After a year of addiction to his iPhone, JOHN HARRIS is now glancing askance at the plethora ofnew generation handsets promised in 2010.

After a clear run since 2007, Apple’s iPhone will get serious competition this year from computer companies rather than traditional mobile phone manufacturers.

Already search engine giant Google has launched its Nexus One handset while Microsoft has unveiled its new Windows Phone 7 (formerly known as Windows Mobile) software for mobile phones. However, despite a lot of hype, no handsets are expected before Christmas this year.

Launched last month, Google’s Nexus One phone takes its name from the rogue “replicants” (androids) that Harrison Ford had the job of “retiring” in the film Bladerunner. The link is that the phone is based on Google’s Android phone operating system.

Visually the Nexus One looks a lot like the iPhone although it is a bit thinner with a larger screen (3.7 inches compared to 3.5).

Through the Android Market, the Nexus One has access to some 20,000 downloadable applications: While less than the iPhone’s 94,000 apps, that range of choice will still do nicely. N1 programs also link tightly with Google’s online applications for web search, email and Google apps.

Manufactured for Google by HTC in Taiwan, the Nexus One claims a better battery life than the iPhone (seven hours of talk time compared to five hours), although reviews report both handsets run out of juice in less than four hours if used fully.

The standout difference of the Nexus One is its multitasking capability – which allows it to run multiple programs at once, whereas the iPhone runs just one at a time. This is a neat trick given the Nexus One has just four gigabytes of memory compared to 16 GB on the iPhone.

While the Nexus One has sold in the US from last month, there’s no release date yet for Australia.

An inventive colleague– who has managed to get his hands on one via a US credit card and mail redirection – has already abandoned his iPhone for this trend-setting new gadget.

However, from April, you may be able to buy a phone dubbed the “twin brother” of the Nexus One. The Desire handset is made by HTC, which holds rights to build handsets based on the hardware.

If you’re not in a hurry, Microsoft is promising handsets running its Windows Mobile 7 operating system late this year – a timeframe euphemistically called the “holiday season”.

Promised changes include the ability for phones to recognise multi-touch gestures such as flicking, swiping and drawing on the screen, and motions such as shaking the phone (iPhone users, please stifle your yawns).

Microsoft is also redesigning the software’s look with customisable “tiles” for quick program launching, better finger-based navigation and a customised version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser.

Windows Phone 7 handsets will also integrate with Microsoft’s Xbox gaming console, allowing owners to play simple games, and its Zune media player, which was the big M’s attempt to take on the iPod.

If you can’t wait, Apple is likely to drop its fourth generation iPhone into the market in June. Dubbed the iPhone 4G, it has invoked a flurry of new feature rumours including better battery life, multi-tasking capabilities and integrated videoconferencing.

John Harris is managing director of Impress Media Australia. Email jharris@impress.com.au.

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