smartphone

smartphone
Sage Ross · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	smartphone
Developer	Nokia, Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, Microsoft, Google
Type	mobile device
Released	1990s–2000s
Os	Android (operating system), iOS

smartphone

A smartphone is a portable computing device that integrates telephony, personal information management, multimedia, and internet access into a handheld form factor. Early developments combined cellular radio and handheld computing pioneered by firms such as IBM and Nokia and were later reshaped by products from Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics. Modern devices are influenced by standards and institutions including the 3GPP, IEEE, ETSI, Bluetooth SIG, and market actors such as Qualcomm and MediaTek.

History

The device lineage traces to projects by IBM with the Simon Personal Communicator, commercialized by BellSouth and Mitsubishi Electric and influenced by research at Hewlett-Packard and Nokia. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw competition among platforms such as Symbian Ltd., Microsoft's Windows Mobile, and devices from BlackBerry Limited. A major inflection occurred after product launches by Apple Inc. with the iPhone (1st generation) and by Google through the Android (operating system) partnership with the Open Handset Alliance, shifting software distribution, form factors, and supply chains involving Foxconn and Pegatron.

Design and Hardware

Typical hardware elements include system-on-chip solutions supplied by Qualcomm, Apple Inc.'s Apple silicon, Samsung Electronics' Exynos, and MediaTek; display panels from Samsung Display and LG Display; and camera modules by Sony Corporation and OmniVision Technologies. Mechanical design draws on materials and manufacturing from Corning Incorporated (for display glass), Bayer and Dow Chemical Company (for polymers), with antenna and RF front-end components from Skyworks Solutions and Broadcom Inc.. Power management involves battery cells from firms like Panasonic Corporation and LG Chem, while sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) originate from STMicroelectronics and Bosch supply chains coordinated by distributors such as Avnet and Arrow Electronics.

Operating Systems and Software

Primary platforms include Android (operating system) by Google and iOS by Apple Inc., with historical and niche systems such as Windows Phone, BlackBerry 10, and Symbian Ltd.. Application distribution is dominated by stores operated by Google LLC, Apple Inc., and third-party marketplaces like Amazon (company). Middleware, runtime environments, and developer tools include offerings from Mozilla Foundation (historically), Microsoft Visual Studio, JetBrains, and the Linux Foundation projects that underpin many kernel and driver components.

Connectivity and Networking

Networking standards and spectrum allocation are governed by bodies such as 3GPP, ITU, and regional regulators like the Federal Communications Commission and the European Commission. Cellular generations—GSM, UMTS, LTE (telecommunication) and 5G NR—define radio access technologies implemented by companies including Ericsson, Nokia Corporation, and Huawei Technologies. Short-range protocols such as Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 (Wi‑Fi) and NFC enable peripheral and payment use cases, while cloud services from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform provide backend infrastructure.

Applications and Ecosystem

App ecosystems support categories like social media, navigation, productivity, finance, and health developed by corporations such as Facebook, Google LLC, Microsoft Corporation, Spotify Technology, Uber Technologies, and Zoom Video Communications. Mobile payment systems leverage collaborations between Visa, Mastercard, Apple Inc., Google LLC, and banks regulated by institutions like the Bank for International Settlements. Hardware accessory markets involve vendors such as Logitech International, Anker Innovations, and Belkin International.

Market and Industry

Market dynamics are shaped by companies including Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, Xiaomi, Huawei Technologies, OPPO, and Vivo (company), with manufacturing concentrated among contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Compal Electronics. Global trade, tariffs, and supply-chain resilience draw in policymakers from the United States Department of Commerce, the People's Republic of China's ministries, and trade fora like the World Trade Organization. Industry metrics are tracked by analysts such as IDC, Gartner, Inc., and Counterpoint Research.

Privacy, Security, and Regulation

Security models rely on trusted execution environments developed by ARM Limited, Intel Corporation (historically in some devices), and platform vendors such as Apple Inc., with authentication methods involving FIDO Alliance standards and biometric suppliers like Synaptics. Privacy controversies have prompted regulatory action from organizations including the European Commission and national data protection authorities under frameworks influenced by the General Data Protection Regulation. Law-enforcement and intelligence considerations involve legal instruments and cases adjudicated in courts such as the United States Supreme Court and tribunals across the European Union.

Category:Mobile phones