Q: “When is a telephone not a telephone? When it's a smartphone!” I read that the other day. I hate it when people get clever like that. The trouble is, I usually bite, and read on to find out the answer. But I still hate it.

A: So do I. But it is a clever statement, isn't it?

Q: Yeah. So tell me, what's a smartphone?

A: A smartphone is a cell phone with a lot of additional features. And, most importantly, the line between smartphones and regular cell phones has been blurred. More cell phones will have smartphone features, and more smartphones will look like regular cell phones. These phones typically include photo and video cameras, plus the capability to be used in Wi-Fi hotspots for web browsing. Naturally, e-mail will be a part of the package, as will the ability to handle instant messaging.

Q: Wow. That makes the thing sound as much like a computer as it does like a telephone.

A: Well put. That's exactly what is happening.

Q: And it's not just a fad? People really want all that stuff?

A: They do indeed. All of the major manufacturers are pushing this end of the business. They are finding that consumers want to stay connected to others when they're on the go. And that doesn't mean away from your home base or home city; it might mean simply away from your office or home computer.

Q: C'mon! Isn't that pushing it a bit?

A: Depends on who you are. As an example, look at what has happened to cell phone use. You know that a lot of drivers connect their seat belt first, and turn on their cell phone second. That, also, seems to be pushing it a bit.

Q: I guess. So, who specifically is producing these things?

A: The company Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry®, now has an e-mail-ready phone called The Pearl. Palm Inc., maker of the Treo, now sells a Palm Treo handset that comes in four colors. Motorola has a smartphone called Q. And Nokia is making a series of smartphones that look like regular cell phones. And, of course, most recently Apple has released the iPhone, a device that has caused excitement around the world. An iPhone is not cheap, but it has become a must-have device.

Q: That iPhone you mentioned: exactly what does it do?

A: Here's a partial list: Voice calling. A full-blown iPod. Good interface for music and video playback. Excellent Web browser. Good email software. High-resolution screen. Lots of internal memory. Very thin. Good battery life.

Q: Enough. Enough. What won't it do?

A: It won't run on any network other than the AT&T network.

Q: Not Verizon? Not Sprint?

A: Nope!

Q: Are you sure these companies know what they are doing?

A: You sound doubtful. No, they're not sure. But they're convinced. One research firm thinks that the sale of smartphones, worldwide, will increase by 66%. And that by 2007 they will account for 12% of total wireless-device shipments. That number is too big to ignore.

Q: That makes me a little nervous. You said there is a blurring between a cell phone and a smartphone. It sounds like there is also a blurring between the telephone industry and the computer industry.

A: Yes.

Q: Shouldn't that make me a little nervous?

A: I suppose so. But every cloud has a silver lining. And life will continue to be interesting. Very interesting.