Components

All mobile phones have a number of features in common, but manufacturers also try to differentiate their own products by implementing additional functions to make them more attractive to consumers. This has led to great innovation in mobile phone development over the past 20 years.

The common components found on all phones are:

-A battery, providing the power source for the phone functions.

-An input mechanism to allow the user to interact with the phone. 

-The most common input mechanism is a keypad, but touch screens are also found in some high-end smartphones.

-A screen which echoes the user's typing, displays text messages, contacts and more.

-Basic mobile phone services to allow users to make calls and send text messages.

-All GSM phones use a SIM card to allow an account to be swapped among devices. Some CDMA devices also have a similar card called a R-UIM.

-Individual GSM, WCDMA, iDEN and some satellite phone devices are uniquely identified by an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.

Low-end mobile phones are often referred to as feature phones, and offer basic telephony. Handsets with more advanced computing ability through the use of native software applications became known as smartphones.