The growth of the mobile internet is expanding rapidly as the popularity for smartphones and tablets shows no signs of abating.

Research predicts that mobile devices will replace PCs as the main way of accessing the internet before 2015.

These devices are already being used for messaging, browsing the web, gaming, listening to music, video watching, online shopping, social networking and using apps. Over the next few years they are likely to play an even bigger role in our lives, so we thought it would be a good idea to trawl the web to see what could be happening on your mobile device in the near future. Here are just five ways in which ‘mobile’ devices may encroach further into your lives.

Health monitoring. There are already apps for measuring heart rate so it’s not a great leap of faith to see the mobile blossoming into a full-blown personal health monitoring system.

Augmented Reality (AR) and location-based activities. Image a virtual tour guide on your mobile device as you just wander and explore Florence, Athens or even Barnsley – it’s just one of the AR ideas that’s almost here.

Fraud prevention. You can’t pay by card if your mobile phones not nearby.

Effective Mobile Face Recognition. Designed to replace pins and passwords on your mobile and much more.

Mobile payments. Mobile phone payment systems are being tested now and could be available within two years.

If you come across any more innovative mobile uses let us know, we’d love to hear about them.

Finally, here are some ideas and prototypes for phones of the future – some good, some not so good.