It was a weak moment when I agreed to do this survey – a survey from a pollster representing the telecom industry.  I don’t usually go along with  random surveys, but in this case I’m glad I did. Now, I think I have a pretty good idea about the smartphone’s future.

To give you the Reader’s Digest version of the survey,  basically, I was asked what I use my cellphone for- besides making phone calls or receiving e-mails.

The survey went on to ask more revealing questions.  I was asked how comfortable I would be using my smartphone in the following ways:

- As a drivers license, if the information could be embedded securely.

– As a “passport,” if all of the information could be embedded securely.

– As a debit and credit card, if a retailer could securely swipe a bar code on the phone that contained my various bank accounts.

– As a remote, to adjust the temperature in my home or car if it was possible?

– I was asked if I knew that I could already use my smartphone to swipe price bar codes in retail locations and if so, was I using it?

– Using features that could allow me to scan coupons, sent to my smartphone by retail outlets who were anxious for my business.

It’s clear that the Telecoms are heading towards “Smartphones Are Us,” and I’m cool with a lot of it – as long as the info can be secured;  however, as long as a Wikileaks can obtain and reveal classified information and private conversations,  I doubt I’ll be anxious to to surrender my passport and drivers license to Android, iPhone or Blackberry.

How about you?