They are distinguished from feature phones by their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems, which facilitate wider software, internet , and multimedia functionality , alongside core phone functions such as voice calls and text messaging. Smartphones typically contain a number of metaloxidesemiconductor integrated circuit chips, include various sensors that can be leveraged by their software , and support wireless communications protocols .
These issues were eventually resolved with the exponential scaling and miniaturization of MOS transistors down to sub-micron levels , the improved lithium-ion battery, faster digital mobile data networks , and more mature software platforms that allowed mobile device ecosystems to develop independently of data providers.
In the 2000s, NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode platform, BlackBerry, Nokia’s Symbian platform, and Windows Mobile began to gain market traction, with models often featuring QWERTY keyboards or resistive touchscreen input, and emphasizing access to push email and wireless internet. Since the unveiling of the iPhone in 2007, the majority of smartphones have featured thin, slate-like form factors, with large, capacitive screens with support for multi-touch gestures rather than physical keyboards, and offer the ability for users to download or purchase additional applications from a centralized store, and use cloud storage and synchronization, virtual assistants, as well as mobile payment services.
