Will smartphones be the new PC Xmas gifts?

[cd34]

I think an application could be used to give a better experience similar to the way Google Gears or HTML5 works. Since the application could eliminate a lot of the back and forth for the interface, only the actual data or movie would need to be sent. I would suppose that most of the applications will just be authentication/sophisticated browsers with the interface's local content on the phone side to eliminate as much of the data transfer to the site as possible.

It is possible that selling the application might enable x fullsize image downloads. i.e. sell the application for $4.99 that allows them to surf 10000 pictures and get 100 full size images and 10 movies and the app then stops working.

It would be an interesting way to provide access to content.