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