Smartphones broadened the Internet’s accessibility. Its introduction in the technological world created a breakthrough that widened the spectrum of individuals who are now provided with the power of the World Wide Web.

The distinguishing characteristic of smartphones is their screens that usually fill the entire surface area of the device itself. These phones are designed to have portability in mind, which is why the sizes are limited to what the human hand can accommodate.

Unlike its older brother, the mobile phone, smartphones were created to achieve something bigger. With processing power, hardware, and software capabilities that will easily make early 90’s computers look like Stone Age instruments, smartphones endow individuals the opportunity to access websites from anywhere and anytime—provided that the Internet is available, of course.

Mass adoption started in 1999, where a Japanese firm released the first smartphone. These phones ran on a different operating system, which provided data transmission speeds through i-mode. As opposed to future generations of the wireless device, these used a different code that may have restricted some aspects of common HTML.

These devices continue to dominate all corners of the world. In the third quarter of 2012, more than 1 billion smartphones have been accredited for worldwide. The sales have surpassed figures for features phones in the early months of 2013.

These devices possess an advanced mobile operating system that fuses the features of personal computers and characteristics that resemble a portable device for handheld use. Typically, this combines the features of a cell phone with those of mobile devices, such as personal digital assistant, GPS navigation unit, and media player. In essence, it is a do-it-all device that allows people from any part of the world to communicate while having access to programs similar to what a desktop computer can offer.

Currently, two of the most dominant operating systems involve Android and iOS. The latter is software developed by Apple inc, and is only available for hardware released by the same company. Meanwhile, Android highlights an open-source platform various brands employ for their devices. Some of the major hardware companies that utilize the software are HTC, Motorola, Samsung, and LG.

With the aid of these smartphones—large scale devices such as tablets included—users can visit any mobile-optimized website. Whether you’re employing the Internet for research purposes, looking for Lucky Nugget Casino scam reports, or just simply browse your favorite social media websites, smartphones are more than capable of catering to your needs.

Applications stores have also emerged to give players a window that leads applications that can be installed. The introduction of Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android market provides an entryway for individuals towards games, messaging systems, maps, and other applications solely created for smartphones.

Technology has come a long way. We can trace the roots of smartphones back to the standard telephone that made its way and transformed overtime to become what is now the most recognized communications device in the planet.