What is the difference between a mobile phone and a cell phone. What is the difference between a smartphone and a mobile phone

Technology is striding by leaps and bounds. The powerful impulse of technological progress at the beginning of the twentieth century did not subside to the end.

At the beginning of this century, a technological breakthrough gave birth to a whole field of information technology. Over time, they became closely intertwined with everyday life.

No modern man can do without computing technology. And so much so that he constantly carries with him a small pocket computer.

That's what it is smartphone , an evolutionary successor to the first brick-shaped tubes and three-room tube computers.

What is a Smartphone? A smartphone is in the current sense of the word "smart" cell phones.

There are several key differences from simple phones: the presence of an advanced operating system that allows the installation of third-party applications (open source OS) and more processing power.

The difference between a smartphone and a phone

Despite the apparent similarities, mobile phones and smartphones are fundamentally different from each other. The latter have much wider functionality.

In general, there are five main differences (although there are actually many more):

  1. The presence of a developed, functional full-fledged operating system. They allow third party developers to create, install and use applications. The most common operating systems are from Microsoft (Windows Phone), Apple (iOS) and Google (Android).
  2. Full access to high-speed connection.
    If a mobile phone can provide access to mobile versions of sites via a wireless connection in a mobile network, then a smartphone allows you to fully use the Internet when connected via Wi-Fi or mobile networks.
  3. A large number of existing applications. Only a Java technology-based conditional application can be installed on a mobile phone. And on smartphones, applications are compiled into a binary code, just like on computers.
    These can be office programs, editors, games, and more.
  4. Synchronizing data between devices using an account in one of the search services is the same characteristic of a smartphone as the presence of an OS.
    You can use it free instant messaging services (if connected to the network).
  5. The on-screen keyboard in QWERTY / QWERTY layout is required to work with accounts and the Internet browser. The mobile phone uses a stripped-down or modified version.

Moreover, such a list can continue for a long time.

With each new model, modern devices are supplied with an increasing number of various functions and technological innovations.

It is not known what these devices will turn into next year.

Basic smartphone functions

The first and main function of any smartphone is. At the same time, the device must support modern cellular communication standards.

At the moment, such a standard is LTE (fourth generation cellular networks).

This should include a functional address book with the ability to sync with accounts in popular services.

The second main function is messages. At the same time, not only standard SMS are supported, but also many different services - Skype , Whatsapp, Viber and many others.

When connected to the Internet, these services allow you to exchange instant free messages, send photos, documents, and other files.

The defining function of this type of device is the ability to install applications.

Applications can be very diverse - from pedometerand level to a variety of online games. Recent models support mobile ports of computer games.

With the desire and some tenacity, you can even develop applications yourself. This opportunity is provided by the presence of an open operating system.

It is thanks to this and more powerful computing abilities that smartphones got their name.

A significant part of the functionality of smartphones is based on the Internet connection.

A fully functional browser has become a necessary attribute for the phone. At the same time, both Wi-Fi and wireless cellular networks are supported.

Simple surfing, various types of Internet browsing, and many connected applications are just a few of the capabilities of handheld devices.

Working with multimedia files is also one of the essential aspects of the functionality of any smartphone.

Listening to music, watching videos (music videos, films, etc.), in some cases, the presence of a television and radio receiver provide the user with a small multimedia center that fits in a pocket.

For a number of reasons, no modern smartphone is produced without a camera, or, more precisely, two. The back provides the ability to take high-quality pictures.

The front, however, is also, but of a lower quality. It is also used to make video calls.

Important! Along with functionality, smartphones are defined by more powerful technical equipment. Their architecture is close to laptops: a compact processor and RAM, as well as the presence of an additional graphics processor.

Smartphone operating systems

The first and main difference between smartphones and ordinary mobile phones is the presence of an operating system.

It is noteworthy that adapted operating systems for desktop and laptop computers are in the lead here:

  • iOS evolved as a completely closed system. The ability to add third-party software was implemented in 2013.

  • Windows Phone is the mobile version of the well-known OS. It appeared in 2010, becoming the successor to Windows Mobile. The functionality is close to Windows 8 on a PC.

  • Android is an open source Linux-based mobile OS. Many versions and assemblies have been created since 2007. Allows the user to take full control of their device.

What is a smartphone and communicator

What is a Smartphone? The main differences from a mobile phone

At the dawn of the mobile era in Russia, phones were still divided into mobile and cellular. However, fifteen years ago, these two definitions could be attributed to dialects: it is known that in St. Petersburg the term “mobile” was used more often, while the Moscow region preferred “cell” phones. Today, both terms can be found in official documents, company catalogs, advertising offers, and people do not differentiate between them, because there is no serious alternative to these devices that would force them to approach terminology more demandingly. However, in fact, we can say that cell phones are related to mobile phones, as private to general. True, not every cell phone is mobile, but not every mobile is a cell phone.

Definition

Mobile phone - a portable device for transmitting mainly voice messages via radio communication.

Cellular telephone - a telephone that operates on certain radio frequencies in cellular networks.

Comparison

If we consider the concept of "mobile phone" unconventionally broadly, then we should include in this group any means of communication that works when moving long distances. Mobile phones are considered to be both satellite phones and devices for VoIP telephony - any, the movement of which is not limited in space. This group also includes field telephones - the first mobile phones, although, unlike modern ones, they are also wired. Cell phones are a much narrower subgroup: radio communication in this case is carried out by connecting to a cellular network. The service is provided by an operator or provider.

Field telephone TA-57 (kind of mobile)

One of the main differences between a cell phone and any other mobile phone is the ability to work regardless of location. Cellulars are not connected to a single base station, like radiotelephones, and are not tuned to receive a signal from satellite equipment, but freely switch to the base station in which they find themselves. Satellite phones are able to provide communication where there are no cell base stations.

With some stretch, any mobile device performing the task of transmitting sound over a considerable distance by means of electrical signals can be referred to as mobile phones. Unlike, for example, walkie-talkies, cell phones involve the use of third-party switching equipment provided by the operator.

Today, due to the popularity of cellular communication, the boundaries between the definitions "mobile" and "cell phone" are practically erased, and an ordinary user forgets that communication mobility can be provided not only by the usual mobile phone.

Conclusions site

  1. The mobile phone group includes many devices, including cell phones.
  2. Not every cell phone is mobile.
  3. A cell phone only works over cellular networks.
  4. Cell phones can switch between base stations, while other mobile devices require one base.
  5. All cell phones require connection to the operator's switch.

The large number of mobile devices on the market allows everyone to choose the device that will best suit their needs. However, diversity also has a negative feature: it is sometimes very difficult for an unprepared buyer who is not familiar with the world of high technologies to find the best solution.

For example, smartphones popular today used to belong to the category of flagships and mid-range devices, while now even a budget device can be a smartphone.

What is the difference between a smartphone and a regular mobile phone? Let's try to figure it out in this article.

Smartphone is translated from English as "smart phone". The “cleverness” of the device lies in the fact that such devices operate under the control of a widespread operating system, being, in fact, pocket computers. In addition to standard applications, the user can install software from third-party developers, which significantly expands the capabilities of the device. The most popular operating systems today are Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry OS. Previously, Symbian and Windows Mobile systems were also common, but today smartphones under their control are no longer produced.

Traditional mobile phones are devoid of such functions and the maximum that a user can expect is the installation of simple games and programs written in Java.

Thus, the presence of an OS is the main criterion for distinguishing a smartphone from a phone.

Samsung Corby touchscreen phone. Works on the proprietary Samsung TouchWiz 1.0 shell. The phone does not have the ability to install third-party applications, there is no full-fledged operating system, but there is a touch screen. It cannot be called a smartphone.

Smartphone Nokia 6630. Does not have a touch screen, but runs on the Symbian 8.0a operating system, which is no longer relevant in our time. Yet, because of this OS and the ability to install applications, this device can be called a smartphone.

Form factor

The first smartphones looked no different from ordinary mobile phones. They had a traditional “tube” look with a hardware numeric keypad with 12 buttons. This state of affairs could be observed until about 2012, already in the heyday of the era of touchscreens.

A modern smartphone usually has a large screen (more than 4 inches diagonally) with a high resolution and almost (or not at all) no hardware keys. In some cases, a sliding QWERTY keyboard can be used as an addition.

At the same time, a mobile phone can be both in the form of a traditional "dialer" and with a touch screen. However, the display resolution of such devices is usually lower, and the diagonal is smaller.

The touchscreen with full input support is the second major difference.

Hardware platform

Smartphones are usually based on high-performance chipsets, which include multi-core processors above 1 GHz, gigabytes of RAM and special graphics accelerators - analogs of computer video cards.

Mobile phones cannot boast of such potential; as a rule, single-core processors with a frequency of several hundred megahertz and a couple of tens of megabytes of RAM are installed in their "heart".

The third difference is the powerful hardware platform.

Instead of a conclusion

Thus, we can highlight the main differences between a smartphone and a mobile phone:

  • the presence of a full-fledged operating system;
  • the ability to install third-party programs;
  • large high-resolution touchscreen;
  • powerful hardware.

If in terms of traditional telephone communication smartphones cannot boast of anything special, then in terms of additional capabilities even the most powerful “dialer” can hardly compare in capabilities with a budget smartphone. The only thing that phones are confidently leading is battery life. While a smartphone can work in standby mode for a maximum of several days, many inexpensive mobile phones can hold a charge for more than 10 days.

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In our life, the phone plays an important role, so from time to time we change it to a more modern one that better meets existing standards and our requirements. Recently, everyone has heard such a concept as a "smartphone", we seem to understand what it is, but we cannot point out the obvious distinctive aspects. Therefore, today the team of the online magazine site decided to answer this question and tell you what are their differences.

16 facts and differences between a smartphone and a phone

  1. A smartphone is a narrower definition that is included in the concept of a telephone. That is, a smartphone belongs to one of the types of phones.

  2. Figuratively speaking, a smartphone is a phone with a built-in computer.

  3. The smartphone has no external features. There is a myth among the people that all touchscreen phones are smartphones. No it is not! The touch phone may not belong to the smartphone group. Outwardly determining whether a smartphone is or not is completely impossible, unless you know the company and model of the phone.

  4. Any smartphone has a mobile operating system: Symbian, Android, iOS, Windows Phone and others.

  5. All major applications are released for smartphones on popular platforms (Android and iOS). You yourself have probably seen advertisements on websites or in TV programs that a particular project has created its own application, which is available for Android OS and / or iOS.

  6. All on the same smartphones with the Android or iOS operating system there are mobile markets (Google Play or App Store). They are a site or application where you can download thousands of games or applications to your smartphone for free, without registrations, etc. These are official sources, so all applications are moderated, which means they do not have viruses and other problems.

  7. Games on smartphones are always of higher quality - detailing, more interesting and more similar to computer counterparts. The fact is that a regular phone only supports java applications, and they have a lot of limitations. For example, mobile java games "weigh" no more than a few megabytes (from 1 to 5), while a game for a smartphone can reach 2,000 megabytes. We think the answer is clear, how much better the smartphone application will be.

  8. Applications (programs) in operating systems have more opportunities (to access the Internet, access a GPS-navigator, other programs, etc.), which is naturally an advantage for developers. Therefore, telephone programs will be extremely simple, and most programs for smartphones will not even have analogues for mobile phones. For example, on a smartphone, there are translators, notebooks, diaries, office and graphic editors, clients for communication (icq, qip, skyp, etc.) with full video communication, file transfer, etc.

  9. You can run multiple applications on your smartphone at the same time. For example: play a game, then minimize it and search for something on the Internet, then minimize the browser and start reading an interesting book. At this moment they will call you, you will answer, talk, and all open programs will remain “hanging” on the phone. You can continue playing from the point at which you paused, in the browser all open tabs will remain in their places, and the book will not close the page on which you read it.

  10. 99% of expensive phones are smartphones. 1% includes models that attribute their value to precious stones that are sprinkled all over the body and the body material itself is made of expensive material.

  11. In addition to the previous point, let's say that a smartphone can be bought at an affordable and inexpensive price (from $ 100).

  12. There are companies that are engaged only in the production of smartphones (ordinary phones do not come out under their brand name). A prime example: Apple and its iPhone line of smartphones.

  13. Smartphones allow you to transfer files using Bluetooth technology, and Android and Symbian make it possible to transfer absolutely any file formats, regardless of whether it can read / understand them or not.

  14. Since a smartphone is, in fact, a mobile computer, all applications and games require installation, but it does not take much time, and there are not many questions that arise during the first installation.

  15. Smartphones in low price categories are able to slow down due to lack of RAM or processor power.

  16. The control system of a smartphone is somewhat different from a regular phone, so for many users it can be more difficult to use. In addition, difficulties can arise when switching from a smartphone of one platform to another. For example, if you are switching from Android OS to Windows Phone.

Identifying the difference at a glance

If you pick up two models that are almost identical in appearance from different categories, it may seem that they are identical. However, it is enough to turn on the gadget and evaluate the applications installed on it, as you immediately understand how the smartphone differs from the phone.

Here are 5 main differences that will help you understand whether a mobile device belongs to a particular type of technology:

1. Availability of OS. Only smartphones have a pre-installed open-type operating system (iOS, Android, Windows Phone).
2. A variety of programs. Thanks to the presence of the OS, many useful programs can be installed on a smartphone. The functionality of the phone is expanding only due to a limited number of simple java applications.
3. Installing new software. It is easy and simple to download and install a new application on a smartphone using special paid and free online stores. Installing java applications on your phone can cause some difficulties.
4. Multitasking. In smartphones of the new generation, you can run several applications at once. This allows you to simultaneously listen to your favorite music, read news, chat with friends and spend time on the Internet. In the phone, each program is executed separately, and the user has to switch between them in turn.
5. Performance. All functions implemented on a smartphone are several times higher than those of a mobile phone. This applies to the speed of data transfer, the quality of the Internet connection, the level of playback of media content, recording photos and videos.

Which is better to choose: a phone or a smartphone?

The difference between a smartphone and a phone is no longer a mystery to you. But the question of what is better to buy for your own use remained unresolved. Our recommendations will help you with this.

Looking for a reliable communications device that's built to withstand shocks, drops, water and dust? Looking for an inexpensive device with a long battery life? Small size and weight of a mobile phone are important to you? In this case, you should opt for the phone.

Are performance and versatility the main criteria for you? Do you want to have a mini-computer with the maximum functionality at hand? Then you should pay attention to trendy smartphones. However, keep in mind that they have increased fragility, often have a rather impressive size and high cost.

You can always buy a budget mobile phone or a premium smartphone on the pages of the MOYO online store. Buy only high-quality equipment from leading manufacturers directly from the pages of a convenient virtual catalog!