This can be both a bane and a boon for smartphone users, depending on personal preferences and digital media habits. Folks who don't really need any more than 16GB of memory could appreciate the fact that they never need to purchase memory cards or remove any iPhone components to swap or expand memory. However, users with large digital media collections might want to use multiple memory cards so they can access more of their digital content.

6) App Store

With the second-gen iPhone 3G came the iTunes App Store, the sole distribution channel for iPhone software. The App Store makes it simple for iPhone users to locate, download and update third-party software--from a desktop computer or via iPhone--and Apple vets each and every app, so users can trust that they're safe in downloading new programs.

From a software developer's perspective, the App Store may not be an ideal mobile application marketplace, but for users, it's simple, reliable and familiar, since it's a part of iTunes and works accordingly.

BlackBerry Storm owners are expected to get an , tentatively called the BlackBerry Application Storefront, as well as an on-device Application Center, though details on how both will function and to what degree they'll be available in 2009 are sparse.