Smartphones good for test?

Lately, I’ve been hearing astounding numbers about how smartphones, the iPhone in particular, are choking data networks. People are downloading songs and videos, uploading videos and photos, and now listening to online radio. (Radio stations now have iPhone apps for online listening.) That will do to wireless networks what it’s done to LANs and other wired networks. Did you try to see Obama’s inauguration online? You probably didn’t because networks were crushed under the weight of the data demand. This ongoing increase in data should force network operators to not only upgrade networks, but put more effort into monitoring and testing them. That should be good for test-equipment makers. I’m looking into this and will report my findings when available.