not like to fiddle around much with the settings can always settle down for the Symbian OS because the Windows OS is comparatively a bit more complex. For those who are buying a smartphone for the first time, its better to stick to a Palm OS because it has simple functionality.

 

The Processor Unit:

It is often believed that the computing power of the processor is directly proportional to its frequency. What I would suggest though is to not really go by the numbers but just perform a small series of tests on it when in the store itself. All you need to do is try to perform multitasking and see if all the tasks are carried on perfectly. For example you could start the music player and on the side open a word document and possibly open a few other applications and check for any kinds of delays or interruptions. If there is any hindrance then move on to the next Smartphone in the array.

Is the memory enough?

Most of the Smartphones have a memory of atleast more than 6MB. The more the memory the better the Smartphone.

Do you really need a big Display?

In case of a Smartphone most people opt for a nice spacious display so that viewing of documents and performing multitasking can be juggled around with easily. However, a more spacious and big display usually means that the battery life could be easily drained out. So it’s almost individual choice whether you need a big display or a medium sized display with more battery life?

What are the other goodies that are being offered?

Some of the basic features that a Smartphone should be offering are:

- digital mp3 player

- digital camera

- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity

- GPS navigation system

- Various messaging options like: MMS, SMS, EMS

- USB

- GSM

Any extra features apart from these basic ones would just add to the merit of the Smartphone. Plus, the user can always download extra features as and when required.

I would end by saying that, buying a Smartphone is always an expensive choice so invest in the one that is most appropriate for you. Also, try to test the phone in the store to the maximum so that after the splurge you don’t regret anything once you come back home.

Author: Riyana Lewis (Mumbai)

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