The vast number of apps available on smartphones offers users "endless content", one technology expert has claimed.

Girlgeekchic.com founder Nikki Moore notes that with "so many apps out there nowadays", smartphone customers can use their device to do everything from finding local restaurants to keeping their kids entertained during long journeys.

"So if you like music, you want to have the news or you want to have games – there's thousands of apps available for those sorts of things," she claims, adding that thanks to apps, smartphones can perform a greater number of functions than standard mobiles.

Ms Moore goes on to note that "enhanced connectivity" is to drive the next generation of smartphones, suggesting that cloud computing programmes like the Apple iCloud, which is due to be launched in September, will allow people to use their smartphones to control a wide range of devices.

Earlier this month, she claimed that smartphones may be set to follow in the footsteps of televisions and computer games and increasingly deploy 3D technology.

US smartphone owners use their devices to perform a wide range of functions, a new report shows.

Figures released by Pew Research Center reveals 84 per cent of such consumers access the internet via their handset, compared to the 15 per cent of people with other kinds of mobile phone who do this.

Just over three-quarters (76 per cent) of people with smartphones – which may include the Apple iPhone and BlackBerry Bold – send and receive emails through their mobiles, compared to ten per cent of non-smartphone owning Americans.

Smartphone users were also indicated as being significantly more likely to use their mobile to play music and games than feature phone owners, with 37 per cent of the former carrying out online banking on their device.

Earlier this month, girlgeekchic.com founder Nikki Moore suggested that the fact smartphones allow people to carry out a number of functions – including access the internet and check emails – on a single device makes them "very desirable".

A new US study has offered an insight into the difference between iPhone users and those with smartphones that run on the Android operating system.

Research carried out by Hunch suggests that Android customers are ten per cent more likely to be men and tend to be between the ages of 18 and 34.

In comparison, iPhone/iOS users are 29 per cent more likely to be female, with just under one-fifth (17 per cent) more inclined to be politically liberal.

The study also indicates that these consumers travel abroad more often, probably live in cities and have a great tendency to be early adopters of new technology.

Android users, meanwhile, are more likely to have a conservative political approach.

Findings from the organisation follow an Ofcom study that showed 81 per cent of UK smartphone customers make calls on their handset every day, compared to 53 per cent of owners of a regular handset who do so. 

The popularity of smartphones has surged in recent months due to their ability to perform a wide range of functions.

Such is the view of girlgeekchic.com founder and TV presenter Nikki Moore, who states that as people are constantly keen to access their social media accounts, browse the internet and check their emails, the fact smartphones allows them to do all these things on a single device means they are "very desirable".

"Now they can just do anything at any time of the day, wherever they are and I think people like that, they like the application of that," she claims, adding that Brits "always have their phone with them".

Ms Moore goes on to state that while "there's loads of stuff" to expect from the development of smartphones in the coming months, it is likely to be the prevalence of 3D technology that will have the biggest impact on the future of new devices.

A study published by Juniper Research last month showed that annual smartphone shipment will surpass the one billion milestone in 2016, with such handsets predicted to increasingly deploy biometrics and 3D technology.

One electronic gadget commentator has indicated that the latest version of the Apple iPhone "is going to be something pretty special".

Although specific details of the forthcoming smartphone – which is to be entitled the iPhone 5 – are yet to be released, Stuff magazine editor Will Findlater states judging on the firm's previous releases, the new model is bound to be at the cutting edge of technology.

"There's no doubt in my mind that, at least at its time of release, it will be technically the most advanced smartphone on the market," he claims.

Mr Findlater goes on to indicate that while there has been a lot of speculation about what the iPhone 5 will look like and what features it will contain, there seems to be a widely-held opinion that it will have a bigger screen than its preceding models.

Earlier this month, TechRadar suggested that it is "fairly likely, given that the iPad 2 supports Full HD, that the new iPhone will do the same".

Smartphones are accounting for a growing proportion of the mobile handset market, new research has shown.

A study carried out by Gartner reveals that worldwide sales of such devices rose 74 per cent during the second quarter of 2011, accounting for 25 per cent of overall sales, as opposed to the 17 per cent share held in the equivalent period in 2010.

Roberta Cozza, principal research analyst at Gartner, notes that that the continued popularity of smartphones is coming "at the expense of feature phones".

"Consumers in mature markets are choosing entry-level and midrange Android smartphones over feature phones, partly due to carriers' and manufacturers' promotions," she notes.

A total of 428.7 million mobile phones were sold between April and June, up 16.5 per cent from the same period last year, with Nokia revealed to be the most popular smartphone manufacturer in terms of volume.

Previous research from the company reported that global smartphone sales for 2011 will stand at 468 million units, a 57.7 per cent increase from 2010.

Smartphones can play a significant role in how people manage their romantic relationships.

This is according to sex and relationships expert Tracey Cox, who suggests the fact such devices allow consumers to communicate with one another through pictures, videos, texts and calls – in addition to accessing internet dating and social media sites, like Facebook – means "they are in touch with lots of people at once".

As a result, she indicates that this can increase "the chance of finding someone, if they're in the market for relationships".

However, Ms Cox adds that smartphones can also be used by those in long-term relationships, indicating they are "fun" and an effective device to use when flirting with one another.

Such comments follow a recent study conducted to promote the LG Optimus 3D, which revealed that more than 50 per cent of respondents have admitted to using their smartphones while in bed with their partners.