Five evolution paths for the iPhone

2. Functioning in the lounge

Forget clichés about surfing on the bus: millions of people are using Apple's handset to browse, email or play games from their sofas, leaving their laptops gathering dust in the corner. iPhone is already a living room device, in that sense.

But Apple's Remote application should be seen as an early indication of iPhone developing into more than that: becoming the controller at the centre of your home media network.

You might use it to control streams of music, movies and other stuff from your computer (or Apple TV) to various screens and speakers around the house. But you also might use it as your remote interface with your digital TV box - BSkyB's Sky+ app that lets you set programmes to record from wherever you are is an early example of that particular functionality.

iPhone is by definition a mobile device, of course. But its role within the home will be a key influence on its future development. Especially if the rumours are true about that tablet-sized device running the iPhone OS...

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