Traditional portable phone technology in the last few years has reached a point of maturation. Cellular companies over the years have relied predominently on new customer sales to grow their revenue streams, but with most of these customers tapped, a new idea had to emerge to continue the markets forward progress. And with the release of last years IPhone, the market has begun to show signs of change; moving from a classic portable telephone based structure to something more akin to personal computing and mobile entertainment.

With the release of phones such as the Google T-Mobile G1, the Blackberry Storm, and the Nokia “Tube” have been labeled as IPhone Killers by the media. Phones with features and options that take cell phone use to the next level. Of specific interest are the operating system designs. Apple for instance, always a trendsetter, revolutionized the design of the cellular OS by creating a system that seems almost organic in the way it acts as an extension of the user. Not only can you talk on the phone, but you can surf the web, listen to tunes, and play video games as well, replacing many of the stand alone devices such as the Sony PSP or the Nintendo DS. Further, the Blackberry Storm has many of the same touch screen features as the IPhone, but also includes a tactile feedback feature when you touch the screen, as well as office software that allows you to type Microsoft Office files and Powerpoint presentations. The Nokia “Tube” even includes outputs that will allow you to connect to a television with the right adapter.

All in all, technology has improved to the point where cell phones are replacing laptops as the portable device of choice for the new millennium. The average user typing a short blog article, listening to music, looking up research on the web, playing a game, or emailing for work or pleasure has no need for complicated solutions such as a laptop or personal desktop. And while these devices won’t be going away, cell phones offer a certain flexibility that other, more traditional solutions don’t have. As cellular devices continue to evolve, it’s a sure fire bet that culture will evolve right along with it.