Feature phone
A feature phone is a mobile phone which at the time of manufacture is not considered to be a smartphone, but nevertheless has additional functions over and above standard mobile services. It addresses the market for customers who don't want the features of smart phones, and also typically allows a lower price point.
Because technology changes rapidly, what might have been considered a smart phone 10 years ago may only be considered a feature phone today. For example, today's feature phones typically also serve as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and portable media player and have capabilities such as camera phones, touchscreen, GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and mobile broadband access.
Feature phones is the term generally used to describe low-end devices, while smartphone is used to describe high-end devices, though there is no official definition to distinguish the two categories.[1][2]. Originally, the term referred to mobile phones with more features than other contemporary "dumb" mobile phones,[3] and smartphone and feature phone are not mutually exclusive categories.[4]
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[edit] Features
Feature phones have a different type of operating system compared to smart phones. However they may still allow installation of third-party applications, for example via the Java ME or BREW.
[edit] Usage
In 2011, feature phones accounted for 60% of the mobile (cellular) telephone installed base in the United States.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ "Feature Phone". Phone Scoop. http://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php?gid=310. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ Andrew Nusca (20 August 2009). "Smartphone vs. feature phone arms race heats up; which did you buy?". ZDNet. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/smartphone-vs-feature-phone-arms-race-heats-up-which-did-you-buy/6836.
- ^ http://news.cnet.com/Sendo-sets-date-for-smart-phone-redux/2100-1037_3-984688.html
- ^ http://www.brighthand.com/article/Study_Says_Smartphones_Will_Outsell_Handhelds/
- ^ Don Kellogg (1 September 2011). "40 Percent of U.S. Mobile Users Own Smartphones; 40 Percent are Android". Nielsen Company. http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/40-percent-of-u-s-mobile-users-own-smartphones-40-percent-are-android/.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mobile phones |
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