| Let's face it - many of us can't leave home | | | | So what's left for those who simply want to |
| without our trusty PDAs or personal digital | | | | utilize the basic features of a PDA? There will still |
| assistants. They have been so incorporated into | | | | be devices for no-frills consumers that only need |
| our everyday lives, so much so that we feel | | | | the calendar, the contact list, or other essential |
| incomplete without them. This is because we | | | | features of the non-connected personal digital |
| heavily rely on the many features packed into | | | | assistant, but options will grow slimmer. |
| these gadgets that can aid in our business and | | | | Not only are smartphones appealing to |
| personal dealings. And with the latest and more | | | | consumers, but also to the telecom companies. |
| advanced technology, the devices of today can | | | | This is because it provides them with more |
| offer even more features than what they were | | | | revenue-generating opportunities such as charging |
| originally designed to do. | | | | you for the phone plan, the bandwidth for video |
| So what new trends and developments can you | | | | and audio downloads, and even on ads via mobile |
| expect with PDAs over the next year? Although | | | | marketing. |
| there's no certainty as to how they will turn out | | | | Nevertheless, manufacturers will still produce |
| over the next year, the future looks bright for | | | | PDAs equipped with only the essential and basic |
| smartphones. This trend will seemingly continue | | | | features. Firstly, not everyone will have a need |
| onwards to the next year. A lot of people are | | | | for connectivity, and another reason is that not |
| beginning to realize the value and importance of | | | | everyone can afford a media-based smartphone. |
| connecting to the Internet via their mobile devices | | | | In fact, handheld devices are gearing towards |
| to check email or surf the net. Manufacturers will | | | | specialized functions as opposed to the |
| also gear towards electronic devices that can play | | | | "jack-of-all-trades" type. Some models are |
| video clips to cater to the needs of the YouTube | | | | designed to be wholly dedicated to office and |
| generation. | | | | business functions, while others focus on |
| Perhaps the best example of a media-based | | | | connectivity or on media. This is good news for all |
| mobile device is the iPhone. A growing market of | | | | of us, regardless of our needs and preferences, |
| consumers is concerned with being able to listen | | | | because this means that there's a model for |
| to music or watch videos and thumb through | | | | everyone's varying needs. |
| photographs via their handheld devices. The | | | | Overall, the future for PDAs looks bright and it |
| popularity of social networking also makes | | | | does not seem as if they will soon be replaced in |
| consumers prefer smartphones that allow them | | | | our lives. Whether the future models will integrate |
| to instantly update their profiles in these social | | | | connectivity, entertainment and media, or retain |
| networking sites. And if the demand today is any | | | | its basic features, these devices will still be a |
| indication of trends for the future, third party | | | | trusty gadget that will aid us in our everyday lives. |
| applications will also become popular. | | | | |