| According to the National Retail Federation, college | | | | Students are demanding smarter phones with more |
| students spend $8.2 billion on electronics to get them | | | | features-they want it all (e-mail, instant messaging, |
| through the semester. Now these products have | | | | Web access, Microsoft Office applications, streaming |
| grown in sophistication, just like the students toting | | | | video and audio and more). These cell phones on |
| them. | | | | steroids, called "smartphones," are the newest trend. |
| With increasing class workloads and demanding social | | | | According to In-Stat, the smartphone market grew |
| schedules, it makes sense that students have turned | | | | over 70 percent last year and will continue to grow |
| to mobile computing to help keep track of their hectic | | | | significantly during the next five years. Palm, Inc. alone, |
| lives. Replacing piles of paper, reference books and | | | | makers of the very popular Treo line of smartphones, |
| Post-it notes with handhelds-such as the Palm TX with | | | | has sold millions. |
| built-in Wi-Fi-keeps students organized and in sync | | | | Thanks to high-speed networks, data speeds (used |
| when they are away from their dorm room. | | | | for getting e-mail, surfing the Net or for streaming |
| Handhelds make things such as taking notes, e-mailing | | | | video) on these smartphones are now as fast as the |
| the professor questions and carrying around electronic | | | | traditional DSL connections commonly used in homes |
| research-rather than heavy reference books-a | | | | and businesses. Today, using the newest smartphones, |
| breeze. Combine the TX handheld with a wireless | | | | students can perform a Google search while soaking |
| keyboard and students have a cheaper and more | | | | up sun in the quad, listen to live radio broadcasts in the |
| portable alternative to a laptop. In-box software also | | | | library or watch their favorite television programs from |
| makes it easy to write essays using Microsoft Word, | | | | video streaming off the Internet. |
| finish homework with Excel spreadsheets or even | | | | Thanks to these latest gadgets, tech-savvy students |
| practice a presentation using PowerPoint. | | | | will be able to keep track of everything from sports |
| In addition to handhelds, the National Retail Federation | | | | practice to dates on Friday night, all in something that |
| found that 85 percent of college students own a cell | | | | will easily fit in their pocket. |
| phone and 60 percent of them access the Internet | | | | Today's savvy students appreciate high-tech |
| through it. | | | | handhelds. |