Smartphones are a hot holidays gift item. Millions of people will be opening up a new Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Motorola Droid Razr, or some other shiny new device this week…and trying to figure out how to use it. Free workshops from Verizon are here to help — and you don’t even have to be a Verizon customer.

Today’s smartphones are powerful tools that go far beyond simply placing phone calls. It’s like carrying an entire PC, and entertainment system in your pocket. But, in order to take advantage of the features and capabilities, you have to know they exist, and how to navigate to them, and make them work.