One way to follow technology trends is to follow the chip makers like Intel. What they we do today will have impact months later. Consider Intel’s built-in wireless support. Laptop computes now have wireless capabilities in a ubiquitous ways.
Recently, Intel and Jajah announced that they are building telephony right into the chip set. This could make turn the laptop (or mobile phone) into a VoIP phone. The problem with software phones (like Skype or X-lite) is that you have to have the computer turned on. If not, no calls get though. Also, you have to have the software. With VoIP support built in the laptop will behave as the phone: it will ring no matter want!
It remains to be seen if this is an improvement to quality to life.