Smartphone

A mobile operating system (mobile OS) which is also referred to as a handheld -operating- system or a mobile platform, describes the operating system that is used to control the portable handheld devices or mobile devices. The system works in a similar fashion to that of computer operating systems such as Linux, windows or Mac operating system. Due to the technological advances that are currently in place mobile OS are much simpler in that they deal with broadband on a wireless platform and have simpler input methods. Smartphones today come equipped with multitasking capabilities. This enables the users to perform varied or different application without interrupting any of them. It is, therefore, possible to use a navigation application when one is making a call without interrupting the two tasks (Miller Vandome and McBrewster 2010). They are also capable of a lot of information give that they are equipped with storage devices capable of holding much more data than the ordinary mobile devices. Thus a user can store reminders that would allow the smart phones alert them when they are due.

They are also equipped with live enabled applications that have the capability of reminding the user of a stored reminder, therefore, a message to the user from a specified caller can trigger the smartphone to remind the user to send multiple messages to his friends or any other task that the user sets to be reminded to carry out. Information therefore stored on the phone can be therefore be applied by the users as a result of a message, phone call or an alarm as set by the user. They are also capable of indentifying callers using voice analysis a reminder can, therefore, be set in such a way that when the specified individual calls the user the smartphone can remind its user of an agreement or promise made to the caller. They are also equipped with the capability of sending graphic messages and sending instant messages through such platforms as yahoo, Msn or Google among other providers of instant messaging.

They are also equipped with OTA capabilities that enable the users to play their favorite music tracks whenever they want another features to include multiple game playing capability choices of radio stations or specific lyrics. They can also enable their users to modify musical tracks by skipping specified lyrics among other smart applications. Smart phones today come equipped with either a virtual keyboard that is operated on a touch screen or QWERTY miniature keyboard (Morris and Davies 2007). They can enable their users’ access documents, email or access to office software among other functions just like laptops or personal computers. They differ however depending on the operating software and the functions that the operating system can allow its users.

the main mobile operating systems

Microsoft (Windows Mobile)

The Windows Mobile smart phone is manufacture by the software company Microsoft and operates on the company’s operating system. The phone is programmed using the C++ programming language and allows its users participatory sharing of information. The models with this software also support other languages except English. The model comes equipped with an underlining spelling checker. It also allows the users multiple applications and to search internal data or objects that are stored in the smartphone. The model is also equipped with cloud computing capabilities and any individual user can undo any unwanted application .the model has also cut copy and paste capabilities and it is equipped with a browser that is capable of accessing available search engines. Most of the advanced models using this system are equipped with a virtual keyboard that is operated on a touchscreen. However, there are model that are still equipped with a QWERTY miniature keyboard

Nokia (Symbian)

Manufactured by the Company Symbania foundation with a 9.5 current version in the market. The smart phones operating on this mobile platform is programmed using the C++ programming language. These smart phones come equipped with cloud computing capabilities with similar features as those found in the Windows Mobile smart phone such as underlining spelling checker. The also grant their users multiple applications and to search internal data or objects that are stored in the smartphone. The smartphones are also equipped with cloud computing capabilities (Wood 2005). An individual user can undo any unwanted application just like those using the Windows models and cut, copy and paste data. They are equipped with a browser that is capable of accessing available data search engines. They can also support other languages except English. Like most smartphones today the models operating using this system have a virtual keyboard that is operated on a touchscreen. But still, there are other that use the QWERTY miniature keyboard.

Apple (OS for iphone)

Iphone smart phones are developed by apple and are manufactured by Apple partners and Foxconn. The current advanced version in the market is a 4.3.They operate on a using Mac OS or X/Unix operating systems and are programmed either in C, C++ and objective – C. They are capable of supporting other languages except English. Just the other two models that is Symbania and Windows Mobile they are equipped with cloud computing capabilities and have similar features such as the ability to check spellings and underline the incorrectly spelled words (Miller Vandome and McBrewster 2010). They are also capable of multiple applications and to search internal data or objects that are stored in the smart phone. They using this platform include Motorola, BenQ, Sony Ericsson, LG, Samsung, Nokia, Sharp, Fujitsu and Mitsubishi. They have the largest smart phone market share in the world today. The advanced models using this system have the virtual keyboard that is operated on a touch screen with others still using the QWERTY miniature keyboard.

Research in Motion (OS for Blackberry)

The company that developed the blackberry can be argued to be the pioneers of the smart phones their advanced models which is that 6.0.0 version come equipped with the virtual keyboard that is operated on a touch screen but the order versions had a QWERTY miniature keyboard. The have some of the most advanced applications with capabilities to download over 15000 applications. They are programmed using the JAVA programming language and have capabilities of supporting other languages except the English language. Like the other smartphones the blackberry has the capabilities to multitasking (Kowalski 2010).Therefore the users can enjoy varied or different application or tasks without interrupting any of them. It is therefore possible to use a navigation application when one is making a call without interrupting any of the two tasks. They are also equipped with a platform that allows its users participatory sharing of information. Like the other models, the blackberry has have similar features such as the ability to check spellings and underline the incorrectly spelled words. They are also capable of multiple applications and to search internal data or objects that are stored in the smart phone. Users are also equipped with the ability to copy cut and past data that is available from over 15000 downloadable applications.

Google (Android)

The Android was started by a startup Company and later sold to Google Inc .The smart phones that use this platform are programmed using either C or C++ language. They operate using the Linux operating system that is backed by other software developers such as Google, Samsung, and Motorola HTC among others that form an alliance referred to as the Open -Handset- Alliance. They are equipped with similar capabilit6ies to those of other smart phones such as they are capable of cloud computing have browsers that allow multiple applications. They are equipped with either the virtual keyboard that is operated on a touch screen for the advanced models or a QWERTY miniature keyboard(Miller Vandome and McBrewster 2010).

Handspring (webOS for Palm)

WebOS is an operating platform that allows participatory sharing of information. It allows users to interact with each other through social media and create the dialogue that is user-generated. In other words, an individual with a smart phone that is operating on a webOS platform has the capability of creating his or her own dialogue rather than only passively viewing. The platform allows it user to multitasking enabling the users to perform different varied tasks and applications. This can be done without any of the task being interrupted. They are also equipped with a platform that allows its users participatory. Users are also enabled to copy paste and cut information downloaded from the different websites accessible(Miller Vandome and McBrewster 2010). Users under this platform can also be able to perform multiple applications and to search internal data or objects that are stored in the smart phone .The phones have also the capability to cloud compute ensuring the users a diversified data source and multiple applications and capabilities .it also has the capacity to undo any unwanted application just like a personal computer or a laptop. The smart phones under this platform are either equipped with a virtual keyboard that is operated on a touch screen or a QWERTY miniature keyboard.

Conclusion

Due to intense competition in the Smartphone business most of the advanced features that enable users to perform the divergent applications the operating system developers ensure that they keep up with their competition in making the phones capable of the multiple applications that they perform. New developments or advances in this industry are soon applied by the different players in the industry ensuring that different companies have phones capable of performing similar tasks or applications as those of their competitors (Books Llc 2010).