Reported November 2009

WHAT IS OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE? This is an approach to software in which the actual code of the computer program is made public and copyright restrictions are severely relaxed or eliminated. The hope is that this allows users to freely obtain software and customize it as they wish, improving and personalizing features for their own use and the use of others.

MAKING PHONES SMARTER: "Smartphones" acquired that name because they are a single device that can take care of all your handheld computing and communications needs in a single small package, integrating digital photography, cellular communication, calendars and address books, GPS navigation, email, and even music and games. The biggest advantage is that smartphones allow users to install, configure and run their favorite applications, creating individual, tailor-made services. In contrast, most standard cell-phone software offers only limited configurations for personalizing the device.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.-USA, contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Brian Ferris
University of Washington
(206) 303-8220
bdferris@cs.washington.edu

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
IEEE
Pender McCarter
IEEE http://www.ieee.org
IEEE-USA http://www.ieeeusa.org
p.mccarter@ieee.org

ON THE WEB...