Today's mobile devices are multi-functional devices capable of hosting a broad range of applications for both business and consumer use. PDAs and the ever-growing category of smart phones allow people to access the Internet for e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging and Web browsing, as well as work documents, contact lists and more. Mobile devices are often seen as an extension to your own PC. Work done on the road, or away from the office can be synchronized with your PC to reflect changes and new information.
Types of Mobile Computing Devices
The term mobile device is used to mean a wide range of consumer electronics. Usually mobile device is used to describe the devices that can connect to the Internet. However, some will classify digital cameras and standard MP3 players as mobile devices as well. The category of mobile devices include the following devices, as well as others:
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
(sometimes called pocket computers) PDAs are handheld devices that combine elements of computing, telephone/fax, Internet and networking in a single device. A typical PDA can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, Web browser and personal organizer. Unlike portable computers, most PDAs began as pen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input. This means that they also incorporated handwriting recognition features. Some PDAs can also react to voice input by using voice recognition technologies. PDAs of today are available in either a stylus or keyboard version (called a datapad).
Examples of PDA Devices: Palm Pilot, Revo, Sony Clie, Hewlett-Packard Jornado, Casio Cassiopedia, Compaq iPaq, Toshiba Pocket PC
Smartphones
Smartphones combine both mobile phone and handheld computers into a single device. Smartphones allow users to store information (e.g., e-mail), install programs, along with using a mobile phone in one device. For example, a Smartphone could be a mobile phone with some PDA functions integrated into the device or vise versa.
Examples of Smartphones: Sony Ericsson, Palm Treo, Blackberry, Nokia T-Mobile Sidekick, Torq, Motorola Q, E-Ten, HP iPaq, I-mate,
Tablet PC
Tablet PCs are a type of notebook computer that has an LCD screen on which you can write using a stylus. The handwriting is digitized and can be converted to standard text through handwriting recognition, or it can remain as handwritten text. The stylus also can be used to type on a pen-based key layout where the lettered keys are arranged differently than a QWERTY keyboard. Tablet PCs also typically have a keyboard and/or a mouse for input.
Examples of Table PCs: Samsung Q1, Toshiba Portege, Fujitsu Lifebook, Motion Computing, IBM Thinkpad
Mobile Operating Systems (Mobile OS)
Like a computer operating system, a mobile operating system is the software platform on top of which other programs run. When you purchase a mobile device, the manufacturer will have chosen the operating system for that specific device. The operating system is responsible for determining the functions and features available on your device, such as thumbwheel, keyboards, WAP, synchronization with applications, e-mail, text messaging and more. The mobile operating system will also determine which third-party applications can be used on your device. Some of the more common and well-known Mobile operating systems include the following:
Symbian OS
Symbian OS has become a standard operating system for smartphones, and is licensed by more than 85 percent of the world's handset manufacturers. The Symbian OS is designed for the specific requirements of 2.5G and 3G mobile phones.
• Link: Symbian OS Web site
Windows Mobile
The Windows Mobile platform is available on a variety of devices from a variety of wireless operators. You will find Windows Mobile software on Dell, HP, Motorola, Palm and i-mate products. Windows Mobile powered devices are available on GSM or CDMA networks.
• Link: Windows Mobile Web site
Palm OS
Since the introduction of the first Palm Pilot in 1996, the Palm OS platform has provided mobile devices with essential business tools, as well as capability to access the Internet or a central corporate database via a wireless connection.
• Link: Palm OS Web site
Mobile Linux:
The first company to launch phones with Linux as its OS was Motorola in 2003. Linux is seen as a suitable option for higher-end phones with powerful processors and larger amounts of memory.
• Links: OSDL Mobile Linux Initiative
MXI
MXI is a universal mobile operating system that allows existing full-fledged desktop and mobile applications written for Windows, Linux, Java, Palm be enabled immediately on mobile devices without any redevelopment. MXI allows for interoperability between various platforms, networks, software and hardware components.
Feature iOS Android webOS Windows Mobile Windows Phone 7 BlackBerry OS Symbian MeeGo Bada Maemo
Company Apple Open Handset Alliance(Google) HP/Palm Microsoft Microsoft RIM Symbian Foundation Intel and Nokia Samsung Nokia
Current Version 4.0.2 2.2 1.4.5 6.5.3 Not yet released 6.0.0 9.5 1.99 1.0.2 5.0
OS Family Mac OS X/Unix-like Linux Linux Windows CE 5.2 Windows CE 7 Mobile OS Mobile OS Linux Linux Linux
Supported CPU Architecture ARM ARM, MIPS, Power Architecture, x86 ARM ARM ARM ARM ARM, x86 ARM, x86 ARM ARM
Programmed in C, C++, Objective-C C, C++, Java C C++ C++ Java C++ C++ C++ C/C++
License Proprietary EULA except for open source components Free and open source except closed source components Free and open source except closed source modules Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Eclipse Public License Free and open source Free and open source
Package manager ? ? ? ? ? ? ? rpm+yum ? dpkg+apt-get
Default Web Browser/Engine Webkit Webkit Webkit Internet Explorer Mobile Internet Explorer Mobile Webkit Webkit Webkit Webkit (Dolphin Browser 2.0) Gecko
3rd Party Application Store App Store Android Marketplace App Catalog Windows Marketplace for Mobile Windows Phone Marketplace App World Symbian Horizon Samsung App maemo.org
Email Sync protocols supported POP3, IMAP, MAPI, POP3, IMAP, MAPI, POP3, IMAP, MAPI, POP3, IMAP, MAPI, POP3, IMAP, MAPI BES, BIS, Push e-mail POP3, IMAP POP3, IMAP POP3, IMAP, POP3, IMAP
Push Notifications Example Example Example Example Example Yes
Voice Recognition Example Yes Example Yes Yes Yes
Tethering Bluetooth, USB (carrier dependent), Wifi (with 3rd party software and "jail break") Wifi, USB, Bluetooth Wifi USB, Bluetooth, Wifi (with 3rd party software) USB, Bluetooth, Wifi USB, Bluetooth, Wifi (with 3rd party software microUSB, Bluetooth 3.0, Wifi microUSB, Bluetooth, Wifi
Audio Playback AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV AAC LC/LTP 3GPP, HE-AACv1 (AAC+), HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+), AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MP3 (Mono/Stereo 8-320Kbps constant or variable bit-rate, MIDI (MIDI Type 0 and 1. DLS Version 1 and 2., Ogg Vorbis, PCM/WAVE (8- and 16-bit linear PCM (rates up to limit of hardware), WAVE MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV MP3, WAVE, WMA, AAC+, MIDI, AMR, eAAC+, FlAC, OGG All (some require optional debian packages)
Video Playback H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format H.263, H.264 AVC, MPEG-4 SP MPEG-4, H.263, H.264 MP4, WMV, H.263, H.264, DivX, WMV, XviD, 3gp All (some require optional debian packages)
Turn-by-turn GPS 3rd Party software Google Navigation 3rd Party Software 3rd Party Software Bing Maps 3rd Party Software 3rd Party Software, manufacturers software Samsung LBS (Route 66)) free global Nokia Ovi Maps
Video out 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable 720p on select devices None None Device depending Nokia AV Out (PAL/NTSC)
True multitasking iOS4 only Yes ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes
Support for hardware keyboard Yes[citation needed] Yes Yes ? ? Yes Yes Yes ? Yes
Videoconference front video camera Currently iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4 Only Yes Yes ? ? Yes Yes Yes ? Yes
Can share images via Bluetooth with all mobile No Yes Yes ? ? Yes Yes Yes ? Yes
Skype Yes Yes[22] ? ? ? Yes Yes[23] ? ? Yes
Facebook IM chat ? ? ? ? ? Yes ? ? ? Yes
ssh ? ? ? ? ? Yes ? ? ? Yes
OpenVPN ? ? ? ? ? Yes ? ? ? Yes
Remote Frame Buffer ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Yes
Official SDK plattform(s) Mac OS X Multiplattform[24] Multiplattform Windows Windows Windows Windows GNU/Linux Windows GNU/Linux[25]
Feature iOS Android webOS Windows Mobile Windows Phone 7 BlackBerry OS Symbian MeeGo Bada Maemo