Smartphones appear to be the wave of future computing, communicating, and portable devices. As prices drop and more people can afford to purchase a smartphone, older phones with simple communication functionality will probably cease to exist. This makes one wonder about the extent to which cellular communication will change. Will cell phones die out as social status symbols, being replaced by miniature computers with global networking and information access? Information and its availability already played a significant part in defining the twenty-first century, so what impact will the smartphone have?

While smartphone comparison has become exponentially more complex, some juicy tidbits can be gleaned from a basic review of device specifications—for example, actual vocal communication appears to be taking a sideline to other features. The focus has shifted to media such as music, video, and storage capacity. The new smartphones even have GPS software for mapping capabilities and routing. Mechanisms have also been installed to make the phones sensitive to physical shifts, which is applicable for gaming.

Speaking of gaming, the new smartphones have high-resolution screens and fast processors. It is apparent that the manufacturers are aiming for younger audiences that are hooked on media and gaming. With a number of these phones reasonably priced at $99, parents may opt to buy a smartphone for their child instead of a new bicycle. The parents can feel secure in the knowledge that they can reach their children wherever they may be, and with the built-in GPS, should an emergency situation arise, the parent will be able to find the children quickly.

The recently released iPad is not technically a phone, and it lacks a camera, but it might as well be considered a phone. As smartphones are redefining what a phone is, the iPad differs only in scale. By simply adding an ear attachment, it can in fact be used for communication.