PPC Phone or SmartPhone?

kuph · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2006, 11:59 PM

It's my understanding that the difference between those 2 WM5 categories is that PPC Phones use a stylus and Smartphones have no touch screen.

Unfortunately various websites and writers play fast and loose with those terms. I've seen the Treo 700wx referred to as a Smartphone, but understand that it is a typical stylus product.

I have seen both the Motorola Q and the new T-Mobile Dash referred to as Smartphones. Handango lists the Q as a Smartphone and does not mention the Dash yet.

The software I want to use is not listed as working on true Smartphones (Epocrates and Leonard Maltin's Movie List) but runs on PPCs and PPCPhones. I like the looks of the Dash and have seen it referred to as a PPC, but isn't it like the Q...no stylus?

**Wideawake** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2006, 12:21 AM

Yes some use the term even Palm calls the 700w/wx a smartphone when in actual imho it should be called a ppc phone but my understanding is the same as urs but the major difference is that smartphones run wm smartphone edition while ppc phones run windows phone edition. the dash is a smartphone because it does run the wm smartphone edition. the q also is a smartphone that is why we dont have any listed here....but I my start a section if demand for those areas picked up. I do love the styles of the dash and how do u like it? hows the overall feel of the device? any gripes about it??
~mike

kuph · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2006, 12:48 AM

I ran by the local TMobile store but did not get to do more than touch the Dash. It feels nice in the hand and looks cool. Alas, I'm a Sprint customer but the Dash could tempt me to change. My contract has been up for several months but I can't find a PPC Phone that I really like at Sprint.

Correction...Epocrates works on both versions of WM5, the Maltin movie database software does not!

I wish they'd tell more about the future of the PPC-6800. No comments on it on the internet since Sept. 15.

**Wideawake** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2006, 01:01 AM

I know all we know is its in testing no clue on when they will release it....

**jamaa124** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 04:38 PM

supposedly the difference between a smartphone and ppc is the smartphone screen does not rotate. i don't know how true this statement is though.

**Big D5** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2006, 11:29 PM

Not really sure what the exact definition is I have looked and cant find much. IMO I believe that other than the change in platform which is the clear definition, as wideawake has stated. I think palm is calling the Treo a smart phone because they have altered the programing and palm intends for the phone to be used primarily as it is by the end used. Smart phone programing is pretty much set and programs have to be written primarily for the specific phone. This could explain why 3rd party programs are harder to integrate into the Treo and often cause other problems. IMHO Palm wants you to use the phone as it is unless the programs are written for the Treo, hens Smartphone, IMHO