I think soul-less handsets are just a natural evolution of where our mobile handsets are going.

A number of years ago, before the advent of mobile internet, WAP (lol) & apps, we picked mobiles based on looks (and later on camera pixels). So each phone had to look different to stand out or to match our personality (Nokia's Xpress on covers & "L'Amour" range anyone??). The OS of a particular handset didn't matter at the time. It was factors like looks, good battery life, durability, easy to text with etc - all physical features.

As time has passed and mobiles have advanced, more emphasis has been placed on the guts of a phone. For a while it was camera pixels and gimmicky features. Our requirements have gone way past accepting a good looking phone - it has to be smart both inside and out.

The operators have tried to sweeten the deal & tie in their handsets with their internet 'portals' & handset OS branding. (Vodafone LIVE!, Orange World, O2 Active, T-Zones & Planet 3)

But we've moved on. Customers want content from outside their handset. A game of Snake isn't enough.

Google & Apple have now taken the fight almost from a spec war, to the battlefield of the 'eco-system'. Each side has an arsenal of internet services, social tools & security/backup features designed to keep us trapped in their eco-system.

I firmly believe handsets will soon be regarded in the same way ISP's & mobops seem to be going - dump pipes. Yes, some will have bell and whistles on, but handsets will essentially be 'gateways' to other services. Mobiles will be regarded in the same way as computers are now, simply terminals to the web. Access points. Disposable, capable but essentially a doorway to the internet.

Looks won't matter near as much as they have been in the past. Break your phone? In the past you could be found broken hearted at the loss of a phone. All those pictures, videos, personal memories lost. You become attached to a phone. No worries, buy a new one & log on, all backed up & downloaded from 'The Cloud'
The 'soul' of the handset won't be found on the device itself, but rather the things it lets you find/discover/enjoy/love/interact with.