Sony Ericsson has finally decided to release the name of their newest Idou, due to ship in October. This device features built-in GPS, a 640 x 350 widescreen touchscreen, video recording, a 12.1 megapixel camera with a xenon flash and up to 12x digital zoom, dual band HSPA and a microSD expansion. And more. But instead of keeping the Idou name the same, Sony has renamed the line of devices to “Satio.” Sony’s new Satio is essentially a portable entertainment system that allows users to watch movies, TV shows, or just listen to music.

In addition to the Satio, Sony Ericcson put the word out that they will also be introducing the “Yari,” a gaming “gesture phone,” the first of its kind. It would respond to user movements much like the Nintendo Wii remote in order to control the game. Other attractive elements of the Yari include built-in GPS, support for Sony’s PlayNow, and a 2.4-inch screen.

The third and final model Sony Ericcson plans to release is the “Aino.” Perhaps a cross between the Satio and Yari, the Aino will feature the capability to connect to the PS3 or PC. The Aino will also have a 3-inch touchscreen, support for Sony Remote Play, built-in GPS and an 8.1 megapixel camera.

With all the stunning features, you might forget that these are also phones. Forget the era of smartphones; we’ve now entered the age of the superphone!

The title isn’t so much a thought-provoking conundrum as it is the query of a confused mind. Where is mobile going? Laptops are now thinner than my wallet (which is pretty thin), netbooks are cheaper than ever, and smartphones can do everything short of fly me to the moon. But do I need all three? What’s the future of mobile?

As I sit here, typing on my now-oversized laptop, I realize that notebook computers are a lot more mobile than they were just a few years ago. As yesterday’s laptops became more and more powerful, they were advertised as “desktop replacements” because they could do everything that your desktop computer could do. Now, desktops are found less and less frequently on the tops of desks. The notebook is the machine of choice. There is something comforting about having your entire office in your hands as you exit the office for the weekend, but it is still not as mobile as the up-and-comers in the tech world.

The most up-and-comer of them all is the netbook. It’s a notebook for the ‘Net. In other words, you don’t buy it to watch DVDs or do high-power video editing. The only video editing you’ll do is to turn up the volume on a YouTube clip. That’s because the netbook’s primary purpose is to surf the Internet—affordably and portably. Recession means less spending, and with the netbook average price dropping to a projected $399 this year, less spending is easy to do on a netbook. Admittedly, you compromise some of a traditional laptop’s power, but you gain more mobility, flexibility, and even connectivity. Beta versions of netbooks are now rolling out, where users can get online via the 3G network, for example, rather than the local WiFi signal.

Most mobile of all are smartphones. These powerful little devices are highly concentrated packets of power. For a device that plays videos, maintains our audio library, finds the closest Chinese restaurant, manages our finances, regulates our schedules, keeps us in touch with friends, and everything in between, it comes in a very convenient size. When was the last time you tried to stuff your laptop into your pocket?

But how many devices do we really need? Is a day coming when all three devices can be replaced by a single piece of technology? What is the future of mobile?

Three weeks ago, we did something new. Something daring. We called our land-line phone company and told them, “Thanks, but no thanks. We’re done.” And that was it. Now, if you happen to dial our old home phone number, you will get nothing but that familiar tri-tone error message along with a recorded message telling you “This number is no longer in service.”

We’re exclusively a cell-phone household now.

But apparently, our move wasn’t exactly so new or so daring. In fact, as AP reports today, “In a high-tech shift accelerated by the recession, the number of U.S. households opting for only cell phones has for the first time surpassed those that just have traditional landlines.” Many households, 60%, still use both landlines and cell phones. But even that number is changing.

Although the article cites the ‘recession’ as a motivating factor for the wireless-only switch, many are doing so for other reasons. I saw a few dollar decrease in my monthly bill (we weren’t about to cut our high-speed Internet access), but I have not noticed any set-back from not having a land line. In fact, it is more of a convenience issue for me. It’s one less voicemail that I have to check. Besides, if I ever called from my land line, I ended up having to pull the number from my cell phone address book anyway.

If someone has a cell phone, why increase the work, the hassle, and the costs by throwing a land line in the mix? Many land line owners claim that their land phones serve as a call-collection center for telemarketers, little more. Another strike against land lines has to do with housing situations. If one is in a mobile situation—renting or living in temporary housing—it makes little sense to set up a permanent land line.

Obviously, there are compelling reasons for hanging on to the land line. However, as the numbers suggest, our society is going more and more wireless—exclusively.