2.1 Handheld Mobile Devices and Mobile Applications
2.1.1 Defining Handheld Mobile Devices
The medium for mobile applications is a mobile device. While the functions of mobile devices vary, the key criteria such a device must fulfil is portability. To that extent, mobile devices have been described as ‘interactive wireless media’ (Haghirian and Madlberger 2005, 2). Mobile devices offer a range of capabilities, but essentially they allow access to data and information with the opportunity of being used in a variety of environments (ISACA 2010, 2). The term ‘handheld mobile device’ indicates that the device is limited to something that can be ‘held in the hand(s)’.
Even so, the term ‘handheld mobile device’ may represent a different meaning to different people and therefore can be anything from a PDA to a digital camera. For the purpose of this paper, the term handheld mobile device (henceforth abbreviated as mobile device) will be associated only with those mobile computing devices that have the capability of downloading third-party mobile applications (as defined in 2.1.3). Namely, these are smartphones, PDAs and tablet PCs.
2.1.1.1 Mobile phones
There are many known terms for mobile phones including cell phone, basic phone, feature phone, traditional mobile phone, smartphone, and system phone. Nonetheless, it can be argued that mobile phones currently on the market are typically categorised as either ‘feature phones’ or a ‘smartphones’. The definitions of these two types are widely discussed and disputed by analysts, manufacturers, journalists, and end users. The lack of a standard definition can be attributed to the advancement of mobile phone technology. As the technology continues to evolve, definitions are subject to ch...
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...s have existed since the development of mobile devices. “Downloadable” applications (such as DMO apps), however, have only spread and reached mainstream usage with the emergence of smartphones and PDAs (Holzer and Ondrus 2011, 22).
Beyond the fundamental definition, there are a range of classifications that a mobile application may fall under. In their 2008 white paper on mobile applications, the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) suggests that, from a technical viewpoint, mobile applications can be distinguished according to the runtime environment in which they function. The MMA lists three types of runtime environments, namely native platforms and operating systems, mobile web and browser runtimes, and other managed platforms and virtual machines. By and large, however, the industry makes a distinction between native applications and web-based applications.
In the article entitled, “Our Cell Phones Ourselves”, Christine Rosen describes how cell phones have changed the way we communicate. Rosen tells the readers the main purpose for cell phone use in the past, versus present day. Her purpose is to make society aware of how cell phones have influenced our lives in order to inspire change as to how we view our cell phones. Rosen directs her writing to everyone in the present day by describing the negative results of cell phone use and how it impacts our lives and those around us. Without a doubt, cell phones are going to be a part of our world, but it is the responsibility of every cell phone owner to exercise self control and understand that a cell phone is nothing more than a device.
In the essay “Our Cell Phones, Our Selves” written by Christine Rosen, the author presents a brief history on how cell phones were introduced into society and how this artifact changed people’s interactions in the physical space. Rosen describes the first cell phone that appeared in 1983 as “hardly elegant,” big and expensive (458). Cell phones at that time were mainly used by important and affluent people. However, seven years later, cell phones became smaller and affordable provoking a big change in society. This big technological advance did not only affect the United States, but the entire world.
In 1983, Motorola released its first cell phone, known as the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, which offered 30 minutes of talk-time, six hour standby, and could store 30 phone numbers. By that time, cell phones were extremely expensive -- the DynaTAC 8000X costs 3995 dollars, and the cellular network was limited. To analyze the development and interpretative flexibility of the cell phone at its early stage, we must first introduce social groups that were related to the artefact. The users of the artefact were the most important social group. At the time, users were mainly constructed by businessmen, managers, politicians, doctors,big companies, military etc. who had high income and had to remain in contact with others occasionally. For them, the cell phones were the extension of corded phones that helps keeping the communication on without the limit of ranges. Thus, the problems that this social group had with cell phones are rather clear. The cell phones were too big and heavy, the talking time was too short for frequent users, and the nu...
Telecommunications gained mainstream attention in the early 90’s; however the initial key market was business men and women, who used their phones whilst being on the move and so allowing them to communicate with their companies with ease. Though in the modern era, telecommunication went through segmentation in the market trends, and now in this day and age it would be difficult to find someone who does not own some form of mobile technology. Many phone providers battle to provide the best service for their customers (Figure 1).
Dual mobile browsing and mobile apps will continue to sour around the world which means people will go on the web through both mobile browsers through mobile apps and which will grow as a result in the future.
In the Marketing Metrics case study prepared by Nielsen Company on the Smartphones Market and its Consumer, the smartphone market is growing sky high and has the potential to out beat the other leading technology markets like laptop brands and television brands. However, the smartphone market is incorporated thru operating system (OS) inventors and producers. On the whole, Research in Motion Blackberry (Blackberry) and Apple IPhone (Apple) are the two major companies unified via operating system (OS) as a (n) inventors and producers. These two companies singles out the rest of the operating system (OS) inventors such as Android, Microsoft Windows/WP7, Symbian ...
At the outset, mobile phones were considered as valuable resources that were shared by family members and close friends, rather than as purely personal devices. As times have progressed the way mobiles are perceived has changed, they have moved from the want segment to the need segment.
Smartphone’s, PADs, tablet computers and other handheld devices that are used to run over operating system are called mobile operating system (Mobile OS). A specified data and programs that run over the mobile devices are referred as mobile operating system. It handles all the hardware and optimizes the performance of the application software in the device. Mobile multimedia functions, Internet connectivity and many other applications are handled by mobile operating system. Base infrastructure software inherent of a computerized system is operating system. It controls all primitive operations of the computer such as PDA and Smartphone. To install and execute the third party applications (known as apps) by users are allowed in the operating system devices. It enumerates new functionalities of the devices. Today mobile devices with a desired OS are called Smartphone’s and a wide range of applications for instances games, apps,communication or social media apps, digital maps, etc are used by users.
The world today is a result of centuries of evolution; one of the major adaptations is technology, specifically the invention of the smartphone. The smartphone is a cellular phone that has the capabilities of performing similar functions to that of a computer (Oxford Dictionaries’ online dictionary, n.d.). The smartphone is owned by youth for the most part; however, adults and seniors are also turning toward using this device. This in turn demonstrates the popularity of this marvelous device, and is the reason why it is constantly monitored by its users. The continuous evolving of the populations' wants and needs such as communication, searching of information, entertainment and recording, makes owning a smartphone essential, and beneficial as it is portable, reliable and efficient.
In this essay I will define what mobile operating systems are and differentiate between different type of mobile operating systems and their market share in the UK. Mobile operating systems are the thing that runs the interface of your cellular phone or tablet and almost everyone in the UK uses a cellular phone or a tablet. Despite everyone using a mobile os most people don’t really know what it is. The most common used operating systems in the UK are the IOS, android, Symbian, windows and black berry. Mobile operating systems are all unique in their own way and which is why various cell phone brands use them.
When phones became available to the public they were not considered to be mobile in today’s sense of the word. They were available to have installed in an automobile, they were big and bulky, and they needed and consumed a lot of power to use. The phone networks would only support a few simultaneous conversations. Cell phones since then have made vast improvements in their efficiency, abilities, and size. The first handheld mobile phone wasn’t produce until 1973. The origin...
Cell phones have changed from an item of luxury to an everyday necessity for some people. Twenty five years ago, a phone was just a way to contact someone. Mobile phones have become one of the most common tools of communications for both young and old. Cellular devices have redefined relationships and social conduct, and transformed the daily lives of many individuals. Cell phones no longer function just as a communication device. Today it has many other uses. Cell phones are used for games, calculators, texting, calendars, social sites, and pictures. In addition, there are many apps that one can download on a phone. Mobile phones help us keep track of our lives.
Users of mobile and other devices are increasing day by day in whole world. No of users of mobile and other devices are in billions. One study shows that there are 2.6 billion users of mobile throughout the world. People of both rural and urban areas are using these new technology devices. People are using this technology for business purposes and social networks have also grown. Innovations have been made in this and new products have emerged in the markets like touch system and it is becoming a trend in whole world. Smart phones have been introduced in which operating systems are used. One of operating system is android.
If we pay attention to our surroundings, we can see smartphone everywhere. On office, school, home, whatever people are doing smartphone always there in their hand. In this 21th century, it is really hard for people to live without smartphone. A surprising fact is how fast the growth of smartphone user. Heggestuen (2013) said that their research shows surprising number of growths, one of them is by the end of 2013, global smartphone penetration will have exploded from 5% of the global population in 2009, to 22%. That's an increase of nearly 1.3 billion smartphones in four years. Smartphone is a cellular telephone with built-in applications and Internet access. In addition to digital voice service, modern smartphones provide text messaging, e-mail, Web browsing, still and video cameras, MP3 player and video playback and calling. In addition to their built-in functions, smartphones run myriad free and paid applications, turning the once single-minded cell phone into a mobile personal computer (pcmag, 2014). By that definition. We can see how convenient a smartphone can be. However few studies suggest that smartphone has more drawbacks than benefit.
Kukreja, A. (n.d.). Mobile Application Trends and the Impact on Mobile Platforms. Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.eeherald.com/section/design-guide/mobile_platform_trends.html