(Special Report) - Now that every other cell phone maker is looking silly without a touchscreen display in its portfolio, a lot of them are labeling the touchscreen capabilities of the iPhone as a mere feature. Some of them even went as far as to call it one of the many features in a cell phone and completely ignored it as the feature of 2007. Sure, there are some benefits to having a touchscreen display, but companies said, we shouldn't just be focused on the display. There are other features that are just as exciting. We would like to disagree with that sentiment, but hey, whatever works for them.

Clearly, there was a reason why touchscreen was politely put down. Needless to say, all of the phone makers we talked to at CES 2008 either had a working prototype ready for mainstream production, or was about to roll out one in the near future. It was interesting to hear them admit the importance and innovation of the iPhone and its touchscreen capabilities, but pull back just enough to not come off as latecomers to the game.

Expect touchscreen phones to grace the market this year in plenty of shapes and sizes, but don't expect companies to admit their loss until they have captured the buzz away from Apple. You just have to love the way the technology industry works in its competitive role.

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