Mobile Applications Introduction:
Earlier, Mobile phones were introduced into the market with calling facility and minimum features (calculator, calendar, phone book) that reside on the mobile phone. Based on the evolution of new technologies like 2G, 3G, 4G etc. in telecommunication systems, several functions of other devices like Camera (taking pictures), Video Recorder (taking videos), MP3 Players (music player) , Bluetooth (transfer of voice and text data) etc. have been embedded in mobile phone thereby making it’s possibilities endless. By connecting to internet and with browsers, mobile phones can be used to search on the internet, mobile browsing, GPS (graphical positioning system), login to websites/email applications like Gmail, Yahoo etc.
With inbuilt programs/applications on mobile phones, sms, video calling, video conferencing, and multimedia messaging systems are also possible. With hybrid applications that come along with the phone, mobile can also be used to chat (e.g. Google Chat, Yahoo Messenger).
Mobile Phone Types:
- Feature Phones: With basic features like calling, calendar, clock etc.
- Smart Phones: With additional features by using internet.
- Touch Phones: Same like smart phones but with touch operations.
Generation Types:
| Generation | Added Features | Speed |
|---|---|---|
|
1G – First Generation |
Basic Calling + some features |
Analog Cellular Network. Can call only within the country |
|
2G – Second Generation |
Add: SMS + new features to 1G |
Digital Signals. Quality Calls. Semi Roaming calls all over the world. Faster than 1G |
|
2.5G- 2.5 Generation |
|
GPRS (General Pocket Radio facility). |
|
3G – Third Generation |
Add: Internet Facilities (Browsing + emailing + chatting + Video calling + Video Conferencing + pictures sharing + recorded videos sharing) to 2G |
384 KBPS TO 2 megabytes per second. More data transmission. Faster than 2G |
|
4G – Fourth Generation |
WIMAX and LTE. |
100 megabytes to 1 Gigabyte per second. Faster than 3G. |
For easy mobile browsing, many organizations have created mobile browsing websites also.
Examples of Mobile Websites:
| Original Website URL | Mobile Website URL |
|---|---|
| www.twitter.com | https://mobile.twitter.com/ |
| www.facebook.com | https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr |
| www.linkedin.com | https://touch.www.linkedin.com/login.html |
The latest smart trend is that the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) like Apple, Microsoft, Google, BlackBerry, Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Sony have developed (developing) several applications which can be downloadable (free or paid) from their stores; To have an edge in the market, automotive, BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance), health insurance, manufacturing, media/ entertainment and retail organizations have developed new applications that reside in the OEM stores.
Mobile Manufacturers and Mobile Applications Stores:
Moreover individuals also create applications and its available either as free or paid in OEM stores.