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Feature phones are basic
phone with keypads and smaller screen size. They come with in
built operating software, often java based which offer little
customization and add ons. They are cheap on price and offer
basic telephony services like calling and SMS on a budget. They
are comparatively easy to operate, especially for older people
and offer excellent battery back up time.
Smart phone are a recent phenomenon which tries to offer the
features of a computer in a mobile phone. The most prominent
feature of smart phones is the ability to check e-mails on them
and reply to emails. Smart phones to day are based on mobile
operating systems just like desktop computer based operating
systems which allow many programs to be installed on them
according to the need of the user. These programs are called
Apps or mobile applications. Dominant mobile operating systems
are iOS-from Apple, Windows- From Microsoft & Android from
Google. Smart phones of today come with screen sizes ranging
from 3.5 inches to 7 inches. The larger screen sized ones are
often called phablets i.e a combination of phone and tablet.
These screens are touch sensitive and offer a convenient medium
for input instead of traditional key based input. Palm and
Blackberry brought the smart phone revolution to masses. With
falling prices today a smart phone can be bought for as little
as Rs. 3000 or US$ 30 in India.
On comparing a smart phone with a feature phone a significant
advantage that a feature phone offers is that of more battery
back up and talk time compared to smart phones. Smart phones due
to their bigger screen and powerful processors consume more
battery and hence offer fewer standby and talk time.
Secondly, a smart phone has a certain degree of learning curve
and hence older generations and non tech savvy people feel more
comfortable with a feature phone.
Thirdly, a feature phone is very cheap in terms of price and so
is light on pocket and in case of any event of theft or other
miss happening it causes less financial loss.
Fourthly, Smart phones offer many useful features like GPS,
Internet browsing, e-mail access, interactive games etc. all
these have become much of a necessity these days than a luxury
as few years before; so it makes sense to invest little more and
buy a smart phone instead of feature phones.
Of late it has become a trend to have two phones – one smart
phone and one feature phone. Feature phones are carried while
running or workouts and other activities where a phone is prone
to falling or damage and the smart phone is used as the main
phone for the rest of the day.
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