What is a smartphone and a communicator. What is the difference between a smartphone and a communicator? Mobile phone features

In the issue of the Science and Life magazine, Ruslan Bokoev, an expert from the ION digital center, answering questions from readers, explained the difference between a smartphone and a telephone. smartphone - the same phone, but equipped with an operating system that allows you to install various additional services on it. But the mobile technology market is not limited to these two devices. in addition to mobile phones and smartphones, so-called communicators appeared on store shelves, which, to the untrained eye, are functionally similar to smartphones and do not differ much in price from them. We asked Ruslan Bokoev to explain the difference between a smartphone and a communicator.

Communicator (from English to communicate - to communicate) - a device that combines a pocket personal computer (PDA) and a cell phone. What is a cell phone, today it is not necessary to explain to anyone, but it is worth telling about the PDA in more detail.

A PDA is a small-sized computing device about the size of a notebook. Two or three years ago PDAs were running Windows Mobile 2003 (2003 Second Edition), then Windows Mobile 5.0, and today PDAs run Windows Mobile 6.0. The PDA allows you to work with office applications (view documents in WORD, EXCEL formats, presentations in the POWER POINT program, create and edit TXT text files and PWI notes), surf the Internet, send letters by e-mail, view color photographs and clips, listen to MP3- files, watch videos, etc. Now PDAs are increasingly being used as an e-book that can be viewed in Haali Reader and AlReader2 programs. In recent years, various PDAs have begun to use technologies for wireless data exchange and Internet access (IR, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), GPS receivers, VGA cameras, FM radio and TV tuner. A component of almost any PDA is a disk with a program for synchronizing data via USB and IR ports. Modern PDAs are also equipped with a permanent memory expansion slot - special cards (SD, miniSD, microSD), with which you can transfer files from PDAs to other devices.

If the PDA performs the functions of a cell phone and can be used as a user terminal, then such a PDA is usually called a communicator. That is, communicators are pocket computers equipped with a module that supports the GSM/GPRS cellular standard, and sometimes even more modern standards. The first communicators were created under the control of Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition and Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition, now they have Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional installed.

If a communicator is a PDA with telephone functions, then by its “origin” a smartphone is a cell phone supplemented with PDA functions. Today, many smartphones have a built-in GPS module, which makes it possible to use satellite navigation. All smartphones and communicators have RAM memory (for running programs) and permanent ROM memory (for installing programs and storing data). Some models of smartphones do not differ in appearance from a telephone, have a familiar telephone keypad and dimensions. There are smartphones, which, in fact, are a pocket computer with the ability to make calls. Such "advanced" smartphones really no longer differ from communicators, at least visually. The difference lies in their "pedigree": one came from the PDA, the other - from the phone.

In general, communicators are more functionally rich, they can solve almost all user tasks, from creating and editing documents to watching TV channels on the screen. Meanwhile, only a few smartphone models make it possible to edit documents without installing additional software.

The real difference between a smartphone and a communicator lies in device performance and software compatibility. If you have a Nokia device that runs on the Symbian OS operating system, then you can definitely say that this is a smartphone and you need the Nokia PC Suite management and synchronization program to install applications. If you have a device running Windows Mobile 2003 for Smart-phone, Windows Mobile 5.0 for Smartphone or the new Windows Mobile 6.0 Standart operating system, then this is definitely a smartphone! If the device is running Windows Mobile 2003 PocketPC, Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC or the new Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional, then it is a communicator. To install applications on such devices, you should pay attention to compatibility and the availability of the Microsoft Active Sync synchronization program.

Dear readers, please send your questions to Ruslan Bokoev by e-mail or postal address of the editors.

GLOSSARY FOR THE ARTICLE

WiFi(English Wireless Fidelity - wireless communication) - the general name of a group of standards for high-speed wireless data transmission. The technology is used to build networks and access Internet resources.

IR port- infrared port. It is a transmitter in the form of an LED and a receiver in the form of a photodiode operating in the infrared range. Used to exchange data between two devices in line of sight at a distance of no more than 50 cm.

Bluetooth- wireless technology. Used to build a network between devices and exchange data. Bluetooth technology (English - blue tooth) is named after the Danish Viking king Harald Homson, nicknamed "Blue Tooth", possibly for his blackened teeth (in Danish, the word "blue" is also used in the meaning of "dark"). In the 10th century AD, he managed to unite the scattered kingdoms into a powerful Viking state. That is why King Harald has become the symbol of the integration system project, which allows different devices to interact with each other.

RAM- Random Access Memory - random access memory, or, as it is more commonly called, random access memory (RAM).

ROM- Read Only Memory - read-only memory. Another name is Read Only Memory (ROM).

SD- SecureDigital - flash memory standard from Panasonic. Developed as an extended version of MMC (MultiMediaCard).

Today you will not surprise anyone with ultra-modern mobile devices. In the consumer market, the range of gadgets is so large that sometimes you just get lost with a smartphone or the same communicator. But in fact, these are all devices that have completely different functions. So, let's figure it out: a phone, a smartphone and a communicator - what is it?

Phone

The most ordinary phone cannot boast, unlike the above-mentioned counterparts, the presence of multifunctionality. Its main purpose is calls, MMS, SMS, Internet access. Mobile phones, as a rule, have their own individual operating system, which is not visible to the user.

On a regular mobile device, you won't be able to do multiple things at the same time, like texting and listening to music.

Smartphone

If you translate the word smartphone from English literally, it means "smart phone". On such gadgets, their own, more functional operating system is installed. Such a system allows you to work on the Internet as quickly and smoothly as possible. Smartphones are phones that are closest to the functionality of a PC. Such devices have applications installed that will allow you to make presentations, work with documents, read e-books, and so on. Moreover, you can open several applications at the same time. Naturally, the question immediately arises: what is a communicator?

Communicator

This device is a real one. Only this mini computer has built-in mobile phone functions, allowing you to make calls, write SMS and so on. A more serious operating system is installed on communicators: Windows Mobile (smartphones run Android OS, with the exception of a smartphone from Apple, which has its own proprietary OS - iOS).

Quite often, in the technical specifications, the abbreviation QWERTY attracts attention when choosing a device such as a communicator. What it is? This is the name of the mini-PC keyboard, the panel of which extends from the side. At present, all handheld computers are also equipped with

For devices such as communicators, prices will be an order of magnitude higher than for the same smartphones (for example, the cost of HTC models varies from 7,500 rubles to 19,000 rubles). But again, it all depends on the manufacturer. I would like to make a small digression to pay attention to the series of budget mobile devices. Developers do not stop at the production of only smartphones, the proposed models include tablets and laptops, you can also find a communicator phone.

Results

Now that smartphones and communicators have flooded the market of modern communications, many are interested in the question of what kind of devices they are. Let's figure it out.

What is a communicator

This device is a combination of a pocket computer, camera, GPS-navigator, mobile phone. At the moment, it is this type of gadget that is most widely used. Most often, communicators are perceived as one of the types of mobile phones. That is why its use is limited to its use as a telephone, navigator and a convenient device for browsing the Internet. However, with all this, the communicator is a high-tech mobile device. Like a regular computer, it works under the system, having its own "stuffing". At the moment, there are models on the market that, in terms of technical characteristics and power level, are comparable to medium-sized personal computers.

Answering the question of what a communicator is, it is worth mentioning its appearance and management. It has touch controls and several soft buttons, and some models have a full keyboard, which is made in the form of a retractable one. Touch control is carried out with a finger or stylus directly on the screen of the gadget. The display can be of different sizes and resolutions, the quality of the image depends on it. The use of large screens is very convenient for comfortable viewing of photos and videos, as well as for games. A small screen indicates that the model belongs to budget options, while their functionality is slightly limited. There are two types of touch screens: resistive and capacitive.

Speaking about what a communicator is, it is worth mentioning that all modern models use memory cards. The first ones used the SD format, and the modern ones use microSD, which significantly saves space. The communicators have a mini/micro-USB interface for cable connection. This cable is designed to connect the device to a computer and for recharging. If you connect the communicator to a computer, it can be used as a flash card or card reader.

Selecting a communicator

Like a conventional computer, the performance of this gadget is characterized by the power of the processor. The presence of devices with a 2 GHz processor is no longer a rarity. The emergence of dual-core was another novelty. Modern communicators are becoming more productive due to the use of a powerful processor, audio chip and graphics accelerator. For a long time, such gadgets have used graphics accelerators that support the 3D format, while not yielding to inexpensive video cards used in computers. An equally important point is the presence of a GPS module that allows you to use the navigator. Using all the functions of the communicator requires a powerful battery. At full load, the device can work for only a few hours.

Answering the question of what a communicator is, it is worth saying that for all its purposes, communication is the main one. In this case, it refers to a telephone message and access to the Internet.

The range of communicators at the moment is very diverse. At first they were running Windows Mobile, but now you can find devices running other operating systems. The set of programs available for it depends on which one is used. In general, the communicator is a very convenient one, which occupies a leading position among the means of communication on the market.

For a modern person, it is very important that the device he buys meets his needs as much as possible: communication, Internet access, data processing, camera, navigator, etc. These requirements are also met by communicators, which have become very fashionable due to their versatility. In our time, the development of information technology and the desire to combine several functions in one device at once has led to the fact that some popular gadgets are practically indistinguishable from each other. So, without having certain knowledge, at first glance it is very difficult to find the difference between a smartphone and a communicator.

In this article, we will define what exactly is the difference between a smartphone and a communicator.

Smartphone and communicator - features

In order to understand how a smartphone differs from a communicator, it is necessary to determine exactly which, simpler devices, they originated from.

A smartphone is an advanced mobile phone with some computer functions. It is also called - "Smart phone".

The communicator is a small personal computer that can make calls thanks to its built-in GSM/GPRS modem.

Communicator and smartphone - differences

Devices that are very similar to each other at the same time have a number of differences:

1. External differences between a smartphone and a communicator can be found by paying attention to the keyboard and screen of the device.

Keyboard

In the smartphone, the main keyboard is numeric, turning only when necessary into letters. The communicator has the usual virtual layout for printing on the touch screen or QWERTY-keyboard (leaving the bottom). This is done because the communicator has, among others, text programs, which are more convenient to work on such a keyboard.

Screen

Since the main function of the communicator is to work in programs and the Internet, it has a larger touch screen than a smartphone, and it often uses a stylus (computer pen) to enter data. But gradually the screen size of smartphones is increasing, while that of communicators is decreasing, so soon it will be difficult to distinguish them by this criterion.

They also note that due to the different screens, when working in a smartphone, you can use only one hand, and when working with a communicator, both are almost always involved.

2. Internal differences are in the main technical characteristics (memory, processor) and in the use of different operating systems.

Specifications

Since the main task of a smartphone, like all phones, is to provide communication (calls and SMS), manufacturers install a much weaker processor and less RAM than a communicator. But in smartphones, it is possible to increase the memory size by installing additional memory cards.

Operating Systems

Smartphones can use different operating systems: Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Android, GNU / Linux or Linux, which do not have enough necessary programs to fully work on it, like on a computer. And in the communicator more often all Symbian or Windows Mobile, with a large number of programs and applications installed. But due to the fact that these systems are open, they can be reflashed and installed on a smartphone with the same software as on a communicator.

The differences between a communicator and a smartphone are so minimal and easily changeable that they will not be noticeable very soon.

Knowing exactly what the difference is, it will be easier to decide what is better to buy a smartphone or a communicator. It will depend on your main goal: to be constantly connected or to have a compact computer.