Smartphones in 2009 - the ones to watch

Smartphones have always been big business, but this year, they're set to get even bigger, and a handful of mobile phones in 2009 look set to make them all the more important: the Nokia N97, the Toshiba TG01, and the incredible Palm Pre.

Nokia N97 - Symbian for the next generation

Symbian's always been one of the most popular smartphone OS-es in the mobile world, and the latest, touch-based version carries on that fine tradition, in the form of the Nokia N97. However, it's not just about touchscreens, since the Nokia N97 has also got a full QWERTY keyboard, that will make messaging, live chat and emails a breeze. In terms of what else it can do, the Nokia N97 will also wow you thanks to its 5 MP camera, superb media player (including video playback that's got to to be experienced to be believed), a massive 32Gb of memory, and HSDPA web access. Essentially, the Nokia N97 is amongst the best phones in existence.

Toshiba TG01 - Windows Mobile goes powerhouse

While Symbian has gone down the touch-based route, rivals Windows Mobile haven't been resting on their laurels, and the new fruit of their labours is the hyper-powerful Toshiba TG01. It doesn't just have the biggest screen ever seen on a mobile phone, coming in at 4.1 inches, but the Toshiba TG01 also has the most powerful processor ever used in a mobile phone. Called Snapdragon, the 1GHz, dual-core processor provides the Toshiba TG01 with sheer power, and because that's what Windows Mobile needs to live up to its full potential, the Toshiba TG01 is arguably the best WinMo phone to grace us with its presence.

Palm Pre - the new hotness

However, there's a new kind on the block, which wants to take the smartphone crown all for itself. The Nokia N97 and the Toshiba TG01 both both have raw power, but what the new Palm Pre goes for is sheer elegance. Using the all-new, never-before-seen 'WebOS' powering it, the Palm Pre takes touch-friendly user interfaces and clever design to a whole different level. Take, for example, the new Fandango software which should be available as soon as the Palm Pre is launched. It's an online cinema booking app, which will let you purchase tickets and watch trailers on the phone. But even the Nokia N97 will most likely be able to do that. The Palm Pre, however, can also automatically add a reminder in your calendar, and get in touch people who'll be out on the town with you, to organise getting there. It's that kind of integration, and interplay between software that makes the Palm Pre the most likely candidate for 'best phone ever'