Sending GPS Devices the Way of the Tape Deck?

The smartphone is already the Swiss Army knife of the digital age — a quick flick of the finger can transform it into a camcorder, Web browser, gaming device or music player. For many consumers, the Apple iPhone and its competitors are versatile enough that they can get by without separate cameras and laptops. Now the smartphone is beginning to displace yet another stand-alone device — the GPS receiver — as a convenient way for drivers to get directions to unknown destinations. More than 40 percent of all smartphone owners use their mobile devices to get turn-by-turn directions, according to data from Compete, a Web analytics firm. For iPhone users, the figure is even higher, eclipsing 80 percent.