Smart Phones: What You Need To Know and The Available Options
According to recent surveys, over 40% of adults in the United States own a smart phone. If you haven't hopped on the bandwagon yet, you may be confused with all the technical terminology and marketing buzzwords associated with smart phones. If that describes you, then the following smart phone market breakdown is right up your alley. Below you'll find a quick overview of what you can expect from a modern smart phone, as well as your options when it comes to buying one. We'll look at a couple specific phones for each platform, and detail their major selling points to give you a better idea of which one would be best for you.

Hardware and Features
Just about every smart phone released from this point onward will feature a dual-core CPU, at least 512 MB of RAM, a 3.0" or larger screen, and 16 GB of on-board storage space. Compare that to the specs of your laptop, and you'll see that cell phones are converging with other mobile devices in terms of computing power. In addition, most phones will feature a rear-facing camera with 5.0 megapixels and a mini-USB port for transferring data to and from your PC. Many phones have a microSD card slot for storage expansion, and a decent number of smart phones even have slide-out keyboards to make typing easier.

Operating Systems and Applications
There are basically four major smart phone platforms you need to worry about. Android, iOS, Windows Phone 7, and Blackberry. Android is Google's mobile operating system, and it's based off of the Linux kernel. The iOS operating system runs all of Apple's iPhones and iPad tablets. Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft's entrant into the smart phone race, and it features a very different interface than iOS and Android. Blackberry OS is the operating system of Research In Motion's Blackberry line of digital assistants and smart phones. Blackberry is very popular in business settings, but lacks the popularity of iOS and Android amongst everyday users.

The iPhone
If you're not familiar with the iPhone, you've clearly been on a desert island for the last few years. In that case, welcome back. The iPhone is well known for its software, available through the iTunes App Store. The iPhone is the single most popular phone model in the world, though iOS is not the most widely-used operating system. Many love the iPhone for its ease of use and seamless interface.

Popular Android Models
While Android was launched after the iPhone and iOS hit the scene, it's now the most popular platform in the world for smart phones. There are hundreds of great models to choose from, including the Motorola Droid Razr and theSamsung Galaxy S II. Android phones tend to offer more powerful hardware than the iPhone models. In addition, Android offers as many solid applications as iOS through the Android Market.

Blackberry Handsets
While fading in popularity, the Blackberry platform still boasts a dedicated fan base. If you want a phone with a physical keyboard, Blackberry is one of the few remaining options for the most part. Common models include the Blackberry Bold 9780 and the Blackberry 9800 Torch. Blackberry offers a robust operating system and plenty of solid apps that satisfy the needs of most users.

Windows Phone 7 Options
While not as popular as the Android and iOS platforms, Windows Phone 7 offers a mobile version of the Windows operating system that so many users are familiar with. The LG Optimus 7 is an incredibly popular WP7 phone that comes with a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, 512 MB RAM, and 16 GB of storage. Another possibility is the Samsung Focus, a terrific WP7 handset with a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 4.0" AMOLED screen, and 8 GB of storage that runs on AT&T's 3G HSPA network.

The Wrap
You've got a lot of choices nowadays when it comes to smart phones. Many carriers offer free cell phones with certain cell phone plans. You may not get a top of the line model, but any smart phone is better than an older flip-style cell phone that lacks the ability to surf the web or use apps. Which operating system you should opt for really depends on your own unique tastes. Pretty much every smart phone offers the same basic functionality. You'll need to give each a spin to figure out which type of phone best suits your needs.