Tech execs say two mobile devices is enough

By Gabriel Madway and Sinead Carew

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With all the smartphones, laptops, netbooks and mobile Internet devices on offer these days, how many gadgets do you really want to cram in your bag?

The answer apparently is two, according to executives at the Reuters Global Technology Summit in New York.

Executives agreed that even in a bad economy consumers are willing to prize open their wallets for both smartphones and netbooks, or slimmed-down portable computers.

And many draw the line at this point.

"Something in the middle, if it becomes a third device you have to carry, I don't know how that's a greater benefit," said Texas Instruments Inc Chief Executive Rich Templeton, in response to a question about mobile Internet devices, which are smaller than netbooks but bigger than smartphones.

Pundits have long talked about device convergence, or gizmos with common functions, ultimately combining into one multimedia, entertainment and business gadget.

Wireless companies have succeeded in coaxing many consumers to squeeze much of their lives into pocket-sized smartphones, such as Apple Inc's iPhone and Research In Motion's Blackberry.

Now, device makers and wireless providers are keen to turn netbooks into the next big thing. They argue they are lighter than laptops and cheaper, but have bigger screens than phones.