Apart from the OS used in a smartphone, there are a number of other practical things to look at when shopping around. For one, if you expect to take your smartphone around the globe with you as you travel, you will likely need to purchase a GSM based device that will work on Cingular or T-Mobile's network. CDMA based devices, such as those used by Verizon and Sprint, offer limited international roaming support, so keep that in mind.
While we are talking about network support, consider what kind of data services are offered by the device. Does it have Bluetooth support for connecting wirelessly with other devices and your PC? Does it have WiFi so you can surf at high-speeds while at home or in the office? What about 3G data? With EV-DO and EDGE data services being offered by some of the networks, what smartphone and network combination you choose will determine how fast you can access email and web pages while you are on the road. Don't forget the cost of the network's data plan, too.
Lest we forget the basics, remember to also weigh the importance of the normal phone functionality, too. Not all smartphones function as well as a normal phone when it comes to voice support. Some devices are more PDA than phone, others are more phone than PDA. You have to try a few and decide what you need. Generally it is a compromise of size and weight.
Of primary importance in any "smart" device is its method(s) of data input. Many smartphones come with full QWERTY keyboards or compact QWERTY thumbboards that allow you to type words directly into the phone, some have touch-screens and a stylus for text input. While this can be great for ease of use, it often results in larger and heavier devices. Smartphones that rely on predictive text input on a regular numeric keypad generally maintain a normal phone size and shape, but are not so great for long email composition and such.
There are plenty of other things to consider, too. For example, if you plan on reading a lot of web pages or email messages, you will want a large and high-resolution display to make that experience more comfortable. Some of the larger smartphone devices have displays that are 640 pixels wide and are very practical platforms for mobile computing. Another thing to consider is whether the smartphone in question has a memory card slot, and if it does, what kind of slot does it have and how accessible is it? Does the device have a MP3 player on board? USB v2 connectivity is also something you'll want in a device if you are going to be moving a lot of data back and forth frequently.
Take your time when shopping around. Choosing the right smartphone device requires a bit of soul searching. You have to figure out what functionality you need, what you'd like to have, and what you can do without. These phones are generally expensive, so you don't want to go out and buy a full-featured device that in two weeks feels like a 2 pound brick in your pocket, just as you don't want a great pocketable device that drives you crazy whenever you need to write a real email message.
While we are talking about network support, consider what kind of data services are offered by the device. Does it have Bluetooth support for connecting wirelessly with other devices and your PC? Does it have WiFi so you can surf at high-speeds while at home or in the office? What about 3G data? With EV-DO and EDGE data services being offered by some of the networks, what smartphone and network combination you choose will determine how fast you can access email and web pages while you are on the road. Don't forget the cost of the network's data plan, too.
Lest we forget the basics, remember to also weigh the importance of the normal phone functionality, too. Not all smartphones function as well as a normal phone when it comes to voice support. Some devices are more PDA than phone, others are more phone than PDA. You have to try a few and decide what you need. Generally it is a compromise of size and weight.
Of primary importance in any "smart" device is its method(s) of data input. Many smartphones come with full QWERTY keyboards or compact QWERTY thumbboards that allow you to type words directly into the phone, some have touch-screens and a stylus for text input. While this can be great for ease of use, it often results in larger and heavier devices. Smartphones that rely on predictive text input on a regular numeric keypad generally maintain a normal phone size and shape, but are not so great for long email composition and such.
There are plenty of other things to consider, too. For example, if you plan on reading a lot of web pages or email messages, you will want a large and high-resolution display to make that experience more comfortable. Some of the larger smartphone devices have displays that are 640 pixels wide and are very practical platforms for mobile computing. Another thing to consider is whether the smartphone in question has a memory card slot, and if it does, what kind of slot does it have and how accessible is it? Does the device have a MP3 player on board? USB v2 connectivity is also something you'll want in a device if you are going to be moving a lot of data back and forth frequently.
Take your time when shopping around. Choosing the right smartphone device requires a bit of soul searching. You have to figure out what functionality you need, what you'd like to have, and what you can do without. These phones are generally expensive, so you don't want to go out and buy a full-featured device that in two weeks feels like a 2 pound brick in your pocket, just as you don't want a great pocketable device that drives you crazy whenever you need to write a real email message.