How many people use their phone on the tube or down the pub, after work? The problem is that now we use our phones as mini-smartphones, storing our contacts, 'to do' list and other plans, when we lose our phone, we forget that we've also lost the information we've been building over a period of time. There are no excuses though. If you have an iPhone, when you connect to your computer you're also able to backup and synchronise your data back with your PC. If you lose or replace the phone, you simply synchronise the data back to the phone.

Nokia PC Suite 7.1.26 is free software from Nokia for their phones. Gone are the days you have to connect your phone with the right cable, either. You can simply set it up as a bluetooth device and then backup your contacts and other data, without directly connecting to your PC. Of course, if you already have your business contacts on your computer, you can synchronise between PC and phone and vice-versa.

Nokia PC Suite link.

If you're a business owner where you are responsible for a number of international calls, you'll want to reduce costs. One way is to install Skype and use this to make your international calls. You'll certainly save a packet of cash. Whilst other phone manufacturers have allowed Skype access on their mobiles, Apple were reluctant. All this has changed with the official Skype app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Skype for iPhone will enable you to make calls through a WiFi network. It's rumoured that the app will enable you to make Skype-based calls over your 3G network, using the forthcoming iPhone software revision 3.0. No doubt this will annoy the mobile providers, but as Skype is primarily used for long-distance calls, it shouldn't affect their revenue streams too greatly.

Of course, you can also use the Skype app to handle your messaging. We use Skype for keeping in contact with key software developers, for example. As this will work on the iPod Touch, you could connect a microphone with the revision 2 and use this as a phone.

Skype for iPhone link.

The problem with the Skype is that this network is closed to third-party technology, so the network-spanning chat clients such as Adium, Trillian or Miranda will not enable you to speak to users who are connected via Skype. As Skype is used as the business chat client of choice, it means that you need Skype and another messenger running, to keep in contact with all of your friends and business clients.

Fring is different and is one of the first chat clients that will enable you to see which Skype users are online and chat with them via your mobile phone. You can also chat with users from other networks such as AIM, MSN, Facebook and more. You can also use fring to make cheap international calls if your phone allows this facility. iPod Touch users can use fring as their social networking mobile device, whilst they are on the move.

Fring for iPhone link.

I've never quite understood who would want to a read a book from a small device such as their iPhone. Book enthusiasts must despair that people will buy a book and then look at a screen to read the novel. The beauty of reading a book is that we can get away from looking at screens all day. That's why we'll bring books on holiday, but leave our computer behind. Still, there are loads of people who like the idea of just carrying device and using this single device to fulfil their requirements.

Amazon Kindle for iPhone is a free application that will enable us to use the Kindle service on your phone or iPod Touch. Simple install the app, hook up to the Amazon Kindle store, select from the books on offer and then access and read them on your portable device.

[courtesy of AppShopper.com]

Take your Blackberry on the road and you'll be able to receive and send new email, add contacts to the device, arrange your calendar and much more. However, you'll also want a copy of this information back on your computer, so you can track email responses and make sure the calendar is synchronised between computer and device. Although the Blackberry ships with computer synchronisation software, there are better alternatives, particularly if you're a Mac user.

The Missing Sync for Blackberry 2.0 is a commercial tool for the Mac that enables you to make sure the information from your computer is synchronised with your Blackberry and vice-versa. This means you can keep your calendar up-to-date across both devices, your email, text messages and much more. The latest Missing Sync v2 now enables you to synchronise wire-free with your Mac, via Bluetooth.

The Missing Sync for Blackberry link.