What is a smartphone? A smartphone is still a cellular phone only with some additional technology added to it. It often features PDA scheduling options, multifunction address book, text messaging and web browsing. In addition you many smartphones have cameras, some even with video recording capabilities and GPS navigation systems built into the phone.

With all the features of the most popular portable gadgets combined into one smartphone you can carry just one device that does almost everything. It won't drive for you though, so it is recommended getting a hands free Bluetooth headset and setting that up with your phone so that you can multitask with ease.

With the GPS built right in you won't need an additional navigation system in the car or in your pocket. Great for those long business trips and even for family vacations when no one wants to stop and ask for directions. In some cases an additional service fee may apply to activate the GPS navigation system and get directions from your phone. Check out your calling plan and ask the customer service rep how it works for your smartphone model.

Style is not neglected when it comes to smartphones either. Some models have hidden keyboards that flip or slide open. Others have touch screens with a stylus (plastic pen or pointer) to help key out what you need on the screen. Having a QWERTY keyboard on your smartphone makes text messaging and web browsing fast and easy.

The PDA, electronic personal organizer, was the device that many people had first. Then slowly, the cellular phones began to actually function as PDA's themselves, and now that is what many people have and use every day. A lot of people would be completely lost without their smartphones, which is actually one of the negative things about them. In combining all of our personal devices, we've put ourselves in a pretty bad situation if we lose our smartphones, as we lose all of that information.