In-Stat: Internet tops most needed phone apps

Webster defines "trend" as the general course of prevailing tendency. In the case of cellphone applications, that can be a dynamic and moving target. Although applications remain, as a whole, relatively stable as far as desirability is concerned, the race for the number one position tends to be constant. In 2009, GPS turn-by-turn direction was the most desired cellphone application. In 2010, it was still popular but fell to the number two position as it was usurped by cellphone users' desire to surf the Internet, says In-Stat.

The In-Stat research entitled,锟?"Future Cellphones: Current User Preferences Drive Future Handset Designs" tells that GPS directions and surfing the Internet were cited as something respondents were willing or might be willing to pay for. Also, nearly 60 percent of respondents indicated that their wireless plan would include voice, messaging, and data.

The research identifies and quantifies users' interest in the features and capabilities of their current phones and what they want in their next phone, while tracking the changes in these opinions over time.

"The accelerated adoption of open operating systems has created an innovative environment unique to the cellphone market," says analyst Greg Potter. "With compelling user interfaces and applications creating competitive advantages, the market has shifted its focus from individual features to improving existing capabilities that will provide the best experience."

Aside from this data, the report also cites the preference of the users to use a physical QWERTY keyboard for inputting new contacts. It also notes that almost 90 percent of the respondents consider the cellphone's speakerphone as the most desired feature.

The report, with more than 30 tables or figures, also explores a number of other areas including the current and future cellphone form factors and input preferences, users' interest in specific features and capabilities, emerging technologies that will enable new features and capabilities, market segments that are leading adoption of new features, and evaluation of features such as 3D, camera, GPS, mobile video, pico-projector, touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and VoIP.