Cell Phone Operating Systems OS

Windows Mobile: the most common operating systems
Windows Mobile is the user part of Microsoft Windows CE (Compact Edition) for mobile devices (handhelds as well as smartphones and PDA phones). It was designed to have a visual and ergonomic close to desktop computers, so not to confuse users. Microsoft has changed its numbering system with version 5, the previous versions being called Windows Mobile 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 and Windows Mobile 2003 SE (there are few devices using this operating system).

Windows Mobile 5, Then the version 6 provided on the market in three versions: Windows Mobile 6 Standard for smartphones without a touchscreen, Windows Mobile 6 Professional for PDAs and finally communicating Windows Mobile 6 Classic PDA without phone function. A number of applications can be included, including mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Its strengths are precisely the ease of integration in a computer environment and the large number of applications available – 18,000 have been validated by Microsoft to date. Side weaknesses: it is very heavy in RAM and computing power, which is resulting in occasional freezes in the case of an undersized memory (RAM). Version 6 will consume, according to Microsoft, about 15% less computing power.

The Symbian
Symbian OS is Symbian Ltd. consortium. it is the heir to the EPOC OS, which the Psion computers are equipped with . Today it is used primarily by Nokia and Motorola, but also in the Sony-Ericsson and some Samsungs. Its major advantage is that it has been designed from the ground up for mobile devices with limited resources. Its philosophy is to preserve the memory and avoid bugs related to memory management. Moreover, its programming is a technique based on “events”, which leaves off when the processor does not directly address data. This results in a smaller energy consumption, meaning the  battery life. Nowadays, memory prices and sizes shrinked , so this factor is less important. Another advantage of Symbian is the vast amount of applications currently available: the inventory comprises 30,000. Several user interfaces based on Symbian are in the smartphones . The most common is the Nokia S60.

Palm OS Garnet OS
Palm OS was named Garnet OS since last January. It’s the OS that team some Treo models, including the 680. Others, like the Treo 700 and Treo 750, rely on Windows Mobile. The future seems bleak Palm License: Garnet OS, even if it has a very good ergonomics and a huge software base,it is really lagging behind on Windows Mobile. The multimedia management is rudimentary and wireless technologies are poorly managed. In addition to a delay at the OS, the devices are less attractive in appearance as PDAs running under Windows Mobile and innovations are much less frequent because it only contains new Palm devices running on Palm OS. However, one can find good devices according to use, at reasonable prices.

The Linux OS and RIM
A few manufacturers offer smartphones running under the Linux OS. Now , this market is very underdeveloped. The RIM OS is the operating system developed by the Canadian company Research in Motion’s specifically made for the BlackBerry .