Smartphones have become increasingly popular in society, so popular that many would feel lost without one. More than half of the adult population now owns a smartphone and this number continues to increase. The uses of smartphones are vast and it is important to know their capabilities. This raises four key factors to consider when purchasing a smartphone. The first factor to consider is the importance of the built-in wireless network. Built-in wireless has become more than common for smartphones. The reason it has become so common is the reliability, convenience and money savings it offers. A Wi-Fi spot provides a stable Internet connection that can be used regardless of smartphone reception in the area. Many fast food restaurants now have Wi-Fi for customer convenience. The restaurant's Wi-Fi makes it easy for a person to connect and surf the web while dining. The money saving aspect comes into play when the individual can use Wi-Fi instead of the user's own data plan to download, update and surf the web. The next aspect that a consumer should observe is the quantity and capacity of the built-in ports. This is the phone's primary means of transferring data, sound, and power. A headphone port is important to many. This allows someone to listen to music privately in a public place or wherever necessary. This feature also turns the phone into a full-fledged mp3 player, eliminating the middleman or having to buy a music player. Most phones have a universal charger and a universal serial bus (USB) port; this excludes Apple's entire product line, which has its own port system. A memory card slot satisfies many customers. Like other ports, it makes data transfer much easier. Since the advent of the medium of paper, networks and ports, communication between smartphones and computers, and the factors that set each phone apart are all areas that need to be looked at before purchasing a modern smartphone. Work CitedHawkenson, Lauren. IGN Entertainment. February 8, 2013. The web. November 22, 2013. .Horsey, Julian. Geek gadgets. September 28, 2011. the web. November 22, 2013. .Shelly, Gary B., Vermaat, Misty E. Microsoft Office 2010: Introduction. Boston: Cengange: Course Technologies, 2011. Print.Wikipedia. iOS Wikipedia. November 19, 2013. The web. November 21, 2013. .Yarrow, Jay. A business insider. 2013. Internet. November 21 2013. .