Don't wait for the next big thing: jump on the smartphone bandwagon now

This article over at SFGate.com makes interesting reading. It talks about how the smartphone market is subject to "furious innovation", making a headache for consumers to know when to take the plunge.

While it may be tempting to hold off for that 'next big thing' smartphone you're sure is just around the corner, it's better to jump now with a tried and tested model.

While it seems a day doesn't go by without some new technical wizardry being announced for the next 'I' this or Android that. Just when you think you've found the handset for you, there will be a news story that its replacement will be coming out in the next couple of months. So what to do?

The truth is most advances are relatively small and will only be noticed by serious tech heads. You are much better advised to decide on which features you want in a smartphone (business, camera, games etc), read up on what phones are currently available and, more importantly, how they have been received. When you find an affordable model with consistently strong reviews, take the plunge – there's no point putting it off!

It's easy to fall for the latest smartphone hype, but remember you'll only have each phone for a year or so; why hold out for an extra megapixel or slightly better screen, when the phone may end up being a dud anyway?

You'll find the majority of smartphones now have a reasonable camera, good memory capacity (either internal or via microSD card), email/online capabilities and a host of messaging options. Right now handsets such as the HTC Desire, BlackBerry Bold 9700 and Sony Ericsson's X10 Mini mean there is a great handset out there no what your tastes.

We saw people putting off buying an iPhone waiting for the iPhone 4, which has been plagued with problems. Those thinking of hanging back for the Desire HD instead of picking up a Desire now, should ask if the extra wait, and cost, will be worth it – will the extra it offers make that much of a difference?

Smartphones are so much more than minutes and texts now. We think nothing of checking email, watching films, taking photos and uploading them to the likes of Facebook, even using our handsets as Sat Navs. So don't wait for the next big thing – grab a great smartphone deal now and see what you've been missing.