PDAs, on the other hand, have become even smarter and more powerful. Color screens and the ability to play audio and video on a limited scale have become the norm; faster processors have elevated the humble organizer to higher levels of performance. The biggest plus is integration of software; the newest PDAs can "talk" to PCs, printers, cellphones and other devices via infrared, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Like cellphones, PDAs have also become much smaller, smarter, sleeker and more affordable.
The popularity of PDAs has also spurred the development of tens of thousands of applications ranging from games, electronic books to business and educational applications. The Palm OS, currently the most popular PDA operating system, is already in its advanced stages and is considered a mature operating system with thousands of developers backing it with software applications. Other operating systems are Microsoft’s PocketPC/CE, Symbian and EPOC-PSION.
Each of these operating systems can hook up to the Internet, work e-mail efficiently and integrate into desktop synching programs. There is also news of a Linux OS for handhelds used in Sharp’s Zaurus lines. Competition is a sure sign of advancement and PDAs are certain to keep on improving.
A merger of both devices is inevitable, especially since both cross over in their applications as address books, communication devices, organizers and portable gaming devices. The time for smart phones has, indeed, come since technology and most cellular networks are mature enough to support these devices. Expect more people to trade in their PDAs and cellphones for integrated devices in the coming months.
What made earlier attempts at creating smart phones a failure was that manufacturers were "adding on" functionality on existing devices rather than innovating new devices altogether. We saw cellphones with ridiculous add-ons, monster batteries and weird adjuncts that were curiously integrated but were unintuitive for users. PDAs, on the other hand, sprouted antennas and modem card slots and required numerous small components just to make simple phone calls.
As a result, users need to "learn" that these devices are unique unto themselves. They are, of course, larger than the minuscule cellphones of late, but they do have bigger screens and built-in computers. Users have to be able to differentiate the device from what they are used to; they have to learn how to use them all over again.
Smart phones may not have a specific definition, yet most would agree that they should have a handheld form factor so they can be used as a phone for voice. They should also have a large screen, be controllable via stylus or jog-dial and integrate phone and PDA easily. While there are palmtops that can make phone calls, their large sizes and flip-keyboard designs do not allow them to be operated with one hand.
Handspring’s Treo smart phone is one of the more successful releases this year. Running on GSM networks, the Treo is powered by Palm’s OS and comes with a relatively powerful processor as well as a built-in keyboard. The device is certainly small and pocket-sized but still larger and wider than the latest cellphones; users may require two hands to operate it but they can type twice as fast with two thumbs rather than one. The Treo has a larger screen, more memory, unlimited software options and the ability to send SMS.
Newer iterations of Handspring’s Treo have high-resolution color screens that are designed to surf the Web as you would on your computer. A wonder of industrial design and technological integration, the Treo can be utilized as a PDA while being used as a phone. There is a hands-free function that allows users to speak while looking up for information on the PDA.
On the PocketPC front, there are a number of emerging models that boast of faster processors, color screens and integrated features. O2’s "xda" smart phone can handle broadband data and brings with it all the features of a high-end PocketPC PDA. Manufacturers like Sony Ericsson and Sendo have also started showing their latest smart phones as well. Integration with Microsoft applications such as Internet Explorer, Outlook and the Office suite should make these phones extra-attractive to users who need to carry their information with them.
The greatest disadvantage of any unified device is that for users who have all their data and important information stored in their smart phones, a system crash or battery rundown will result in the deletion of all these information (unless they are backed up). That is one risk that requires getting used to.
Despite all that, smart phones are likely to improve greatly through time and eventually, they will be just as ubiquitous as PDAs and cellphones that inspired their creation and existence.