Ok, I admit I could use GPS tracking and location technology pretty much on a daily basis.

I do forget where I've parked my car after three hours in the mall with my 15-year-old daughter. Heck, I probably couldn't even tell you what kind of car I own after one those mother-daughter experiences so yes, having GPS on my phone would be handy.

The thing is I'd have to remember to take the phone out of the car dock before heading into the mall.

That's how Garmin's first, and surely not last, smartphone works. As Cliff Pemble, Garmin's president and COO describes it, the Nuvifone is "an all-in-one device offering unmatched integration of utility and function in a single mobile device." 

Whew, say that three times fast.

But really folks, where does a smartphone start and end?

As one very smart analyst shared with me this week you can't be good at everything--(he meant a smartphone not 'me' per se ;)  )

There is just so little room to fit components, and so little battery power to suck on,  so jamming everything into one device typically means mediocrity all around, he said.

My friend the analyst has got an incredibly valid point. Given the competitive landscape and more phones hitting market every day I think it's going to be those who astound at one or two features that grab marketshare. Don't you?

I mean face it, if there was one phone and one carrier who could provide crystal clear transmission of just voice and connectivity on a 99.99.99% SLA basis at any given moment in a 50-mile radius of our homes or work we'd all dump our phones and buy that one, wouldn't we? Even if it wasn't pretty or sparkly or quirky.

Ok, yes maybe we'd want a little push email and a browser. And, well a camera can come in handy (having a photo of my car would be useful at times while I'm roaming the parking lot looking for it).