BANGALORE, INDIA: Today's mobile phones have been transformed into a multi functional device for imaging, music and accessing the internet. And now the touchscreen technology lends it another dimension to give the phone a more heightened interactive experience.

Research firm Strategy Analytics predicts that 40 per cent of mobile phones will incorporate touch sensitive technology by 2012. The latest global study by ABI Research says that more than 100 million handsets with touch screens were shipped in 2008, and over 500 million will be shipped by 2012.

Moreover, every mobile manufacturer today is jumping into the touch screen bandwagon with handsets that are breaking the high price barriers. But, more than the prices it is the new generation of touchscreen technologies that are set to make the user experience even more amazing.

CIOL's content editor Sharath Kumar takes you to the curious world of Touch Screen Mobile Phones, in this special.

Know what mobile manufacturers are planning
Today, every mobile manufacturer is jumping into the touch screen bandwagon with handsets that are breaking the high price barriers

• Is the gesture-based mobile coming?
  Touch screen technology has already made using the mobile phone a more thrilling experience for the user
• Nokia to build new portfolio of touch-enabled apps
  'There will be a portfolio of touch applications across categories like gaming, music and imaging'
• LG breaks the price barrier with Cookie
  Cookie was launched to provide experience of touch phone to Indian consumers at an affordable price
• HTC: Riding on success of TouchFLO
  The technology provides animated access to people, messaging, email, photos, music, weather and more