| A Handheld device (also known as handheld | | | | examples of these devices are cellular |
| computer or simply handheld) is a | | | | phones. |
| pocket-sized computing device, typically | | | | |
| utilising a small visual display screen for | | | | Basic Data Mobile Device: devices that have a |
| user output and a miniaturised keyboard for | | | | medium-size screen (typically between 120 x |
| user input. In the case of the personal | | | | 120 and 240 x 240 pixels), menu or icon-based |
| digital assistant (PDA) the input and output | | | | navigation via a thumb-wheel or cursor, and |
| are combined into a touch-screen interface. | | | | which offer access to e-mail, address book, |
| Along with mobile computing devices such as | | | | SMS, and a basic web browser. Typical |
| laptops and smartphones, PDAs are becoming | | | | examples of these devices are BlackBerry and |
| increasingly popular amongst those who | | | | Smartphone. |
| require the assistance and convenience of a | | | | |
| conventional computer, in environments where | | | | Enhanced Data Mobile Device: devices that |
| carrying one would not be practicable. | | | | have medium to large screens (typically above |
| | | | 240 x 120 pixels), stylus-based navigation, |
| The following are typical handhelds: | | | | and which offer the same features as the |
| | | | "Basic Data Mobile Devices" plus native |
| Information appliance | | | | applications such as Microsoft Office Mobile |
| | | | applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and |
| Smartphone | | | | custom corporate applications such as |
| | | | mobilized versions of SAP, intranet portals, |
| Personal digital assistant | | | | etc. Typical devices include those running |
| | | | Windows Mobile 2003 or version 5, such as |
| Mobile phone | | | | Pocket PCs. |
| | | | |
| Personal Communicator | | | | Handhelds at Work |
| | | | |
| Handheld game console | | | | Handheld devices have become ruggedised for |
| | | | use in mobile field management situations to |
| Ultra-Mobile PC | | | | record information in the field. They are now |
| | | | used to achieve a variety of tasks for |
| Handheld television | | | | increasing efficiency that include digitizing |
| | | | notes, send and receive invoices, asset |
| Categories of mobile devices | | | | management, capture signatures, manage parts |
| | | | and scan barcodes etc. |
| Due to the varying levels of functionality | | | | |
| associated with mobile devices, in 2005 T38 | | | | Internet faxing with handhelds |
| and the DuPont Global Mobility Innovation | | | | |
| Team proposed the following standardized | | | | Most handhelds can be used to send and |
| definition of mobile devices: | | | | receive faxes by email using an Internet fax |
| | | | service. Internet faxing also enables |
| Limited Data Mobile Device: devices that have | | | | handheld users to print documents by sending |
| a small, primarily text-based screen, with | | | | them to a nearby fax machine. This service is |
| data services usually limited to SMS (Short | | | | available through most internet fax |
| Message Service) and WAP access. Typical | | | | providers. |