Smart Phones - Are They Really A Smart Decision

First, there was the standard land line phone system; then came the cell phone - a convenient little portable item that everyone adopted a "must have" attitude toward. Progress didn't stop there, however. Now, we have the Smart Phone - the answer to the on-the-go lifestyle that demands immediate access to whatever electronic needs that we happen to have, in addition to the ability to phone our family and friends for a chat whenever the whim presents itself.

To be sure, Smart Phones are capable of extraordinary electronic feats, but convenience - especially that of the technological variety - always comes at a cost, and this one comes with quite a hefty one. The bottom line is that, if you plan to buy a Smart Phone, then plan on paying a visit to the loan officer of your local bank on the way to the store. These electronic marvels are designed to bring true computer capability right to the palm of your hand, but most people will have to put some serious thought into the type of financial commitment that they'll have to make in order to become the proud owner of a brand new bouncing baby Smart Phone.

Pros and Cons of Owning a Smart Phone

Just like anything else, Smart Phones have their bright and dark sides and, depending upon how much you're willing to compromise, they'll either be a great investment for you, or not at all worth the money that you've invested.

Pros


For those who, until now, had been carrying around a mobile phone and PDA, this combines the two into one unit, without losing any of the capability of either format.

This is definitely a multi-media friendly device, offering the opportunity to enjoy both audio and video files - or both, if you prefer - without a lot of hoopla.

Cell phone software companies have taken quite kindly to the Smart Phone and are fully supportive of it when it comes to developing software that's compatible with these units - especially those in the game and entertainment industries.

If accessories are your thing, then you'll love the number of add-ons that you can purchase to go with your new Smart Phone - including those which utilize Bluetooth technology.


Cons


Unless you have very good vision, you might have trouble reading the screen on the Smart Phone - it's smaller and the resolution isn't as sharp as that of a Pocket PC.

Text messaging and other text-related capabilities are compromised as a result of the limited text-entry that's intrinsic to these devices.

Unlike the Pocket PC, Smart Phones are missing some applications that are critical to some users. Among these are Microsoft products, such as Pocket Excel and Pocket Word.

You may be told that you'll have nationwide coverage, but the reality is that coverage of that type only includes larger cities with higher populations. As a result, there's quite a menu of non-service areas.


Smart Phone Features

Much like a mini-computer with telephone capability, these devices are often seen as handy little items for meeting most or all of the needs of those who are on the run, but want to have access to their PC and phone service, regardless of where they roam.


Cell phone service is certainly one of the major perks of the Smart Phone - complete with voice mail. Just as in the case of mainstream cell phone varieties, specific service plans can be purchased for these, depending upon your particular needs and preferences.

Internet connectivity is also an available Smart Phone feature, allowing you to retrieve wireless e-mail messages and gain access to search engines and other online goodies. Just pop open your flip phone and jump onto the web.

If you're interested in games, the Smart Phone offers those, as well. A variety of computerized games can be played - either online or through special software - just as if you were using your home PC.

Office functions, such as certain Windows or other Microsoft programming, are also available, allowing you to create and store files for future use.

If you're bored and have a bit of extra time on your hands, you can even gain access to online movies through the video feature that the Smart Phone has to offer. Or, if you prefer, you can listen to your favorite tunes as a result of the audio features.

Photography is also an option when you invest in a Smart Phone. Just as with the mainstream camera phones, these devices offer instant pictures that can be viewed on-screen immediately after they're snapped. These units, however, are more than just cell phone cameras, so if you're looking for something more, think "Smart Phone".

Smart Phone Pricing

Although these have been compared to PDAs on a certain level, Smart Phones are definitely more sophisticated - and more compact. As compensation for these conveniences, however, you must be willing to pay a hefty price. Typically starting at about $600 and ranging into the thousands, Smart Phones may be all the rage, but if you're planning to buy one simply for the novelty of it all, then you should save your money and stick with something a bit less progressive.

Keep in mind that additional costs will be incurred in order to establish phone service and gain internet connectivity. That equates to the price of the unit plus the additional charges for basic services and any special features that you choose to opt for - all of which can add up to an exorbitant amount of money.

The best way to keep down your expenses is to take the time and effort to do some online research before you make a commitment to buy a Smart Phone or specific service plan that you'll need in order to fully utilize all of the features that it offers. By simply typing "smart phone comparison" into the keyword area of any major search engine, you'll have cost and feature comparison information at your fingertips, which will help you to determine which one is right for you - if, indeed, any of them are. Is investing in a Smart Phone a wise decision? Only you can decide.

About the Author

Samantha Goode is a freelance technology writer who loves to provide tips to consumers shopping for smart phones [http://www.a1-cell-phones.com/index.html], pda phone [http://www.a1-cell-phones.com/cell-phone-reviews.html] and blackberry pda [http://www.a1-cell-phones.com/cell-phone-comparison.html].

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Purchasing a Top Android Phone is a Good Decision

How do you make a decision on the best phone for you? With such a huge variety of cell phones to choose from it is really hard to make a decision. The Google phones have recently become incredibly popular, thanks to Google's Android operating system. Several cell phone producers are incorporating the Android operating system into their cell phones. Here are some of the top Android phones on the market today.These days, most people have a cell phone. Even people who swore that they would never ever find a cell phone useful have acquiesced to the convenience of mobile phones and technology. What other way would you explain the trend of the pay as you go cell phone? One of the most popular cell phones models available on the market is Google's Android phone.

By having smart phone technology, its competition has a lot to contend with. With such a huge selection of Android Phones, how do you know which phones are the leading Android Phones? Here are some of the phones that got the best reviews.What are your wants from your cell phone? When it comes time to upgrade their cell phone this is something every purchaser should ask him or herself. Making phone calls was the original purpose of a cell phone. As the cell phone revolved, people began wanting to take pictures, send text messages, listen to their music and access the Internet. You can do all that and some by choosing a smart phone. Playing games, checking the weather report and making phone calls are only a few of the countless things you will be able to do on this phone. Before choosing one of the top Android phones, you should consider what you want the phone to be able to do for you. Here are some of the top Android phones available right now.

Among the top Android phones is the Acer BeTouch E110. This is only one of the Acer BeTouch phones out on the market. The E110 is a smart phone running with the Android 1.5 software set. It is not the latest edition from Acer's technology, but the BeTouch E110 is capable of almost everything the other smart phones are. Acer has their own interface that assists users in operating their phones. This phone has a little touch screen that is powered by a 416 MHz processor. The touch screen is less than three inches in size! The touch screen is not even three inches large!The Motorola Quench is one of the top Android phones. The Quench, a later model of Motorola has been enhanced with the Android operating system. This phone is one of eight Motorola models that uses the Android system. The phone has a screen that is only slightly larger than three inches, however the screen has high definition (320 x 480). This phone uses Motoblur technology, which will allow social networking users a better experience. It uses the Android 1.5 operating system and offers Wi-Fi capability, GPS, a camera that is five megapixels and several apps the user will absolutely adore.The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini is one of the most highly respected Android phones on the market. This phone is built on a slightly different model with no name change. The mini is basically the more compact version of the phone that it is modeled after. This phone works with Google's Android 1.6 operating system and is paired with the UX interface by Ericsson.

The touch screen is only two and a half inches large and the phone doesn't even weigh 100 grams. Even though it is small, it packs quite a punch. The phones comes with a camera that is five megapixels, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack that makes it possible to listen to music already on your phone.The HTC Legend is very popular. Its rating on the website Know Your Mobile dot com was number one. The HTC Legend is not the first Android phone but is rather high in demand. This might have to do with the conjunction between the HTC user interface and the Android 2.1 operating system. The screen is a touch screen and is a hair larger than three inches in size. One of its most popular features is the control it offers. It is likened to a track pad or joystick style of control. Also, it has Wi-Fi capability and GPS.

On the market today, the LG InTouch Max GW620 is among the top rated Android phones. Many consumers who purchase this phone tell everyone they know. They insist that the phone is almost perfect. It features a great five megapixel digital camera and purchasers rave about how simple the interface is to use. You can talk for eight hours before you need to start thinking about the battery. This is the phone for someone who enjoys making phone calls and is appreciative of being able to access things are only available on smart phones. Our only complaint is the cost. It is fairly expensive. One Motorola phone that functions with the Android operating system is the Motorola Cliq. This phone is for sale thought T-Mobile. It has a keyboard that slides out. One of the things that makes this phone so popular is that it allows the user to keep long logs of e-mails, text messages and social networking updates. You can utilize this phone for keeping your Twitter and Facebook pages up-to-date. You are able to remotely access the data on the phone.

An Android phone that is very popular is the T-Mobile Pulse Mini. This phone is designed for the money conscious consumer who wants all the bells and whistles of an Android phone but does not want to pay an astronomical price. The size of the touch screen on this phone is less than three inches. It comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera that has an LED Flash that helps the photographer snap even better photos. The phone runs Android 2.1 software. The difference between this is and the regular Pulse phone is it had a jack for a headphone.

Another popular phone is the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro. It is one of the cell phones on the Xperia X10 line. This phone adds on to the X10 Mini phone by adding a keyboard, which slides out from the screen.

This phone uses the Android 1.6 operating system and has a display that is less than three inches in size. Even so the phone is still easy to use and does everything that its larger counterparts can do.

One highly favored Android phone is the HTC Desire. The Nexus One handset, produced by Google, is available with this Android phone. In fact, the HTC Desire is pretty much an enhancement of its original model. It has a display screen that is nearly four inches big and uses an Amoled WVGA display. It utilizes a snapdragon processor that functions on the Android 2.1 operating system. Also, this phone manipulates the use of Adobe Flash (v. 10.1). The screen is a touch screen and utilizes joystick and track pad technology to aid the user in operating the system.Being one of the top Android phones available, the HTC Hero has gotten a lot of hype. Using the user interface is simple. It has a smooth exterior and is able to do just about everything the other smart phones can do With an ability to access the Internet, make phone calls, and snap photos, this phone is the bomb. A major problem with this phone is the size, as it is quite difficult to put the phone in your pocket without a major bulge showing in your pants pocket. Also, it does not run the latest version of the android Operation system. Still, it is a good phone and well worth the asking price.

T-Mobiles G2 Touch is the next phone after the G1, which was the first Android phone with Google. This model is better than the former model, which featured a slide out keyboard and was rather cumbersome to carry. There is no longer a keyboard, as the favored touch screen is now an opponent to the iPhone. The camera possesses five megapixel capabilities and you can chat for eight hours before it comes time to recharge a dead battery. It is a good idea to take note of the model being based just as much on the HTC Hero as it is on the G1, so if T-Mobile is not your cell phone provider of choice, you can find an equivalent cell phone with a different service provider.

A popular choice among cell phones that runs the Android software is the Acer BeTouch E400. This phone utilizes the 2.1 Android software platforms. If you want to get technical, it is essentially a smart phone. Users benefit from a touch screen that is more than three inches (3.2 to be precise). The width is no less than twelve millimeters. In addition to GPS, a 600MHz processor and Wi-Fi capabilities, the Acer Company has also installed their own user interface to parlay the Android system. This phone is still fairly new so not many users have contributed their reviews.With countless cell phones to choose from, the Acer Liquid e cell phone is often times overlooked. Little is known about Acer phones, compared to the computers and monitors they offer. The Android 2.1 operating system powers this phone.

It has a Snapdragon processor. The screen is three and a half inches big and uses touch screen technology. This phone is multi-faceted with Wi-Fi capability, GPS, a 5-megapixel camera, standard 3.5mm headphone jack for listening to music, as well as plugging in an earpiece and microphone to give you the freedom of making hand free cell phone calls.An Android phone receiving rave reviews is the Samsung Beam i8520. The phone uses Android technology for its operating system and it features a pico projector. This means that the phone user can use his phone to project pretty much anything in his phone onto a wall. It makes bringing a portable projector a simple convenience. Furthermore, it has smart phone technology inside - the previously mentioned Android operating system and the Touch Wiz skin, which was designed by Samsung.

This phone comes with an 8-megapixel camera, which makes it even better than other handheld digital cameras!An Android phone designed specifically for the budget conscious consumer is the Samsung Galaxy portal. The camera is a minimal three megapixel digital camera, but other than that it is a great phone - especially for the price. The capabilities of this phone include video, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The phone has about seven hours worth of talk time. It has a rather bulky build, but if you want a smart phone at an excellent price, this one is for you. When upgrading time rolls around, some cell phone companies offer the phone for free to their customers. Google came up with the Android system and it is making it possible for cell phone manufactures to compete the iPhone from Apple. Noticeably, the Android is a big time competitor with Apple and has now allowed other cell phone companies an opportunity to provide comparable smart phones to people who want to upgrade from their current phone to something more wise and cultivated. In actuality, cell phones are no longer used solely for making calls. Now they allow you to snap photos, play your tunes and connect to the Internet. If you desire an upgrade for you're cell phone but are uncertain if the iPhone is suited for you, the Android powered phone is a viable alternative.

When it comes time to make a decision about one of the top Android phones, it is smart to consider what you'll be using your cell phone for. If your main goal is being able to make phone calls, you probably don't need a phone with so many bells and whistles. If, however, your goal is to utilize your phone for mobile entertainment and contacts, you'll need smart phone technology to stay in the know with your family, friends and hobbies. Think about your choice!

Cell phones have certainly evolved from the days when they were built like giant breaks and could barely fit in briefcases.

Now they are able to help you check your e-mail, do video conferencing and even play complicated games all while you are away from home (or are too lazy to move off of your couch). If you have made the decision to go with a smart phone, the top rated Android phones are all worth taking a look at.

Making a decision about which cell phone to purchase can be a trying effort. There are tons of options out there! When cell phones first became mainstream, most people took advantage of the free upgrade offers from their cell phone providers. Though, that was back when cell phones were only meant for making phone calls. Nowadays cell phones are tiny computers that allow users to access the Internet, make phone calls, snaps photos, take videos and tons of other stuff. The top Android phones are some of the best phones on the market.Finding the right cell phone can take many long hours of researching. You need to ask yourself what you want your phone to be capable of. When figuring out which top android phone is worth your money, it is beneficial for you do already know what you want from your phone.

Tom Darden knows what he is writing about. He belongs to the majority of people who owns a cellphone so he is a pretty normal guy. Writing about subjects that interests him is his passion. Sharing these stories even more. Tom started a new blog at beardandmustachetrimmer.org where he shares his recommendations for people looking for a beard and mustache trimmer.

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