SAN FRANCISCO (Business 2.0 Magazine) - Wireless networks are only as useful as the devices we use on them. That's why the grainy screen of your trusty flip-phone probably won't cut it, and neither will its anemic processor.

Tomorrow's mobile devices will come in a variety of configurations and designs, but most will share some general characteristics: high-resolution touchscreens, powerful processors, vast amounts of storage space, and an intuitive input system.

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A few current devices offer elements of these features, but the total package has yet to reach the market. For product designers the focus will be on versatility, expandability, and convergence.

This trend is already making an impact: Last year Nokia (Research) became the world's biggest camera manufacturer, shipping more than 100 million digital cameras in its phones. It also built 46 million phones that can play digital music--a figure that exceeds the 42 million iPods sold by Apple (Research).

The device of the future will be powerful enough to usurp many of the capabilities of today's stand-alone gadgets, while wireless personal-networking protocols like Bluetooth will make it simple to connect to other handhelds and computers.

But one popular feature of today's phones will remain unchanged: Despite all the added functionality, next-generation tools will still slip easily into your pocket.

For a photo gallery of tomorrow's wireless devices, click here.

Read more about your wireless future:

• Productivity: The everywhere office
• Voice communication gets more flexible
• Beyond the map: Services that fit where you are
• Entertainment: Mobilizing the buddy list