Five mobile user interface advances to watch in 2009

Ease of use is now the most important consideration that U.S. consumers weigh when purchasing a new mobile phone, according to a recent study conducted by independent mobile applications portal GetJar. The poll--spanning 1,000 respondents in 130 countries, 75 percent of them male and 79 percent under the age of 25--asked users to rank a list of 10 phone features by order of importance, and 20 percent of U.S. participants cited a phone's user interface as its most important handset feature. User interface was also the number two factor worldwide, cited as the top feature by 17 percent of respondents (trailing behind brand at 28 percent). Here are five user interface innovations poised to reshape the consumer consciousness of tomorrow.