What to Expect in 2008: Works in Progress

As I mentioned in part one of What to Expect in 2008, there have been quite a few developments in technology and design when it comes to mobile phones. I had written about some handsets that I'm looking forward to testing in 2008 – they’ve already been developed and it shouldn’t be too long before I get the opportunity. Many readers pointed out that I missed a few deserving names, so I’m hoping to cover them in this installment. What I intend to cover here are, simply put, works in progress.

Google Phone

At the top of my list is the Google Phone. And why not? It’s the most anticipated device after the iPhone. Of course, as most of you know, there really isn’t just one phone that’s going to be developed by Google. What's in the pipeline is actually a Linux-based mobile phone OS called Android, which is projected to be one of the most open-ended platforms yet. It looks as if Windows and Symbian are going to get a run for their money. Hopefully, by February we’ll have some idea of what Google has in mind.

Sony PSP Phone

Image source: Unwired View and www.dialaphone.co.uk

I think the PSP is one of the greatest handheld gaming consoles EVER! And like most of you mobile maniacs and gamers, I’ve always dreamed of being able to make a normal telephone call from my PSP. It looks as if Sony has decided to make the dream a reality. A patent has been filed and it looks good. The specs are vague, though. A combination of a Sony Ericsson mobile with a PSP gaming console is what we can expect, perhaps. It's supposed to have a 180-degree rotating screen, which might make it a good candidate for mobile TV. Yes, I’m really looking forward to this!

Nokia Triple slider

Image source: Intomobile

Slider phones are all the rage. The idea of having a hidden keypad does give the device a certain compact appeal, in addition to a 007-ish feel. Nokia, as expected, wants to take that concept to a whole new level, by offering users multiple options for typing. As weird as it may seem to have three separate keypads on a single device, I guess it does have a certain merit as each keypad could be used for a different purpose. Take the N95: it could have a multimedia keypad, a normal keypad for quick typing and dialing, and a full QWERTY keypad for those instances where you want to make the best of the seemingly large display. It would be great to see a working model.