What is a smartphone? Easily explained

For a long time everyone called their portable phone "cell phone" - and suddenly everyone says smartphone. We show you what a smartphone actually is and how it works.

Smartphone: what is it?

The pioneers of the smartphone were the cell phone and the PDA ("personal digital assistant"). These devices were practically combined with the smartphone - the result is modern mobile phones:

• A smartphone is a mobile phone that has numerous other technical functions in addition to making calls. A smartphone is a mixture of a cell phone, computer and game console.
• The classic cell phone can only make calls, write SMS, start simple games and set an alarm clock. A smartphone can be compared to a small computer for your pocket.
• On the outside, you can recognize a smartphone by the large touch displays. The most well-known smartphones include the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy.

A smartphone offers these functions

With classic cell phones, the focus was on telephoning and writing messages. Modern smartphones have long ceased to depend on how well you can use them to make calls.

• The mostly quite large touch displays open up completely new possibilities. If desired, users can install numerous applications such as WhatsApp or Facebook on their smartphone.
• Additional functions are also possible, which a PC also offers. If you connect to a WLAN or use the mobile data network, you can surf the Internet from anywhere with your smartphone. Photography and filming are also becoming increasingly important for smartphones.
• Your computer can probably also perform many of these functions, but the smartphone fits comfortably in your pocket and can be taken anywhere. The smartphones are also technically ahead. With motion and light sensors and GPS receivers, other gimmicks are built into the smartphone.

If you buy a smartphone, you will certainly download the "WhatsApp" messaging application like everyone else. In the next practical tip, we will explain how WhatsApp works.