Hardware accessories that make your smartphone even more useful

Even if your smartphone doesn't have a built-in GPS, odds are very high that it has Bluetooth, and that means a Bluetooth GPS is your best option for getting GPS functionality. Pharos makes a popular Bluetooth GPS that, when combined with software such as Windows Live Search, can give you driving directions, find the closest gas station, and help pinpoint any number of other locations. For instructions on how to set up and configure a Bluetooth GPS, see Using a Bluetooth GPS with Live Search for Windows Mobile.

The more you use your phone, the quicker the battery will get used up, so it's always a good idea to have a recharging solution figured out ahead of time. Having an extra sync/charge cable is the first thing you'll need. If your phone uses a mini USB connector (many do), the PPC Techs Lil Sync Pro Extended Retractable Cable is a good solution. Are you in your car a lot and on the go? Then try a Lil Sync USB Automobile Adapter. This small adapter plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car and gives you a USB port to plug your device into. If you're on an airplane with a charging station, PPC Tech has an adapter for that as well. For flexible, anywhere-you-need-it power, nothing beats the Lil Sync USB Mobile Power Pack. This portable battery has a USB port on it and, with its powerful 4400mAh battery, it can fully charge any Windows Mobile device several times over.

Smartphones today tend to have attractive designs and, as expensive as the phones can be, you definitely don't want to let yours get damaged. For the ultimate in both protection and style, Vaja Cases makes luxurious leather cases in a variety of styles and colors, and they offer some great customization options. Less expensive (but equally protective) cases can be found at Sena Cases. Need to take your phone someplace where it might get wet? Then the BeachBuoy from Proporta will give you a waterproof case that's good for water up to 16 feet deep.

One of the most popular hardware add-ons for a smartphone is a Bluetooth headset. People who need to be on the phone frequently throughout the day know how tiring it can be to have to hold the phone up to their heads, so a Bluetooth headset is the perfect way to free up both hands. It's a safety issue, as well: In many places around the world, hands-free calling is the only legal way to talk on the phone while driving, so a headset is mandatory. While Bluetooth isn't necessary, it's certainly more convenient, more stylish, and can often sound better than a headset that plugs into your phone.

There are dozens of different companies offering Bluetooth headsets, but some of the most highly rated ones come from Aliph, the makers of Jawbone headsets. These Bluetooth headsets feature a technology called NoiseAsssasin, which helps filter out background noise, allowing for a crystal-clear phone call. As a bonus, many Bluetooth headsets—the Jawbone included—recharge from a USB port, so if you get one of the USB charging solutions mentioned above, you'll be able to keep both your phone and your headset charged up.

Virtually every Windows Mobile phone on the market today has a memory card slot for adding extra storage, with most phones using the microSD memory card format. Over the past few years, storage prices have dropped, and capacities have increased, to the point where you can buy a microSD card for less than $50 that will store 8 gigabytes (GB) worth of music, movies, photos, and anything else you want to keep. Storage cards are especially useful if you need to load up large GPS maps or if you use your phone to take videos.