Want your mobile phone to plan dinner parties, read barcodes and identify birds for you? The only way is apps...
Until recently, feature-packed smartphones were the preserve of geeks and gadget-hungry 'early adopters'. But thanks to the arrival of the iPhone and its rivals, all that is starting to change.
In fact, while manufacturers are struggling to make a profit from standard - or 'dumb' - mobile phones, the smartphone market is expected to grow by an impressive 22 per cent in Europe this year.
Yet most smartphones have similar features these days: touchscreens, music playback, internet and camera - so why has interest in high-end handsets suddenly soared?
The answer is simple: smartphones have become easy to use, and easy to personalise with cheap applications, or 'apps', that can be downloaded over the mobile phone network.
There's no longer any need to hook your handset up to a computer - all the major smartphones now come with their own 'app store', a virtual shop that allows you to painlessly extend your phone's functions into an area of personal interest, from birdwatching to astronomy, globe-trotting to shopping.
We've rounded up a selection of the best apps, below, but there are thousands more begging for your attention.
Apple pioneered the 'app store' concept, so it's no surprise that the iPhone has a far larger and more varied app catalogue than its rivals.
But with other manufacturers catching on, there's never been a better time to put the power of a smartphone to work for you.
12 BRILLIANT APPLICATIONS FOR YOUR MOBILE
BEST FOR MUSIC LOVERS
Spotify, ?10 a month, iPhone and Android
Forget about laboriously copying CDs or vinyl. With Spotify, you can listen to what you want, when you want from its six million-song library.
BEST FOR ADVENTURERS
Wikitude world browser, Free, Android
Hold your smartphone up to a building and this stunning 'augmented reality' app will display information about whatever you're looking at.
BEST FOR BARGAIN HUNTERS
RedLaser, ?1.19, iPhone
Avoid buyer,s remorse with this nifty app that uses the iPhone,s camera as a barcode scanner. Scan in a product, and the application will scour the internet for the best price elsewhere.
BEST FOR TRAINSPOTTERS
National Rail Enquiries, ?4.95, iPhone
This brilliant app works out your location and gives up-to-date information for your local stations and favourite routes. Journey planning is also a breeze.
BEST FOR RADIO ADDICTS
Wunder Radio, ?3.99, iPhone
There's no shortage of internet radio apps, but this is the best, streaming thousands of stations via wi-fi or the mobile network. More than makes up for the lack of an FM radio on the iPhone.
BEST FOR FOODIES
Dishy. ?1.79, iPhone
A foolproof guide to rustling up a feast. Build a menu that takes into account diets and allergies, create an ingredients list to take to the shops, then follow the cooking instructions.
BEST FOR KIDS
Ben10 MouthOff, ?1.19, iPhone
Simply hold the phone in front of your face, start talking, and watch your words being spoken by a variety of alien mouths from the wildly popular cartoon Ben10. Hilarious fun.
BEST FOR FITNESS FREAKS
Map My Tracks, Free, Symbian and Blackberry
Whether you're hiking or running, this app records speed, distance and location data and shows them on a map. Others can follow your progress online.
BEST FOR HOLIDAYMAKERS
Translator, Free, Palm Pre
Lets you quickly access Google's clever translation service, which translates between more than 30 languages. You'll need an internet connection, which could cost you dearly abroad.
BEST FOR BLIND DATERS
Fake Call, 69p, Windows Phone
Escape intolerable dates with this app that'll interrupt you at a set time (or at the touch of a panic button) with a ringtone, caller display and even a recording of a voice when you answer.
BEST FOR BIRDWATCHERS
Chirp! Europe, ?1.79, iPhone
This field guide to birds of Britain and Europe features photographs of the 68 most common birds, plus samples of birdsong to help you recognise your garden?s feathered visitors.
BEST FOR STARGAZERS
Google Sky Map, Free, Android
Now you can navigate the night sky just by holding your phone up to it. Thanks to GPS and a compass, the phone knows exactly where you?re looking and will help you name the celestial bodies.
Until recently, feature-packed smartphones were the preserve of geeks and gadget-hungry 'early adopters'. But thanks to the arrival of the iPhone and its rivals, all that is starting to change.
In fact, while manufacturers are struggling to make a profit from standard - or 'dumb' - mobile phones, the smartphone market is expected to grow by an impressive 22 per cent in Europe this year.
Yet most smartphones have similar features these days: touchscreens, music playback, internet and camera - so why has interest in high-end handsets suddenly soared?
The answer is simple: smartphones have become easy to use, and easy to personalise with cheap applications, or 'apps', that can be downloaded over the mobile phone network.
There's no longer any need to hook your handset up to a computer - all the major smartphones now come with their own 'app store', a virtual shop that allows you to painlessly extend your phone's functions into an area of personal interest, from birdwatching to astronomy, globe-trotting to shopping.
We've rounded up a selection of the best apps, below, but there are thousands more begging for your attention.
Apple pioneered the 'app store' concept, so it's no surprise that the iPhone has a far larger and more varied app catalogue than its rivals.
But with other manufacturers catching on, there's never been a better time to put the power of a smartphone to work for you.
12 BRILLIANT APPLICATIONS FOR YOUR MOBILE
BEST FOR MUSIC LOVERS
Spotify, ?10 a month, iPhone and Android
Forget about laboriously copying CDs or vinyl. With Spotify, you can listen to what you want, when you want from its six million-song library.
BEST FOR ADVENTURERS
Wikitude world browser, Free, Android
Hold your smartphone up to a building and this stunning 'augmented reality' app will display information about whatever you're looking at.
BEST FOR BARGAIN HUNTERS
RedLaser, ?1.19, iPhone
Avoid buyer,s remorse with this nifty app that uses the iPhone,s camera as a barcode scanner. Scan in a product, and the application will scour the internet for the best price elsewhere.
BEST FOR TRAINSPOTTERS
National Rail Enquiries, ?4.95, iPhone
This brilliant app works out your location and gives up-to-date information for your local stations and favourite routes. Journey planning is also a breeze.
BEST FOR RADIO ADDICTS
Wunder Radio, ?3.99, iPhone
There's no shortage of internet radio apps, but this is the best, streaming thousands of stations via wi-fi or the mobile network. More than makes up for the lack of an FM radio on the iPhone.
BEST FOR FOODIES
Dishy. ?1.79, iPhone
A foolproof guide to rustling up a feast. Build a menu that takes into account diets and allergies, create an ingredients list to take to the shops, then follow the cooking instructions.
BEST FOR KIDS
Ben10 MouthOff, ?1.19, iPhone
Simply hold the phone in front of your face, start talking, and watch your words being spoken by a variety of alien mouths from the wildly popular cartoon Ben10. Hilarious fun.
BEST FOR FITNESS FREAKS
Map My Tracks, Free, Symbian and Blackberry
Whether you're hiking or running, this app records speed, distance and location data and shows them on a map. Others can follow your progress online.
BEST FOR HOLIDAYMAKERS
Translator, Free, Palm Pre
Lets you quickly access Google's clever translation service, which translates between more than 30 languages. You'll need an internet connection, which could cost you dearly abroad.
BEST FOR BLIND DATERS
Fake Call, 69p, Windows Phone
Escape intolerable dates with this app that'll interrupt you at a set time (or at the touch of a panic button) with a ringtone, caller display and even a recording of a voice when you answer.
BEST FOR BIRDWATCHERS
Chirp! Europe, ?1.79, iPhone
This field guide to birds of Britain and Europe features photographs of the 68 most common birds, plus samples of birdsong to help you recognise your garden?s feathered visitors.
BEST FOR STARGAZERS
Google Sky Map, Free, Android
Now you can navigate the night sky just by holding your phone up to it. Thanks to GPS and a compass, the phone knows exactly where you?re looking and will help you name the celestial bodies.
