Travel has become the norm across the world and it has become increasingly important to be able to keep on track with work when one is on the road.

The many technological innovations that have come about have made traveling a lot easier for the busy jetsetter. In particular, smartphones have revolutionized the way consumers work.

A smartphone is not just a phone, but in all senses, a small computer that fits in one's pocket allowing consumers to carry out a number of tasks that were until very recently reserved for the PC. For example, with a smartphone that is powered by Windows Mobile, you can reply e-mails, check your calendar and contacts, edit Word and Excel documents and view PowerPoint presentations. On the other hand, if you would rather relax, you can just as easily listen to music, watch videos, browse the Internet, chat with friends on instant messaging.....and the list goes on!

Below are just some ways in which smartphones are indeed a traveler's best friend:

Your Personal Assistant

Smartphones deliver the advantages of a mobile phone, but with a consistent and familiar PC software experience. Think of all the business cards weighing you down or disappearing when you need them the most. With a smartphone, you can enter new contacts directly into the address book and search through them easily.

A Traveler’s faithful companion

Smartphones allow you to enhance your travel experience with add-on applications such as WorldMate 2007. WorldMate 2007 allows you to check your flight status on the way to the airport, receive up-to-date information about your flight, and even weather information for your trip. Additionally, it also features world clocks and currency converters. Once in the lounge waiting to board the plane, you can even play games like Texas Hold ‘em Poker or Virtual Pool. If gaming is not your thing, then you can read e-books or stream the latest episode of that popular TV show online to while away the time.

Ensuring you eat well while on the road!

Applications such as MyPersonalDiet, which runs on a Windows Mobile platform, allows travelers to enter their meals, workouts and health data, and also select their diet plan and specify any nutrient limitations to watch for, like cholesterol or glucose. This helps you set a realistic goal weight, and allows comprehensive meal entry with a custom food option. One can also choose from more than 7,500 food items based on the USDA food database. MyPersonalDiet shows one's overall diet progress and makes recommendations to keep one on track.

So which smartphone?

The sleek smartphones of today are a far cry from the big clunky devices of yesteryear, and are no longer exclusive to the high-flying business executive. Application add-ons, Internet access and media capabilities have made the smartphone the perfect accompaniment for all travelers, anytime, anywhere.

There’s a huge range of smartphones available in the market with different designs, specifications and functionality. We’ve picked two new smartphones to highlight that are ideal for travelers.