The app guide: All you need to know about smartphone applications

Where once push email and a QWERTY keyboard put the 'smart' in smartphone, today's more consumer focused handset market is all about the apps.

The word 'apps' is used to describe the various software applications that are available for smartphones and tablet PCs such as the iPad, some preinstalled and others available via download (either direct to the device, or transferred/synced - via a computer).

Apps range from daft throwaways to business essentials; games to news and weather sources, tools and GPS maps; social networks to homepage themes. Many of the most popular take the world's favourite websites and make them easier to use on a touchscreen; Facebook, YouTube and Google Maps are the most popular apps available.

These big named apps tend to be cross-platform, meaning that whichever smartphone manufacturer/operating system you have, they should be available. However, the same can't be said for all apps. They come in all shapes and sizes, from free to a fiver (and sometimes more), and may only be developed for one platform (such as Apple, Android, BlackBerry etc).

Types of app

There's a mass of apps out there, so what are people using them for apart from playing games? Here are some key areas:

  • Social networking and IM: Love it or hate it, it's here to stay. Whether it's Twitter or Facebook, Windows or Yahoo Messenger, MySpace or Google Talk, there are apps for them all that make the transition from computer to smartphone a doddle.
  • eBooks: As touchscreens get bigger and sharper, the smartphone is becoming a legitimate replacement for the book for some people. You'll find apps for everything from The Bible to the latest bestselling novels, as well as reference books such as dictionaries and wine guides.
  • Gaming: Whether its throwaway sillyness such as Angry Birds, complex RPGs and strategy games, or online games, you'll now find apps for every gaming taste. You'll often find 'lite' versions of the more expensive game too - the app equivelent of a free trial.
  • Navigation: With GPS now standard on most smartphones, map apps are getting more and more useful. Plot everything from standard sat nav directions to nearby shops and bars.
  • News/recreation: No matter whether you want up to date headlines or the latest on your football team, a weather report or the latest share prices, there are apps to give you the most up to date info without having to use a web browser.
  • Business: If you can do it online, or by phone, you can probably do it via an app. You'll find office apps, accounts apps, business card readers- even UPS trackers.

App stores

Access to apps through 'app stores' has become the standard way to download them, although many are still available via routes such as websites. We've listed some of the most prominent app stores below. Note these are the official operating system (OS) specific stores - there are many more out there, some of which aggregate apps from a variety of operating systems:

The Apple App Store

Opened in July 2008 through Apple's already established iTunes MP3 store, the App Store centralised the buying applications under the umbrella of the OS/gadget manufacturer. Apple's App Store is the original and probably still the best, with the idea since being widely copied by its rivals with varying degrees of success. Offering apps for the iPod Touch, iPad and iPhone, the store passed the 100,000 downloadable choices mark in November 2009, since passing 500,000 in June 2011. My mid-2011, there had already been a staggering 15 billion downloads through the App Store. Apple has since opened a similar store for owners of its desktop and laptop computers too.

Android Market

While a relatively new operating system, the clout of Google has helped give the Android OS a big impact on the smartphone, tablet and app markets. The fact it has already had handsets and tablets made by Acer, Dell, HTC, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson is certainly helping! Market went live in October 2008 for all Android smartphones. Growth has been swift, with the store reaching 250,000 downloadable apps by mid 2011. There is now also a version of the store that can be viewed in a web browser on a regular computer, as opposed to the original mobile-only version.

BlackBerry App World

BlackBerry's own app store opened in April 2009 and is available on the majority of BlackBerry smartphones with OS 4.2.0 or higher. While not in the same league as Apple's offering for quantity, you'll still find a good 25,000-plus apps and ebooks to choose from. If getting apps through the store is key to your buying decision, make sure your BlackBerry is compatible with App World before purchasing.

The Ovi Store

Nokia's Ovi Store was launched in May 2009 and now supports more than 100 devices, including more than 60 Symbian smartphone models. Thousands of applications are available, alongside music downloads, file storing and other useful services. You should be aware that as of 2011, Nokia is no longer making Symbian smartphones. 

Windows Phone Marketplace

The official Windows Phone app store came along even later, in October 2009, launching with 246 applications (yes, 246). You'll now find well over 10,000 apps though, as the Windows Phone 7 operating system is starting to make a genuine impact on the smartphone market. New devices armed with the OS hit the market late in 2010 and while Microsoft is still well behind the likes of Android and Apple it sheer app numbers, the main bases are all covered and the amount of applications it has is growing by the day.