All four of the current smartphone operating systems support the core promise of the device: quick access to calendar, contacts, e-mail and the Web, as well as the ability to handle third-party apps. That said, each appeals to a slightly different user.The Corporate Exec Windows Mobile for PocketPCs This workhorse of an OS invariably arrives on a large PDA-centric device that´s perfect for editing documents and browsing the Web. With Virtual Private Network software, it´s the most likely to let you fetch your work e-mail.

For years, the phrase â€PDAâ€phone combo†brought to mind clunky bricks that appealed to only the most connectivity-crazed early adopters. But the latest incarnations of these devices, now known by the more marketing-friendly tag â€smartphone,†are finally fit for the rest of us. So why do you want one?Beyond the obvious calling capabilities, smartphones keep your calendar and address book close at hand (and ever more easily synced with your PC), provide access to e-mail and the Web,