Swipe, Tap and Pinch: Can a Smartphone Help Your Farm?

As of 2010, there were over 45 million smartphones being used in the United States. Growing at nearly 40 percent year, they are the best selling phones in the United States. 

But what is a smartphone? It’s a high-end phone that combines features of a mobile phone and a computer. They allow you to check your email, watch videos, take photos, browse the Internet and access thousands of applications. Of course, with the added features comes an added cost, but it could be worth it to your operation.

Explained below are the two major competitors in the smartphone market and also share a few valuable apps that could help you on the farm.

Android

48 percent of the market

Android is simply an operating system, like Windows, that is run on a number of different phones. “Android” doesn’t make phones, it is just an operating system designed for mobile devices.

You can find Android phones at most service providers and purchase applications through the built-in marketplace. Each phone comes with software to check email, text message, browse the Internet and GPS navigation.

Apple iOS - The iPhone

26 percent of the market

In 2007 Apple introduced the iPhone and over the last four years it has become one of the best selling smartphones, with a market share of 26 percent.

The phone is currently available through AT&T and Verizon. Sprint will be added to that list with the release of the next iPhone.

The phone comes with several apps already loaded on it, including email, text messaging, calendar and a web browser. If you’re looking to get more out of the phone there are over 500,000 apps available for the iPhone.

Useful Applications

• Weather Channel (Free)
  Forecasts, animated radar and more. The official app of The Weather Channel.
• NPIPM Soybean Guide (Free) 
  Provides current effective management options for insect and other arthropod pests affecting soybeans grown in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas.
• Farm Futures Mobile (Free) 
  User-customized markets, market commentary, news and audio reports.
• Farmer’s Partner ($4.99) 
  Takes statistics from your operation and shows you an overview so you can make informed decisions.