Can phone-tablet hybrids hit the mobile sweet spot?

Smartphones and tablet computers have taken the mobile industry by storm, as both have gained widespread popularity among users looking for robust devices they can take on the go. Until now, the two have remained separate, but that is changing thanks to the emergence of the phone-tablet hybrid.

Device manufacturers are looking to maximize the rise of mobility by combining the best of both the smartphone and tablet worlds. But are users ready or, better yet, willing to embrace this new device? Smartphones and tablets are both extremely successful in their own right, so manufacturers must decide if it's worth tinkering with the form factor.

Nevertheless, some are moving ahead with production of new hybrids. Among the most prominent is the Samsung Galaxy Note™, which actually adds functionality of older PDAs into the mix with the use of a stylus. The device is still too new to really gauge its success, but its release could demonstrate a new direction for the mobile market.

In the past, consumers have shown that size matters when it comes to their smartphones and tablets. Whether too big or too small, ignoring this could doom phone-tablet hybrids from the start. Should manufacturers strike the right balance, however, there could be a new, viable entrant in the market.