portable devices

Portable Devices

Definition: When describing hardware that is portable it means something that is small and lightweight. Laptop computers are portable because they are easy to carry. Other portable devices include PDA's, hand-held computers and TabletPC's.

Software can also be described as portable when it can be run on a variety of computers. The software does not require any particular hardware in order to operate.

Also Known As: mobile devices

Examples:

Carrying a PDA from appointment to appointment is not a problem as it can fit into a suit pocket, briefcase or purse easily.

Mobile phone:

A mobile phone (also known as a cellular phone, cell phone, and a hand phone) is a device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile phone operator, allowing access to the public telephone network. By contrast, a cordless telephone is used only within the short range of a single, private base station.

In addition to telephony, modern mobile phones also support a wide variety of other services such as text messaging, MMS, email, Internet access, short-range wireless communications (infrared, Bluetooth), business applications, gaming and photography. Mobile phones that offer these and more general computing capabilities are referred to as smartphones.