The term “smartphone” generically refers to a cellular or mobile phone that provides advanced data functions in addition to the voice features of a regular mobile phone. A “Windows Mobile Smartphone” is based on hardware specifications as well as an operating system and set of software applications developed by Microsoft.
There are currently two versions of the Windows Mobile platform for Smartphones: Smartphone 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone. The 2003 version includes improvements to Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player, “always on” data, native Bluetooth support, and has the .NET Compact Framework built-in (important for many third-party applications). Microsoft has also announced the “Second Edition” version of Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone, but since the primary improvement is support for additional screen sizes, we do not expect to see upgrades to this version being offered on any current models; even new models being introduced might not come with Second Edition unless they also come with a 300x240-pixel screen.
Phone first, PDA second
While the Windows Mobile Smartphone is based on the same operating system as the Pocket PC, the hardware specs and user interface of the device are tailored to support its primary use as a phone. A Smartphone is much smaller than a Pocket PC and has a smaller 176 x 220-pixel display. (Note that we may see different sized displays in future Second Edition models.) Instead of a touch-screen, it comes with a standard 12-key phone keypad, which allows dialing with your thumb or finger. In addition to the keypad, the Smartphone has a large five-way navigation button for program navigation and control. For Pocket PC owners, the look and feel is comfortably familiar.
As with a traditional mobile phone, you can use the keypad to dial a number. But what really comes in handy is the Smartphone’s ability to quickly search Contacts for a phone number and then to automatically dial it. As on the keypad of your home phone, each number on the keypad has a group of 3-4 letters assigned to it (2 = a, b, c; 3 = d, e, f; etc.). Start keying in the name of a contact (first or last name) and the Contacts application displays a list of names that match the letter combination you have entered so far (again, first and last names; see Fig. 1). Entering even a couple of letters reduces the list to a reasonable size. Then you can use the navigation button to select and dial the desired contact’s phone number. It’s fast and easy.
Fig. 1: Start entering the name of a friend or associate and Contacts displays a list of the names (first and last) that match the letters that have been entered so far.
The Smartphone has the following phone-related features:
Built-in software
Many of the same applications found on the Pocket PC are also available on the Smartphone. These include Contacts, Calendar (Figs. 2 and 3), Tasks, Inbox (for e-mail and SMS messaging), Pocket Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, Voice Recorder, Windows Media Player, and (of course) Solitaire. Like the Pocket PC, the Smartphone ships with a user-installable version of ActiveSync, the desktop PC synchronization program.
Fig. 2 and 3: Windows Mobile Smartphones include many of the same applications found on the POcket PC, but optimized for the smaller screen size and the keypad input method. The MOnth view of Calendar is shown for the Pocket PC (top) and the Smartphone (bottom).
The Smartphone version of Pocket Internet Explorer (Fig. 4) is a great improvement over the Web browsers available on most cell phones because it lets you view standard Web pages instead of limiting you to the relatively rare WAP-formatted pages designed for mobile phones.
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