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What are the Different Types of Smartphone Software?

Troy Holmes
Troy Holmes

Smartphones have become a standard tool for many people. These phones run on special smartphone software designed for specific models. Some examples of this software include Android®, Windows CE®, Windows 7®, Palm® OS, Mac® OS and Blackberry® technology. Each operating system is designed for a specific phone type.

The Palm® OS was one of the first types of smartphone software available. It was created in 1996 for the new mobile computing market. The Palm® smartphone enabled users to write, keep track of tasks, and manage their calendars, which was previously unavailable on any phones.

Weather and direction apps often come installed on smartphones.
Weather and direction apps often come installed on smartphones.

After Palm® introduced personal data assistance (PDA) devices, many companies created competing devices of their own. Among these was the Blackberry® mobile device. Blackberry® smartphone software provided a mechanism to send and receive emails on a remote device. This transformed the smartphone technology and made the devices more usable for businesses and casual groups.

Some smartphone apps allow individuals to instantly transfer files between two phones.
Some smartphone apps allow individuals to instantly transfer files between two phones.

The Windows CE® smartphone software was the next generation of phone and it provided access to the mobile versions of Microsoft Office. This includes both Excel spreadsheet software and the popular Microsoft Word data processing software. Windows CE® was the first mobile software to provide advanced data processing capabilities on a portable cell phone devices.

Apple's iPhone uses the iOS operating system software.
Apple's iPhone uses the iOS operating system software.

Among the most sophisticated smartphone software packages are those that run the iPhone® and Google® Droid smartphones. Both of these devices provide advanced graphics and computer processing capabilities with the Internet. The iPhone® smartphone was created by the Apple Corporation. This phone runs a slimmed-down version of the Mac®OS operating system. These phones run on software that requires a special Mac® operating system and software application to make modification to the phone.

Emails may be sent and received using smartphone technology.
Emails may be sent and received using smartphone technology.

Google® Droid smartphones have similar features to the iPhone® but run on the open standard Java system. This phone is the direct competitor to the iPhone®. These phones provide similar graphics and user capabilities, with the Droid having more of a software development appeal because of the open access to free tools to create applications for the Internet.

Many smartphones support apps that allow users to interact with one another.
Many smartphones support apps that allow users to interact with one another.

The Windows 7® phone uses one of the latest smartphone software programs available today. This phone is based on a mobile version of the Windows® operating system with many modern features. The Windows® phone provides a streamlined version of the common Windows® interfaces.

Discussion Comments

Melonlity
I am not sure how much "software development appeal" Android has in the real world. I used an iPhone for years and now carry a phone running Android. My Android phone can whip the socks off of any iPhone on the block in terms of hardware, but there's one area in which the iPhone is clearly superior -- the apps store.

The latest and greatest apps typically come to Apple first while we Android users have to wait. Consider popular apps like "Plants v. Zombies 2" or "Clash of Clans." Those who carried iPhones got to downoad those apps several months before Android users got them.

I have a friend who is an apps developer and I asked him why iOS appears to be the preferred platform for apps. He said the reason is very simple -- iPhone/iPad apps tend to rake in a lot more cash than Android ones do. For whatever reason, iOS users tend to spend cash more freely than Android ones do. That is the way my friend sees it, but it would help explain why the best apps tend to hit iOS first.

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    • Weather and direction apps often come installed on smartphones.
      By: taka
      Weather and direction apps often come installed on smartphones.
    • Some smartphone apps allow individuals to instantly transfer files between two phones.
      By: Robert Kneschke
      Some smartphone apps allow individuals to instantly transfer files between two phones.
    • Apple's iPhone uses the iOS operating system software.
      By: bloomua
      Apple's iPhone uses the iOS operating system software.
    • Emails may be sent and received using smartphone technology.
      By: bloomua
      Emails may be sent and received using smartphone technology.
    • Many smartphones support apps that allow users to interact with one another.
      By: Syda Productions
      Many smartphones support apps that allow users to interact with one another.
    • Android and various versions of Windows are among smartphone operating software types.
      By: georgejmclittle
      Android and various versions of Windows are among smartphone operating software types.