android

Smartphones have been a part of our lives for several years. In 2007, when Apple released the first iPhone, the image of the smartphone changed: touch screens, third-party apps, and sensors of location and movement transformed the device from a phone with a keyboard into something wholly new. Now, touchscreen smartphones are available from a number of manufacturers. New operating systems for smartphones, like the Android platform from Google, are opening the market up in some very interesting ways. Recent developments like HP's acquisition of Palm and its WebOS, and Microsoft's emerging Phone 7 platform continue to draw attention to the smartphone market, which is growing year by year as more consumers choose these devices over other mobile phones.