In this blog post, we will take a look at how smartphones have evolved beyond simple phones to absorb the functions of various electronic devices.
We are now in the “age of smartphones.” Whether walking down the street, riding the subway, or sitting in a restaurant or café, it is no longer unusual to see people staring at small rectangular screens. As of 2023, the smartphone penetration rate in South Korea is approximately 95%, which is the highest in the world. In other words, more than nine out of ten people in South Korea use smartphones. Despite smartphones being so deeply embedded in our lives, it is not easy to clearly answer the question, “What is a smartphone?” Even English Wikipedia defines a smartphone as “a mobile phone with enhanced computing power and connectivity compared to feature phones,” which is somewhat vague. So, what kind of device is a smartphone that has gained such widespread popularity?
The first product to use the term “smartphone” was Ericsson’s GS88 model in 1997. However, the device that more closely resembles the smartphones we use today was the “PDA phone,” which combined a PDA (personal digital assistant) with a phone function. A PDA was a small computer with a relatively large touchscreen display, which was a groundbreaking technology at the time. PDA phones could perform functions beyond simple calls, such as email, document work, and schedule management, symbolizing the potential for mobile phones to evolve into a “small computer.” However, due to limitations such as slow communication speeds, low battery efficiency, poor portability, and high prices, they did not widely spread among the general public and were used only by a limited group.
The widespread adoption of smartphones was driven by the introduction of Apple’s “iPhone” and Google’s “Android” operating system in 2007. The launch of the iPhone was a game-changer for the mobile industry. Prior to that, various operating systems such as Nokia’s Symbian, BlackBerry’s email-focused devices, and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile were competing, but most of these were based on PDA phones and required complex settings and usage methods. In contrast, the iPhone maximized the user experience within a limited system and introduced a new paradigm of “intuitive UI,” emphasizing a user-centric approach. It transformed the complex smartphone into a “smart device that anyone can use.”
Around the same time, Google acquired Android and opened it as open-source software, which was met with enthusiastic response from manufacturers and telecommunications companies. For smartphone manufacturers, this meant they could use a highly advanced operating system for free and receive technical support from Google. Telecom companies were also attracted to the revenue structure of the Android Market (now Google Play Store), which allowed them to retain a larger share of profits compared to Apple’s App Store. While Apple splits revenue with developers at a 7:3 ratio, Android divides it between developers and telecom companies at a 7:3 ratio.
These factors served as a powerful driving force for the rapid spread of Android smartphones, and by the second half of 2011, Android had surpassed 50% of the global smartphone market share. As of 2024, it holds approximately 69.88% of the market share, maintaining its position as the most powerful player in the global mobile operating system market. The emergence of the iPhone and Android fundamentally redefined the concept of smartphones.
The concept of a device that allows users to install and use various applications based on a unified operating system became widespread, and the concept of a smartphone as we know it today was established at this time. The fundamental difference lies in the fact that it was not merely a device with superior computing power and enhanced connectivity compared to feature phones, but rather that the use of various apps within the device became the core of its functionality.
The overwhelming popularity of smartphones is closely linked to the existence of these diverse applications. In addition to basic functions like phone calls and text messages, hardware elements such as GPS, accelerometers, high-performance cameras, and biometric sensors, when combined with applications, enable user experiences that were previously only possible with separate devices, all within a single device. In other words, smartphones are not merely a combination of telephones and computers, but convergence devices that integrate the functions of various devices such as music players, navigation systems, electronic dictionaries, game consoles, and cameras. It can be described as the emergence of a “digital Swiss Army knife.” In fact, after the popularization of smartphones, the markets for MP3 players, PMPs, electronic dictionaries, and even compact digital cameras and portable game consoles have rapidly declined, with some virtually disappearing.
The explosive influence of smartphones is even more significant in that it is built on the platform of the “mobile phone.” As of 2023, the global mobile phone penetration rate is estimated to be approximately 68%, with 54% of users owning smartphones. This means that approximately 4.3 billion people access the mobile internet via smartphones. The ripple effect is unimaginable, as all functions have been integrated into the mobile phone, a device that individuals carry with them at all times. My own experience is a testament to this. Before I served in the military, I had to carry around an MP3 player, an electronic dictionary, a laptop, and a mobile phone, but now I can use all those functions with just one smartphone. In just over a decade, smartphones have completely transformed not only the flow of technology but also people’s lifestyles.
So, how will smartphones evolve in the future? We can gauge the direction by looking at the moves of global companies leading the smartphone industry. First, Google is aiming to integrate the functions of smartphones and wallets through services such as Google Wallet. By combining functions such as payment, tickets, and membership cards into a single platform, Google seeks to establish smartphones as the “center of daily life.” On the other hand, Apple is focusing on cloud computing. Siri, the voice assistant built into iPhones, does not process voice commands on the device itself but instead processes them through cloud-based servers located in the United States.
Additionally, Apple has long shown interest in cloud file systems and services, with iCloud being one of its core services. In this way, the user experience is expanding beyond reliance on physical device performance, toward a model of “light devices, heavy functionality” connected to the cloud. As technology advances, smartphones are becoming increasingly capable of detecting user input with greater precision and providing personalized features.
While smartphones were once devices for “consuming” information, they are now transforming into devices for “producing” and processing information such as text, images, videos, and voice. In particular, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is taking smartphones to a whole new level. AI-powered features like predictive input, automatic summarization, image generation, and voice translation are significantly enhancing productivity and creativity in everyday life.
Smartphones are no longer just devices. They are a platform, an ecosystem, and a culture. They continue to evolve even as we speak, connecting our lives more deeply and opening up broader possibilities. While it is impossible to predict the next step for smartphones, the changes they bring will undoubtedly have a profound impact on our daily lives. Smartphones are no longer a choice—they are an integral part of our lives.
