1. If the definition of "smartphone" is "phone that runs third-party software," then the iPhone is not a smartphone. If the definition of "smartphone" is "phone that does a lot of stuff besides making phone calls," then it is.

Posted at 9:34PM on Jan 26th 2007 by David

2. Every phone does a lot of stuff besides making phone calls so every phone is a smartphone.

Personally I think it's a multimedia device with a phone attached whereas something like the pearl is a communication device with media attached.

Posted at 10:52PM on Jan 26th 2007 by anonymous

3. A key feature of a smartphone is that applications for enhanced data processing and connectivity can be installed on the device. - Wikipedia

The iPhone is like a twilight smartphone. It sorta is, but sorta isn't.

Posted at 12:40AM on Jan 27th 2007 by Mark

4. of course it's not a smart phone...it does everything a normal phone does...except more flashy and prettier

Posted at 1:04AM on Jan 27th 2007 by woohoo

5. Technically, almost every cell phone on the market is third-party programmable, via either BREW (Binary Runtime Environment something--help, anyone?) or Java. Which means that in general, it seems only phones that run the three primary OS's are considered smartphones (Symbian, Palm OS/Garnet OS, and Windows CE derivatives like Windows Mobile Edition and Windows Smartphone Edition). Using that definition, the iPhone is definitively not a smartphone, because it runs it's own proprietary OS. On the other hand, this definition is too rigid; but it makes sense that BREW and Java are not good enough to be called a smartphone, since their functionality is so limited. Instead, in order for a new entry to be called a smartphone, the OS must be, like the three listed above, more like a desktop OS and less like a proprietary OS for a single device, and the iPhone certainly isn't. The three main Smartphone OS's are, like desktop OS's, built from the ground up with third-party expandability in mind; in other words, the OS wasn't built for five distinct functions, it was built so that anyone could do anything with it. I'm pretty sure that even were Apple to make the widget engine third-party programmable, it would still hardly qualify for the status of smartphone, because it's very proprietary (wrong usage?) and hardly gives any control at all to the programmer.

Posted at 1:06AM on Jan 27th 2007 by Han

6. Certainly the iPhone allows applications for "enhanced data processing and connectivity" to be installed on the phone. The stipulation is that Apple will control what is available for the phone (or so they have indicated).

Probably, for me, the smartest thing in the iPhone is a real web browser. The apps I have on my Pearl are mostly for accessing data on the internet that is just too painful to access via the browser on the Pearl. When I'm at my pc, for instance, I don't use a berry411-like application...I just use the web. If the web browser is really a full Safari-like web browser on the iPhone, the apps you can use are limited only by what is available online.

As I'm not a corporate blackberry user, even the limited features already announced in the iPhone look like a step up from the Pearl.

Posted at 12:15PM on Jan 27th 2007 by John

7. Well in fact, BREW is very tightly controlled by the carriers, and only very few applications are selected to be downloadable (you see them in the catalog in your phone). But depending on how strict it turns out Apple will restrict third-party programming, I myself may or may not consider iPhone to be a smartphone. If, for example, Apple just makes sure that the programs are secure, can't fault them for that.

Although I haven't actually used it, apparently Opera Mini is pretty good.

Or you could use a Treo... isn't Blazer pretty good too?

Also, I have to ask you, I'm not a corporate user and just want a pocket computer/phone/web browser for a economy pricetag, do you think the Pearl is worth that? I'm considering either getting a Pearl or a Treo (iPhone is WAYYY too expensive, and Cingular?????).

Posted at 8:56PM on Jan 28th 2007 by Han

8. Guys & Gals, it is a smartphone! The term came about in the U.S. Robotics days of the original PalmPilot. Simply, without all the technical jargon, a smartphone is any phone where you can add applications. In Palm's case, there are thousands of apps written by many people the world over. By definition, it was and is, not just a phone, but handles your email, schedule, contacts, tasks, etc. In the case of the new iPhone, there are also thousands of widget apps. The fact that the system is not open is irrelevant except to developers because it is NOT just a phone. It will handle your email, schedule, contacts, tasks, internet browsing, music library, audiobooks, and on...it is not just a phone.

Posted at 8:31AM on Jan 29th 2007 by RS

9. I'm not sure what it's called, but when it comes out I'm switching. Don't get me wrong, I really like my BlackBerry 8700 but the integration with OS X is basically non-existant; PocketMac is a horrid little program that has never gotten a single sync correct, it duplicates calendar entries, deletes notes, jumbles work/home entries in the address book, you name it. I find myself going longer and longer between syncs which makes the data on the 8700 more and more out of date.

As far as 3rd party software on the BlackBerry, the only one I use is Google Maps, which is already included on the iPhone.

Just my $0.02.

Posted at 11:43PM on Jan 29th 2007 by Andy

10. Of course its a smart phone, some of the comments here are realy silly like the one about the OS not being a real one or an open OS or something (i didnt evet understand what the guy was trying to say)... how is OS X more proprietry than WinMobile or RIM OS, and what does that question have to do with anything?
if anything this little babe will be the smartest phone ever. Apple have not said that 3rd party apps will be excluded but rather will require to be OS X complient and there will be a certification program to deal with complience... other than that its clear that the iPhone is the most advanced and feature rich handheld ever to emerge out of any company so far!
In my book that deffo makes it into a smart phone... a genious one :-)

Posted at 9:17AM on Feb 3rd 2007 by zizi

11. iPone is so cool!

Get iPhone Converter

http://www.iphoneconverter.com/

Posted at 6:22AM on Mar 12th 2007 by michael0o