Smartphones Not so Smart

Smartphones, or Personal Digital Assistants phones, can be very useful for a wide range of people. From the average consumer, to the highest corporate CEO, nearly anyone could benefit from a smartphone. There are more options on a smartphone than that of an average flip or candy bar style phone, which can make it a lot more useful. Internet access (and email) is usually the number one thing people are looking for when looking for a smartphone. Most smartphones can handle email with ease and with very little set up, while others require a long drawn out process that seems confusing and unnecessary. There are hundreds of different smartphones, but let's take a look at some of the more popular devices.

The Apple iPhone is a new product in the smartphone category, but has taken the market by storm. It's easy to use and easy to set up display is very functional, and the iPhone's touch screen is by far the easiest to use. Email on the iPhone is a breeze, it features easy attachment viewing, a quick loading screen you can zoom in and out on, and an on screen qwerty keyboard. Another popular smartphone, and the leader in the industry before iPhone was released, is the Blackberry smartphone. This device is the leader in email functionality, however the email program is not so easy to set up. You have to register your device, ensure your network permissions have been uploaded and that your device's software is up to date. Other than this the Blackberry is a great smartphone. Full qwerty keyboards are great when typing out long emails, and the Blackberry's security options can't be beat. Another type of smartphone is the Microsoft Windows based device. There are several dozen devices that carry the windows moniker. Most of these devices are very easy to use, especially if you are used to using windows. While all of these devices feature device based, POP-style email, most have software such as Expressmail, that makes setting up email easier than the previous two smart phones mentioned. Some will have full keyboards, while others will feature a flip phone feel to them - three letters per button. Other smart phones can vary depending on the device's operating system.

Nokia has several great devices, with full keyboards, and touch screens. The Nokia N95 competes well with the Apple iPhone in terms of features and usefulness, however, it is more expensive. The Nokia operating system is easy to use and has all the features of the other device makers. Depending on your situation, any of these types of phones could serve you well. My suggestion is to try each one out and see which one fits you best. Make a list of features that you will need when going to the store, that way you know exactly what you are looking for. Also, check out the device's web sites, ask around or do some comparison shopping to see which one will be the most useful. All cellular companies will give you a 14 or 30 day trial period to make sure the device is a good fit for you. While smartphones are far more expensive than normal cellular phones, it is easy to see that their benefits will outweigh the initial cost-investment.