Smartphones run mobile operating systems such as Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7, Nokia’s Symbian, RIM’s BlackBerry OS, and embedded Linux distributions such as Maemo and MeeGo. Such systems can be installed on many different phone models, and typically each device can receive multiple OS software updates over its lifetime. Smartphones run third-party applications using advanced application programming interfaces (APIs),which can allow those applications to have better integration with the phone’s OS and hardware.
We have been using the first generation Samsung Galaxy S phones on the Telecom XT network since they were introduced with few problems and they were a dramatic change to our original Palm handsets. Sometimes battery life is an issue but if you switch off all the things you don’t need then its usually fine.
They have now been superseded by the Samsung Galaxy S II handsets
Samsung claims to have sold 10 million units of the original S, making it one of the most popular high-end handsets running on Google’s Android software. Whereas the S had a 4-inch display, the S II offers a super-sized 4.27-inch screen – inching ahead of Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Arc with its 4.2-inch display – despite being just 8.49mm thick.
Apple’s iPhone has a 3.5-inch screen.
The S II supports Telecom, Vodafone and 2degrees’ frequencies.
Like other Androids, the Galaxy S II supports Microsoft Exchange Active Sync for business email.
Samsung also bundles other corporate-friendly software, including virtual networking and VoIP apps from Cisco, and a device management security app from Sybase.
Like a lot of people we are waiting to see how the 2nd generation handsets go before we decide to upgrade or not.
