Smartphone Terms and Definitions
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Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of hardware we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Smartphone.
Ratings Productivity/TravelMany people like to use their cell phones as a mini life management system; so we looked for phones that include basic organizing tools like calendars, task lists, calculators and maps. The best cell phones also include the ability to support third-party or browser based software; some have gps abilities. Voice/ Text Features Smartphones for business are also cell phones, so they should include all typical cell phone features. Internet Features The best smartphones can access the Internet, most can access full web pages and a few can access the Internet over a Wi-Fi connection. Mulitmedia Features The best smartphones have good cameras and the ability to capture video and play music and video. Technical Specifications Top rated smartphones are compact yet include good input and display options and a decent battery life. Productivity/Travel Tools Supports 3rd Party SoftwareThe cell phone can run third-party software. GPS Phone is gps (global positioning system) enabled, which may require additional service fees to work. Travel/ Map Tools Cell phone includes maps and or travel tools such as mileage logs, expense tracking and more. Airplane Mode Phone's network features can be disabled so the phone's other features can be used during the flight. This feature is also often referred to as flight mode. Browser-based Email Phone can contact browser-based email accounts like Yahoo Mail, Hotmail or Gmail through an Internet connection. Full HTML Email Cell phone can display full HTML email messages with images and more. Syncs with Outlook Cell phone can sync with Outlook to exchange contact information. POP3/ IMAP Support The Smartphone can be configured to access email hosted on a remote server. Real Time Push Email Support A cell phone that supports push email can supply "always on" email service, which means emails are sent directly to the cell phone real time. In Mobile Windows 6, this feature is call "direct push technology." Voice/ Text Features 3 - Way CallingPhone supports 3-way calls (a conversation between the cell phone user and two other callers). Conference Calling Cell phone supports conference calls, though most phones have a limit on the total number of callers. Speaker Phone The cell phone has a speakerphone for hands free listening and talking. Voice Dialing/ Commands Phone can process verbal commands. Push to Talk Phone can be used like a walkie-talkie, direct handset to handset communication. Text Messaging (SMS) Phone supports plain text messaging. Multimedia Text Messaging (MMS) Cell phone has the ability to send multimedia text messages, which may comprise of text, audio, photo or video files. Threaded Text Display Phone displays text exchanges in threads, so conversations can be effortlessly followed. Network Quad Band Frequently quad band phones are called ‘world phones.’ Quad band phones support four bands, 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz. 3G 3G (third generation technology) can support large volumes of users and offers faster data transfers than its predecessors. Internet Features Full Webpage AccessMobile phone can access and display full web pages and not just pages intended for mobile devices. WAP Support Only WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is an open source international standard for applications for mobile devices. In general, WAP pages load faster than full version web pages. Instant Messaging/ Chat Cell phone supports instant messaging through popular chat services like MSN, Yahoo and Google. Phone as Modem/ Tethered Support Mobile phone can be used as a modem to supply Internet to a laptop. Wireless Wi-Fi The phone can connect to the Internet through a Wi-Fi connection. EDGE Phone utilizes EDGE or Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution technology. Bluetooth Cell phone supports Bluetooth connections for data transfer, headphones or other devices. Mulitimedia Features Camera (Mega Pixels)The cell phone has a camera—we included the number of mega pixels in our side-by-side comparison chart. Camcorder/ Video Capture The mobile phone's camera can capture video, though most phones can only record short video segments. Video Playback Phone has the ability to display video. Audio Player (MP3) Cell phone includes an audio player that plays MP3s and possibly other audio formats. Games Cell phone includes games or can support games. Technical Specifications Height (in)The height or length of the cell phone in inches. Width (in) The width of the mobile phone in inches. Thickness (in) The thickness of the phone in inches. Weight (oz) The weight of the cell phone in ounces. Ports Headphone Jack Phone includes a standard headphone jack. USB Phone can be connected to a computer or other device by means of a USB port. SIM Card Cell phone has a smart card or SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card. Input Method Touchscreen The cell phone’s screen is interactive and can be used for browsing or data input. QWERTY Keypad The mobile phone includes a full keyboard with every letter key. Numeric The cell phone includes a numeric keyboard that can also be used for entering letters. Stylus Cell phone includes a stylus or a stylus can be used to input data. Navigation Button or Trackball The mobile phone has a trackball or navigation button that functions similar to a computer mouse or a joy stick. Display Features Screen Size (in) The size of the viewing screen in inches. Portrait Standard upright rectangular screen. Landscape Sideways or wide screen viewing. Orientation Automatically Adjusts The orientation of the viewing screen can change automatically by turning the cell phone or sliding out a device. Operating System RIM Blackberry Device includes the RIM BlackBerry operating system. OSX Operating system developed by Apple, Inc. Memory MB The amount of phone memory in MB without the use of an additional memory card. Memory Expansion Slot Cell phone supports additional memory card(s). Battery Life General Use (Hours) The time the battery will last during normal use. Standby (Days) How long the cell phone’s battery will last on standby. Technical Help/Support Telephone SupportMobile phone manufacturer or provider offers customer or technical support by telephone. Email Support/ Form The cell phone manufacturer or cell phone service provider offers support by email. Online Help/ Knowledgebase The phone company or service provider posts useful information about the phone online. Tutorials Cell phone manufacturer or service provider offers tutorials on how to use specific features of the phone. User Manual / User Guide Mobile phone comes with a user manual or guide and/or a guide is posted online. User Forums The phone manufacturer or service provider hosts a user forum where customers can ask questions or share information with others. ©2003 – 2008 TopTenREVIEWS, Inc. |
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