15 Mar 2005

What Are Smartphones?

The line between cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) has blurred so much that you no longer need to sacrifice performance when you opt for an all-in-one device. A combined PDA and cell phone -- or "smartphone" -- is not much bigger than the average cell phone.

Not everyone needs one, but smartphones are ideal for people who are tired of carrying two separate apparatuses and find themselves on the road wanting convenient ways to:

Send and receive e-mail
Sync with computer-based applications wirelessly
Keep electronic notes and schedules
Dial directly from an address books
Surf the World Wide Web

Features like these, plus cellular plans that sometimes offer free long distance, make the newest PDA-style phones pretty appealing even to the non-gadget freaks among us. But is a smartphone the right phone for you?

Consider how you anticipate using your phone and ask yourself:

Does your carrier offer the type of smartphone features that you're interested in?
If you want extra data services, will that cost extra?
Do you currently use a PDA or are you happy with pen and paper?
Will you be able to read the small screen comfortably?
Would you rather have a smaller and lighter cell phone, or do you want the extra features of the smartphone?

Some smartphone models can retail for up to $600, but careful shoppers can find web sites that give you steep discounts, or even free phones, when you order new service.

Smartphones often go by other names like PDA phones or personal information managers (PIMs). Popular smartphones include various models of PalmOne Treo and BlackBerry phones.

Take a look at the current smartphone offers spotlighted on Point.com and find a great smartphone from any one of the major carriers.

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