Feature phones lack the operating system to do everything a smartphone can do. While some have very limited internet capabilities, what sets these phones apart from older model phones are features like an integrated music player, full slide out keyboards for texting or touch screens. Some examples of popular feature phones are the LG Envy touch and the Samsung Solstice II.

Basic phones are generally older models that don't come with a lot of bells and whistles. These devices make calls and send texts, and in some instances can download ringtones, but don't typically come with any added functions beyond the basics.



What are apps?

Apps is short for applications. They are like computer programs that serve different functions. Some apps are meant strictly for games while others provide better access to multimedia services like streaming radio and movies. There are even apps for daily use like a flashlight app or a compass. Currently, Apple has the largest app store with more than 300,000 different applications. The Android Market is the second largest with over 100,000 applications available. Nokia has the Ovi Store, Windows has the Windows Marketplace and Blackberry has the App World, all of which are much smaller than Apple or Android. Applications can be found and downloaded from your phone, but not all applications are free. Currently Android has the highest percentage of free applications.