Helpful applications that allow you to make the most of your social networks

Mobile phones are no longer just a method of being able to keep in touch when we’re on the move, or as a vital tool only to be used in emergency situations. Many of us now use our mobile phones as a hub that helps us go about our daily lives. We use them listening to music on the move, checking our email and social networks whilst away from a computer, and even using it as a portable media device by loading movies and games to keep us busy on the all too familiar commute to and from work.

Different people use phones in different ways. The ever so busy businessman uses his handset as a vital tool that makes up part of his mobile office, typing documents on the go, checking the latest stock prices and keeping in touch with clients or employees about their latest developments. The trendy teen uses their mobile as a social hub to make sure they’re kept up to date with what’s happening in their social circle and as a camera to get those ever so popular ‘MySpace’ shots.

But what applications are available that truly help you maximise the potential of your phone, especially your smartphone. iPhones and Android phones all come with application stores that allow you to extend your phones capabilities by utilising new features that are becoming a standard, such as the inclusion of accelerometers and sensors that enable you to take advantage of tilting your phone or shaking it to interact with games and even applications on the phone.

If you’re a major user of the popular social networks, some manufacturers are creating customised environments to help put it all in one place such as HTC’s Friend Stream or Motorola’s MOTOBLUR. But one application that has all of this functionality and is provided free of charge and has gotten great reviews from technology insiders is TweetDeck and fellow social network consolidator Seesmic. Compatible across Android and iOS devices, it puts all of your social networks into one application, and allows you to update and check what is going on with your friends online.

And it’s becoming easier to access services like this while on the move whether you’re a pay as you go or pay monthly customer as many pay as you go plans now include some mobile internet allowance in return for topping up £10 monthly. Customers on a contract with most of the major mobile phone networks also receive the benefit of being able to join plans that include a more generous allowance.

Some of us prefer to keep our accounts separate, either because they don’t want the two to spill over into each other, or simply because they prefer their official applications. But having one application to access the various social networks out there definitely can be seen as one of those little things that makes life easier.