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Phones of the future

Phones of the future Phones are sprouting new features every day, from GPS tagging to mobile TV. But what's missing? What new feature could make you fall in love with your phone all over again? Check out our wishlist, from the practical to the bizarre - then tell us about your dream phone of the future.

Anywhere and everywhere
Okay, mobile coverage isn't bad these days. But you're still bereft of your signal on the London Underground, in tunnels, caves and underwater - think scuba diving. It's just not good enough! Let's have a phone that really works everywhere.

The big-screen experience
TV and films on your mobile - a great idea, but you're still squinting at a screen just a few inches square. When can we expect those promised fold-out screens? You'd whip out your phone, unfold it to the size of an Ordnance Survey map, then sit back and enjoy the latest blockbuster.

Silence is golden
If you're in a busy street or (dare we say it?) on the train, even the best noise-cancelling headphones sometimes can't cope. We want perfection - headphones that block everything else out, meaning all you hear is your own conversation or your music.

The psychic phone
You're sneakily making a personal call from the office. Forget whispering, we want a phone that transmits thoughts. No, we're not straying into the impossible - there are already a few devices that pick up the signals between your brain and vocal chords as you mouth words. A vital invention - silent conversations can't irritate anyone else and your secrets would always be safe.

Perfect power
It's great to be able to top up your credit at a cashpoint, so why can't we charge our phone batteries at public electricity points? Other solutions for the flat battery issue include renewable energy from the sun (as seen in the prototype Nokia Morph) and body implants that draw on our own chemical energy...

Secret weapons
James Bond would probably demand explosives, but we prefer subtler weapons - perhaps a phone that throws your voice, so you can really confuse people. We also want a remote control ''fake-call function'' for awkward blind dates and a signal blocker to cut off someone talking loudly on the bus.

Safe and sound
Mobiles certainly help us feel safe, but they could be even better. It's normal to take a snap of the number plate when you get into a taxi alone - but we want an inbuilt verification service to check that the cab is licensed. Or how about a phone that can check your blood alcohol levels and call you a cab to take you home?

And over to you...
We've revealed our deepest desires - now it's your turn. Tell us what you'd really like from your phone. Send your top future phone features to enews@cpwplc.com. Impress us, inspire us or make us laugh and your wishlist could be published in next month's issue of the Mobile Insider.