This course is intended to help students understand Smart Phones from two perspectives. First, it covers technologies present in new mobile phones and their uses. And it aims to help the selection of a Smartphone based on individual needs.

Is it really worth spending £1800 on the latest iPhone? What's the difference with the latest Samsung offering? And what about second hand phones? Are they worth buying?

Of course, we can't talk about modern Smartphones without covering the eco system of Apps. App-stores and how to keep on top of the never ending OTA (Over The Air) updates! 

Mobile telephones became commodities after their military use was superceded by more advanced communications technologies. Mobile phones were initially only for the Yuppies of the Financial World of the City (in London) resebligh a brick with a large antenna poking out of the top and weighing about the same. They rapidly became smaller and more efficient but the Communications world infrastructure was still making do with 2G and 3G frameworks in those days. Comparing this to modern day, several decades on with 5G and 6G in the horizon, including WiFi 6 and 7 becoming the norm, in those days consumers were more than satisfied with clear communications channels to make simple calls on the move, such as in their cars, trains and anywhere away from 'land-line' was the hip thing.

It wasn't until late 1990's early 2000's that core use of Smart Phones drifted away from merely making telephone calls and sending SMS messages. Cameras began appearing on them, BT links to Satellite Navigation units and more. 

Today, we all carry powerful mobile computer systems in our pockets that we call Smart Phones.