Never-ending consolidation

William Saletan on the universe’s newest unstoppable force:

Some GPS makers, Wortham reports, are responding to this trend [of declining GPS sales due to smartphones] by selling GPS as software for smartphones instead of selling it as hardware. Others are adding phone service to their GPS devices. Good luck with that. But the bottom line is that no matter how this fight ends—smartphones with GPS, GPS with smartphones, or add-on GPS software for your smartphone—only one device will remain. Consolidation is inexorable.

What will the smartphone eat next? In no particular order, my money’s on credit cards, car keys, flashlights, flash drives, books, television sets, and laptops. Some of these functions are already being absorbed. And one of these days, somebody will figure out how to add a stun gun. Just try not to hit the wrong button.

We’re almost there… check out this stun gun disguised as cell phone:

"Naughty, naughty, naughty! A 950,000 volt stun gun cleverly disguised as a harmless cell phone. Gain the tactical advantage over a would-be attacker with the Pretender Stun Gun! come see it now at www.defendfirst.com/pretender-cellphone-stun-gun.htm" (Photo by Defend First)