While smartphones were initially used mostly by business users, they have become a common choice for consumers as well. Thanks to advancements in technology, modern smartphones are smaller and cheaper than earlier devices. Users also have a much wider range of smartphones to choose from than before. While the RIM Blackberry dominated the smartphone market for many years, other manufacturers like Apple, HTC, and Samsung now offer a wide variety of smartphone options as well. This increase in smartphone availability has led to a corresponding decline in the usage of standard PDAs, which do not include phone capabilities.
Since smartphones have a wide range of functionality, they require advanced software, similar to a computer operating system. The smartphone software handles phone calls, runs applications, and provides configuration options for the user. Most smartphones include a USB connection, which allows users to sync data with their computers and update their smartphone software.