Smartphones, they aren’t just for work anymore.  Now it seems everybody’s got them now from Middle Schoolers to Grandparents.  Smartphones allow you to do most of the things you to your computer without needing the computer or access to wifi.  Right now the Smartphone world is dominated by Apple’s i-Phone and Research in Motion’s BlackBerry.  With so many people now having “virtual offices” the need for a Smartphone is greater than ever.  Websites now need to be compatible with mobile browsers to avoid frustrating users.  Many major brands offer mobile versions of their website which are more stripped down and able to load faster and be viewed easier on mobile browsers.

Smartphones allow the downloading of many different types of applications for use on the phone.  One of the main application categories for Smartphones are social networking applications to keep up with social networking on the go.  Social networking giant Facebook has applications available for iPhones, Palms, Sonys, BlackBerrys, Nokias, Androids, Windows Mobile, and Sidekicks.  The mobile application of Facebook allows status updates, wall posts, photo uploading, message sending, and notifications of activity.  MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube also have applications for many smart phones.  Applications are also available for everything from Microsoft Office tools, to games, radio stations, to weather updates.

Microsoft has previously been a player in the Smartphone world, but has made a major push into the current market with the release of, Windows Phone 7 Series, a completely rebranded Windows Mobile.   The new mobile Operating Software is being introduced at Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona, Spain.

The changes are invisible from the start with familiar start screen gone and it’s a place tiles that scroll and be customized by the user.  The new OS is very focused on social networking and the ability to combine multiple social networks.  In the contacts pages updates can be shown from multiple networks for the same contact. The software will also connect with Xbox Live, featuring live game and avatars.  Keep at look out for Windows Phone 7 Series devices hitting stores later this year.