Smartphones are the phasers that bridge real and virtual worlds and as prices have fallen and more countries have created wealth they have become enormously popular. As the mobile device most of use to access the internet they are arguably the most significant devices in use today. But smartphones cost more than ‘dumbphones’ – basic handsets – or feature phones and so they are still advancing in market share. However, falling prices, more wireless broadband access and deliberate attempts to crack more markets on the part of vendors mean that smartphones are coming to more of us all over the world.