There was some confusion a couple of weeks ago about the future of Nokia and touch screen technology. In the end, Nokia CTO Tero Ojanpera made a public statement that, "Optical sensors and touch will be the next big things." Backing up that claim is news that Nokia has licensed Immersion Corporation's VibeTonz tactile feedback technology.The license gives Nokia the rights to use Immersion's VibeTonz tactile feedback system for mobile devices to enhance operation. The technology allows touch screen-based mobile devices to provide unmistakable tactile cues in response to touch screen presses.

Perhaps the one feature of the iPhone that everyone agrees is just plain cool is the touch screen interface. As cool as it is, the iPhone's hallmark user interface doesn't employ haptics to let users know that they've pressed any of the buttons. Haptics provide micro vibration pulses to a device that has smooth input methods like touch screens. Phones such as the upcoming Motorola RAZR 2 use haptics on some of its touch-capacitance buttons to ease use. I have to say, it works remarkably well.

With this license, Nokia will be able to develop new an interesting ways to interact with mobile devices. "I believe there will be a lot of innovation around these," Ojanpera said. I couldn't agree more, Tero.