While the PC industry has the netbook to thank for surviving the current economic slowdown, the mobile phone vendors have to pay homage to the smart phone. Smart phones, which are basically mobile phones with operating systems, were the mobile phone market's brightest spots in these currently economically trying times.

So while the IT media (and the media, in general) has been preoccupied with Apple's impending release of a tablet PC, which might ironically turn out to be a netbook yet, let us keep our eyes on the latest developments in the smart phone world.

Motorola's Android Phone in Korea

Recently, Motorola introduced in South Korea the MOTOROI, an Android 2.0-powered smart phone. The phone allows subscribers to use multiple applications at the same time, so unlike that (you-know-which) smart phone. The MOTOROI also comes with pinch-and-zoom browsing and "cinematic navigation" through music, videos, and world maps.

Considered by some industry analysts as the most exciting mobile operating system, Android offers unbridled platform openness. Developers can create Android applications and can sell them on the Android Market, which allows users to download these tools onto their MOTOROI phones, which come with a 3.7-inch full-touchscreen HD WVGA display.

The smart phone also comes with Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Talk functions, as well as an 8-megapixel camera with Xenon flash.

Some Users Nix Nexus One

Meanwhile, from another part of the Android world, it has not been all roses for Google's first stab at the mobile phone market. The online search giant is having a crash course on handset marketing and customer service.

Since the company's January 5 launch of the Nexus One smart phone, the company has been faced with buyers' grumbling about the lack of a real-world customer support.

Nexus One owners have been complaining about the need to go online for complaints and questions about their Android-powered phones from Google.

Built in partnership with Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer HTC, the Nexus One is positioned to compete directly with Apple's famous iPhone. However, this lack of offline, concrete support can adversely affect Google's dreams for the Nexus One.

Nexus One Cheaper Than iPhone

Market research firm iSuppli Corp. loves nothing more than breaking consumer electronics gadgets apart, looking at their innards, and finding out how much they cost to make. Recently, the company looked at the components used to make Google's Nexus One smart phone.

The company found out that it costs $174.15 to make a Nexus One, in terms of components cost. Apple's iPhone 3GS costs $178.96 to make, based on iSuppli's similar analysis conducted in June 2009.

The Google phone is cheaper due mainly to its having far less memory than the iPhone. While Apple's smart phone comes with 16GB built-in (another model has 32GB), the Nexus One has 4GB.
The Google phone, however, comes with a memory card slot that allows users to expand its memory. The iPhone does not have a memory card slot.

The smart phone sector of the mobile phone market is one of IT's most exciting segments. Recent product and technology announcements mean that it will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, let us revert our attention to Apple's impending launch of a tablet PC. Or a netbook, for that matter.