The simple, monolithic cell phone is going away, quickly. Already, you are hard pressed to find a cell phone that only makes phone calls. Most cell phones have cameras, media players and other additions that extend their functionality beyond what they were intended for in the early days of development.
The largest growth area is in Smart Phones. These units not only have all of the additions like cameras and media players and storage, but they also have applications that have been developed for them that help you perform tasks that used to only be available on a personal computer.
Killer Apps
The competition that they are providing to traditional computing is strong. Smart Phones are able to accomplish both simple and complex tasks via apps that are designed to make life easier.
Even though you might have to pay a few dollars for the small app, it can be worth it if it helps you better manage your time and tasks.
GPS Enabled
The latest rage in Smart Phone technology is the GPS enabled feature. Here’s why this is turning out to be the killer app:
Instant Directions Anywhere: GPS navigation units have been popular in vehicles for several years now. The full-featured devices provide services beyond just the turn-by-turn directions that they were known for at first. Being able to discover that perfect night spot or restaurant is a plus.
GPS Tracking Safety: Safety is a prime area of concern for parents when it comes to their children and other family members. Being able to ‘watch’ where a teen or child goes based on the GPS Tracking abilities of a Smart Phone has parents breathing a sigh of relief. Even though this feature is not as good as a dedicated GPS Tracking device, it still provides a measure of security in knowing that there is method for safety that can be used in times of emergencies.
Who is On Board? Many Smart Phone manufacturers offer GPS as a standard feature with their phones. The Apple iPhone lacks the GPS feature that other Smart Phones have. This places Apple behind in offering a very important feature that consumers want. Yes, the feature will be included in their next iteration of the iPhone and operating system, but they come to the table late. However, purchase decisions based on this application has not slowed Apple’s dominance in the market.
Will it be long before GPS enabled cell phones are the standard? Almost assuredly. But, this is a good thing, not bad. Even some businesses can benefit from the use of a GPS Enabled smart phone for those who work in delivery operations.
The bottom line is that GPS enabled Smart Phones are growing in numbers and are definitely here to stay.
