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3. Remote Controls
 Remote controls, at least in my home, used to dominate my coffee table until I invested in a Logitech Harmony remote to consolidated them all. Mobile handsets have featured infra-red ports for a number of years now but have been gradually phased out in favour of WIFI and Bluetooth connectivity.
As television sets and associated hardware evolve to incorporate IP functionality and wireless technologies, we can expect a number of apps being made available to mimic devices such as the Logitech Harmony.
It’s difficult to imagine the infra-red remote being completely replaced but would definitely benefit people who will appreciate being able to change the channel/song/DVD chapter from another room.
4. Payment Terminals
 Smartphones are “always on”, by default they are accessing information from networks at all times. Handsets already connect to the same networks as mobile payment terminals so to think they will be able to mimic the same functionality isn’t too hard to imagine.
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has already ventured into mobile-payments via his new startup called Square. Square is a service that allows a person to attach a small device to an Apple iPhone to process credit card payments, geotag the payment locations on a map, and e-mail a receipt to the buyer.
Smartphones could soon begin to incorporate compact card readers allowing it’s owner to take payments from friends and customers (it is already available in Japan). It might not be a sustainable alternative for larger businesses but the small readers could help friends settle bets, tabs and loans in a matter of seconds.
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