Today’s smartphones are very sophisticated and can do most of the things that a PC can do. Web browsing, instant messaging, email, spreadsheets, video editing, photo editing, word processing, and multimedia playback are common functions found on all smartphones. Smartphones allow you to take your ‘PC’ with you and access its functions anywhere.

Palm Pre from Sprint – has a completely new interface called the Palm WebOS. This touch screen interface has synchronization options that allow the user to seamlessly switch between personal e-mail, corporate mail, e-mail on Google and social networking sites such as Facebook. The phone has EV-DO Rev. A for browsing Sprint’s high-speed 3G network as well as support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. It has 8GB of internal storage and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Not only is the screen touch-sensitive, the sides of the phone also respond to touch and gesture. A single home button exists beneath the screen. The screen itself is rich, vibrant and clear. The keyboard has been less well received with many feeling that the space between the keys is too small. The phone has considerable processing power in the form of Texas Instrument’s new OMAP3 chipset. Most buyers rave about the OS, as the hardware is less of a selling point.

Blackberry Curve 8900 from Verizon – the Blackberry Curve is one of the best selling phones This newest model is a sleek modern update of the popular smartphone. The compact and attractive handset is smart and small enough to fit into a pocket. Its screen is bright and large and the QWERTY keypad is easy to use. Like other Blackberrys, it performs well when it comes to email. It has a music player that handles various formats including MP3 and AAC and a video player. Videos look good on its screen, which despite being small, gives a good clear picture. The camera is slightly less impressive. The camera can take both still shots and videos, but the flash is not particularly powerful. Sharing or downloading is possible via Wi-Fi, EDGE or GPRS, but there is no 3G. It has built-in GPS, but the lack of 3G means that the experience is not as smooth as it should be. It has exceptional battery life, lasting for more than 2 days in regular use. However, call quality has been described by many users as barely satisfactory.

Shadow 2009 from T-Mobile – is an upgrade of the original Shadow. It provides the rich features of Windows Mobile 6.1, but is less complex than other multimedia devices. It supports Wi-Fi, GSM and UMA to use T-Mobile’s Unlimited HotSpot Calling service. It has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and spinnable d-pad. It has a 2 megapixel camera and a 2.6 inch display which is bright and clear. The right edge of the phone has a camera button for activating the camera application, and a dedicated messaging key that goes straight to email and SMS. The contents management system on the Shadow is exceptional, allowing users to store any information about their contacts. Data can be stored and synchronized with Microsoft Outlook. Battery life is good with long operating times both in active use and in standby. It has the mobile version of Windows Media Player and has good support for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as messenger services. Support for games and the internet browser are not very good.

Nokia E71x from AT&T – AT&T is one of the most popular carriers in the USA. Their 2009 lineup of smartphones includes the Nokia E71x, a powerful device with an attractive shell. Although its interface could do with some improvements, it is outstanding at e-mail, call handling and web browsing. There have been some visual improvements, but it still lags behind other smartphones with repetitive menus and confusing shortcuts. Messaging is very good, with an impressive array of options. Scheduling and productivity are also good with plenty of options, if a little unpolished. The Nokia mini-map web browser is very good and may be the best web browser on any mobile device. Pages load quickly and look sharp and accurate on the screen. Scrolling is also very fast. The media player is good with many advanced playback options. However, organization is poor and it isn’t exactly pretty, whilst the camera is decidedly mediocre.