The growth and popularity of smartphones could mean that people are finding a personal digital assistant (PDA) redundant, according to an industry expert.
Shane Wright, IT director of eDigitalResearch, said that it is a sign that the world is moving toward more pervasive computing where access to a network and to electronic information is always with us.
He added: “I think smartphones have developed and succeeded where users ‘need’ to carry a mobile phone, but do not ‘need’ to carry more gadgets around and their charging paraphernalia.”
Mr Wright also commented that PC manufacturers could bring desktop expectations to the mobile market, helping to drive interactivity, network integration and packages that help bridge the gap between the two platforms.
His words came after data from research firm Gartner showed that smartphone sales will grow by 29 per cent year-on-year in 2009, with PC vendors looking to break into the sector in the coming years.