Smartphones continue to grow in popularity, as business professionals continue to seek better ways to stay connected and productive while on the go. According to recent forecasts from ABI Research, the smartphone market will grow from 218 million units in 2007 to 426 million units in 2012. However, as more products are introduced and as smartphone technologies and wireless service plans become more complex, buyers are finding it more difficult to select the smartphone that best meets their requirements. And with an average purchase price of $200-$500, a bad decision can be an expensive.

Written by People-OnTheGo Founder and CEO Pierre Khawand, The Smartphone Experiment book was born out of an "81-day experiment" designed to document the experience of a typical smartphone buyer and user. The experiment, which evaluated nine cell phones, each for nine days, was documented on The 81-Day Experiment blog (http://81dayexperiment.typepad.com) launched in August 2006. The book expands the experiment to include a total of 12 phones, including a detailed, blow-by-blow account of the author's nine-day experience using the iPhone.

"Due to the popularity of the blog and the comments and questions I received from site visitors, it became apparent that there was a broad audience of business professionals seeking advice on smartphones," said Pierre Khawand. "My goal for the book was to provide a one-stop resource to help buyers avoid the typical trial-and-error purchasing approach and help them make a good decision, the first time."

Product trials for the book were conducted in a real-world environment, designed to replicate the experience of the average smartphone buyer and user, versus a more limited lab environment. The majority of the products were reviewed over a nine-day period. The author documents everything from the in-store purchasing experience to setting up the device, and provides extensive detail on his experience using the smartphone in a professional capacity including using email, syncing with computers, accessing the web and using video and photo features. The book also provides step-by-step advice and methodologies for selecting a smartphone that can be used today or in the future, independent of available models. This includes worksheets to help buyers identify their personal requirements, evaluate their options, and make a purchasing decision, whether they are buying their first smartphone or a replacement.

Ralph Kaechele, a professional photographer and smartphone user started out using the Blackberry Pearl, but recently switched to the iPhone. "With a huge number of gadgets out there, sometimes it is the small things that make a difference, and those things are usually not written in a manual, but I found them in the 81-day experiment blog." Mr. Kaechele followed Pierre Khawand's nine-day iPhone experiment that was documented on the "81-Day Experiment Blog" and is now included in The Smartphone Experiment book.

"Smartphone buyers typically buy these devices to improve their productivity," says People-on theGo's Khawand. "But unfortunately, buying a device that doesn't adequately suit their own personal needs or behaviors can actually decrease productivity. The Smartphone Experiment will help save them weeks, perhaps months, of research and avoid costly mistakes."

The Smartphone Experiment includes:

• A snapshot of the latest smartphone technologies -- including product features, operating systems and product design
• Detailed, non-biased reviews documenting the author's personal experience purchasing, setting up and using 12 of the most popular smartphones from Blackberry, Motorola, Palm, T-Mobile, Samsung, AT&T and Apple
• Step-by-step advice on purchasing the best smartphone, including step-by-step guidelines and worksheets that help to simplify the process and assist buyers in making a successful purchase based on their individual requirements
• Tips and best practices for using smartphones safely, particularly while driving, as well as smartphone etiquette

The Smartphone Experiment is available in paperback or as a digital download from LuLu.com (http://www.lulu.com/content/1198516). The book is complemented by The 81-Day Experiment blog (http://81dayexperiment.typepad.com) which continues to provide updates, new information and discussions related to current smartphone technologies, the 12 most popular smartphone models, and buyer experiences.

People-OnTheGo:
People-OnTheGo helps companies and their employees improve their productivity and effectiveness while in the office or on the go. Led by productivity expert Pierre Khawand, the company's services are designed to help professionals to more effectively use e-mail, office applications, and handheld devices in order to save significant time, communicate more effectively, and minimize legal and security risks. People-OnTheGo's training programs -- including the popular "Accomplishing More in Less Time, Less Effort, and Less Stress" workshop and teleclass - help business professionals to manage competing priorities, to-do lists, and e-mail, and effectively cope with information overload. Programs are delivered in the form of onsite training, full-day workshops, live online seminars, and self-paced Web offerings.

For more information, contact:              
Ellen Butler, for People-OnTheGo
Phone: 415.990.9329

Pierre Khawand, People-OntheGo
Phone: 415.503.1649