How clean is your iPhone? Your sleek smartphone – that you touch on average of 110 times a day – has up to 20 times as much bacteria on it than a toilet seat. Knowing that people are hyperaware of germs and nasties, Japan-based Kyocera has developed a smartphone that can be washed with soap.

People are hooked on their handsets, checking their phones up to 200 times a day. And Aussie start-up Unlockd has found a way to make use of this – by getting them to view an advert every time they unlock their device. Why? Because if they do, they'll get a discount on their phone bill.

Smartphones are no longer just a means of communicating. They wake us up, get us from A to B and even help us find love. We’ve almost forgotten their original purpose. Text trumps voicecalls and apps trump SMS – it’s a good time to ask – what’s the future of the mobile phone?

Over four iPhones are bought every second. Sprint’s iPhone for Life plan lets Apple fans rent their favourite phone, and get an upgrade whenever a new model comes out. But what impact will it have on brand loyalty, and how does it reflect changing attitudes towards ownership?