The Nokia N97, iPhone, Xperia X1, HTC G1, how should we label these devices? What are they, Phones, Smartphones, Mobile Computers, Palmtops, Netbooks, Pocket Computers? The truth is, no one knows for sure.

I propose that we keep things simple and break these devices down into two classes, Smartphones and Pocket Computers. How do we tell the difference? Here's one possible set of criteria.

All phones, other than the very cheapest of the cheap, are now smart enough to be classed as 'Smart', But not all Smartphones can match your laptop computer for power, ease of operation and flexibility. Therefore, I propose that for a device to be classified as a Pocket Computer, in addition to standard phones functions, the device must include...

Touch-screen display of at least VGA (307,000 pixels) resolution

32GB or more of storage memory (card or fixed)

Graphics co-processor

Video and audio output

A Qwerty keyboard, real or virtual

MP3 and AAC audio playback

MP4 and MP4 (H.264) full screen video playback of at least 24fps

3G and WiFi connections

HMTL Email

Full Web Browser

Device based Application Store (with payment and installation capability)

A minimum of 1000 3rd Party Applications available via the (device based) store

GPS based location services

Compete device backup support and (over the air) Firmware upgrades

Small enough to fit into a standard sized garment pocket

In short, a Smartphone is a phone with a half decent camera and casual internet/email access, whilst a Pocket Computer should be capable of performing many of the tasks that might otherwise be carried out by a regular computer but still be small enough to comfortably fit into a pocket.

Is this a reasonable way of separating the 'men from the boys', so to speak? Personally, I really do believe that the marketplace is pushing for Pocket Computers, you only have to see just how popular netbooks have became in the last 10 months to realise that small, yet versatile, computers have a bright future.

Finally, I have to ask if any of the current high end devices fall into the Pocket Computer category. The answer, as far as I can tell, is that they do not. Be that as it may, it certainly looks as if both Nokia, Apple, HTC and Blackberry have a good shot at creating the world's first true Pocket Computer in the near future.

What do you think? Have I missed anything out of the specification? Is there a device that already meets the criteria? I'm eager to hear from you.