Blog Archives
The G1: Going, going, gone?
By Judy Mottl | September 30, 2008It seems T-Mobile's G1 sign-up page may have had a few snafus this past weekend, resulting in a few tech blogs to start spouting that Google's HTC handset, built on the Android OS, is sold out or not available.
But today I registered at T-Mobile's site as an interested consumer for the latest handset and got a note that I'll be receiving email updates on product availability.
I called and emailed both T-Mobile and HTC to find out how consumer response has been since the official launch last week.
I just wanted to know how many G1s had been 'sold,' how many email inquiries they'd received, how many devices they have in production.
So far no answer or response from anyone on any of those questions.
Some reports claim that 60,000 have been sold, but the reports like many flippant tech 'news' posts these days offer no attribution to where that figure comes from.
It would be interesting to know what HTC and Google expected on initial launch.
Obviously the handsets are made -- people on the dais at the launch event had them in hand, and some indicated they had been playing with them for weeks. So they're obviously 'somewhere.'
That's why I'm a bit stumped that device access to the media seems limited.
I would think any vendor pushing out a new technology would give everyone in the press a chance to see and play with a new product for several reasons -- they're likely to get some coverage and the more informed the press is the more informed the public will be.
I've never had an issue getting new handsets to play with from Research in Motion -- they're always happy to let me play with new BlackBerries. The same for Palm and its Centros. Even Apple's been great about getting a iPhone 3G into my hands.
But today I got this response from a PR firm representing HTC:
"I just added you to our T-Mobile G1 request list but we do not currently have review units. When we do get them we will have a very small quantity of devices and therefore cannot guarantee a devices for everyone."
I'm not sure I understand what reasoning could be behind this review strategy, but I hope HTC, Google and the Open Handset Alliance, which fostered Android's existence, comes around to realizing how important it is to give the press as much access as possible to new technologies.
I'll keep knocking on the door as I never take no as an answer the first time ;)
And, if by chance, anyone out there has a G1 and wants to talk about it, write me here or at jmottl@jupitermedia.com and if you happen to be in the NY or Long Island area I'll buy you lunch if you let me play with it for an hour!
Samsung takes a page from Letterman
By Judy Mottl | September 29, 2008What do you think would happen to a solid state drive if dropped from the top of a three-story building?
Well Samsung wants you to know that nothing bad happens, and proves it in what is one of the most amusing SSD public relations diddies I've seen to date.
The folks at the Samsung campus in San Jose took a page right out of David Letterman's show and threw a SSD drive off a three-story building.
They then dusted it off a bit, and plugged the drive back into a generic laptop that booted up and worked without a glitch.
Check it out with this [link](http://tinyurl.com/5xf3rn) to the video.
Is that Thunder, or a Storm, coming our way?
By Judy Mottl | September 24, 2008The rumor mill has Research in Motion debuting its first touch BlackBerry device at any moment under the name of either Storm or Thunder, depending on what blog or news service you read.
Just this morning Reuters [reports](http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE48M94720080923) that RIM is close to launching the device, which will supposedly be named the BlackBerry Storm 9530, through wireless carrier Verizon Wireless.
Speculation has been rampant for a few reasons.
One is the fact RIM does not have a touch screen feature unlike the ever-popular Apple iPhone and the forthcoming T-Mobile G1.
Another is that RIM has been very busy this year pushing its once business-focused smartphone into the hands of soccer Moms and other consumers.
Third -- well the holiday buying season is right around the corner.
As RIM's earnings call is set for tomorrow, Thursday Sept. 25th, I'm betting the market leader will likely make some announcement about the fourth BlackBerry device to come out this year. As RIM's in a quiet period it's not likely to say a word until then.
Notes from Bill, Sean and Jeff -- the 'I'm a PC' Guys
By Judy Mottl | September 22, 2008Wow - seconds after publishing my blog post on the latest Microsoft ads about everyone being a PC.. I got responses back from those in the ad who offered up email addys in their spots (Bill Gates, a guy named Sean and a guy named Jeff).
Here they are:
**FROM BILL GATES**:
Thanks for checking in. I hope you're beginning to get an appreciation
of the broad scope of human beings that take pride in using and being
called a "PC".
Yes, this is one of those auto-response emails.
Nothing impersonal. It's just a tribute to the fact that so, so many of
you have taken the opportunity to look deeper.
I can't promise to answer every question or respond to every comment.
But, I (with a lot of help from the team here) will do my best.
In the meantime, feel free to join in to tell your own story at
windows.com.
And please keep watching and connecting the dots in the campaign.
We're all getting a real kick out of it.
Sincerely,
BILL
**FROM SEAN SILER**:
Hello! I'm a PC -- and I can't answer your email right now. I'd like to say that I'm out climbing Mt. Rainier or biking across Europe with the Swedish Beach Volleyball Team, but in fact I'm probably just chained to a desk somewhere in the depths of Redmond pounding out product specifications.
Now that I have been in a commercial, Microsoft has given me access to super-secret "BillyG" level of executive resources. That's right -- I have my own email auto-responder!
This, as you have probably surmised, is my pre-prepared auto-response (All natural, no filler. No animals were harmed in the making of this response. Except for a ferret.) I really would like to have answered you myself, but if I did, (a) I'd probably get no work done, and (b) then I'd get fired, and (c) then I'd have no chance of doing any more of those really awesome commercials.
So let me try to prognosticate a few of your questions and answer a few of them.
Why did they put you on TV?
I think it's my devastating good-looks and animal magnetism. No, really -- there's a ferret stuck to my leg right now.
But really -- you aren't even an actor!
No I'm not. But I play one on TV. I really am a Microsoft Program Manager. I work on IPv6, and other things that you haven't heard of.
How did you get selected?
I auditioned along with a couple of hundred others. I guess I looked very Engineery. And the ferret probably helped.
Are you interested in more acting?
Oh no, I think that Engineering is MUCH more fun.
What's with Windows Vista?
-The Real PC, Sean Siler
**FROM JEFF SMITH**:
Hi --
Thanks for your email. I apologize if I can't send you a more personalized response than this auto-reply --I'm super busy these days trying to optimize my code & squeeze out that last drop of performance. Or sleeping off a caffeine crash ;-)
In case you were wondering (you did email me, right?), I'm a software engineer working on Windows Networking technologies. (Networking, like, wireless internet and all that). I'm super proud of the great networking features in Windows. I can tell you that we collaborate really closely with lots of other companies who make the networking gadgets (and even things that aren't traditionally "networkingish", like wireless printers), so that these devices work great with Windows. The coolest part is that (cue $6 million man voice over) we have the technology to improve continuously, thanks to Windows Update (you do have that turned on, right?). Some of our customers opt into the "Customer Experience Improvement Program" (you do have that turned on, right?). When one of these customers plugs in a gadget and it doesn't work right (we call these "Driver Not Found", or DNFs for short), Windows sends a short description of the device back to HQ, and we use data that to go back and fix the problem. It's a ton of work, but it really pays off, since we can see that each month that fewer % of our customers are sending back the DNFs, and that means Windows just keeps getting better.
Anyway, sorry for rambling about networking��� no more nerdy stuff now. Another question I get (usually from jealous coworkers ;-) is how'd you end up on a TV commercial? (Besides my good looks, of course). That's pretty simple. We wanted this TV commercial to show you the real people who are behind Windows -- not paid actors & hollywood stuff. In fact, one of the clips in the commercial shows me standing in the real actual computer room where Windows itself is built (compiled, linked, signed, componentized, compressed ��� um, sorry, I promised no more nerdy stuff).
Anyway, I hope I've answered some of your questions & given you a glimpse into the world of a Microsoft engineer. I really need to get back to work now, so bye & thanks again for your email.
--Jeff
It's Dan the man again
By Judy Mottl | September 22, 2008Sprint CEO Dan Hesse is again the pitch man on Sprint's advertising campaign.
This time he's sitting at a diner counter talking about ReadyNow, the carrier's supercharged customer service program that promises to make sure mobile device users leave a Sprint store actually knowing how to use their new gadget.
I like Dan Hesse's demeanor. I think he's a great 'face' for the Sprint brand and he did alot being out front for the Simply Everything plan ads back in the Spring.
But him sitting in a diner talking about ReadyNow doesn't show me how great ReadyNow truly is. It should show him in a Sprint store learning how to use the voice-activated GPS application he loves to use.
Hey, I'm no marketing guru or advertising expert that's for sure. I try to stick with what I know best.
But I think Sprint needs to show more than tell these days, just like Microsoft needs to do in its quest to put Apple back in its place ;)
Show me what I'll get when I step into a Sprint store and need to know how to download music or coordinate my photos or use my calendar app. That will be a powerful advertising message.
I'm not a PC
By Judy Mottl | September 22, 2008Ok, depending on who you believe, Microsoft has abruptly ended its Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld advertisements due to criticism, or it was a planned introduction for its second wave of advertising in response to those funny, entertaining Apple ads with the PC guy and the Mac guy.
This time it's a montage of people -- everyone's represented from shark divers to a 'human being' -- saying they're a PC. Bill's there..so is a guy with beard and even some 'celebrities' including a Desperate Housewife and her real-life basketball star husband.
As dumb as the Jerry-Bill ads were they were pretty funny in a way and nowhere as dumb as this "I'm a PC" campaign.
The thing I don't get it is if the goal here is to put Microsoft back in the minds of the user base why go with something so dull and bland and boring. PCs are about innovation. Apple is about innovation.
Microsoft, even critics have to admit, is about innovation. You just don't get that message with these ads. Maybe the problem isn't Microsoft but its ad agencies and marketing gurus. Maybe it's with Microsoft's self-identity. But just consider what is and has been done with a PC in the past decade or so, what Windows has brought into the world, and there has to be a better message to share than people identifying themselves as PCs.
The only thing these ads got me thinking about was why a few people in the montage -- Bill, of course, and a guy named Sean and another guy obviously named Jeff -- have email addresses on the screen when they appear.
That got my curiosity going.. so I sent a few emails off just to see what kind of response I might get.
Hesse has a flair when it comes to analogies
By Judy Mottl | September 19, 2008When I [interviewed](/bus-news/article.php/3771416/Dan+Hesse+In+the+Captains+Chair+at+Sprint.htm) Dan Hesse, Sprint's CEO, a few months back for a [profile](/bus-news/article.php/3771416/Dan+Hesse+In+the+Captains+Chair+at+Sprint.htm) on Sprint's take-charge leader, I was impressed with his openness and his forth right responses.
After all Sprint is in third place and it's not looking like AT&T or Verizon Wireless want to give up an inch.
So I wasn't surprised that he was as open with investors yesterday during the Goldman Sachs conference where he spoke about what Sprint is doing, where Sprint has come from and put things in a easy-to- understand perspective.
Hesse, obviously playing up Sprint's new NFL service where fans can listen and watch live action, said Sprint's focused on playing a good game.
"What we were killing ourselves with were stupid penalties.. dropping the ball.. no matter how well you perform, if you turn over the ball and have penalties you're not going to win," Hesse said.
He also alluded to Sprint's 'house' now being clean enough to have company over.
"We haven't done the final house cleaning, but we feel good enough to invite people in," said the CEO alluding to pulling in new customers and intense customer service efforts put in place.
One such customer service effort, called Ready Now, is pretty neat and could end up being a strong competitive market aspect.
Sprint trained each and every employee at its 1,000+ retail stores on how to use every phone and very application.
Sprint customers can stop in, or make an appointment, to have a maximum of 20 features set up and customized --users can actually leave the store knowing how to access email, use the Web, forward messages.
As Hesse shared, smartphone and cell phones were the top returned item after last year's holiday season. The main reason was people didn't know how to use the devices.
That customer service level is hard to beat, and while other carriers and handset makers offer up some sort of support, nothing comes close at this point.
Time will tell if it's enough to push Sprint forward.
Clearwire WiMAX Will Need $2B More
By Judy Mottl | September 18, 2008While the Clearwire WiMAX network is on track, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse told investors at a Goldman Sachs conference in NYC yesterday that the effort will need an infusion of $2B more for completion.
Clearwire is already set to gain an infusion of $3.2B from the strategic investors ��� cable companies, Google and Intel ��� at the transaction close. The deal, which includes a merger of all Clearwire and Xohm broadband assets, is valued at $14.5B.
And Hesse isn't worried about finding the dough.
"Over time... not immediately not near term... we will need to raise about $2 billion in additional capital.." said Hesse, first noting it could come from market investments but if not "look at who the investors are who are in.. I'm not speaking for them.. but there is an 'A' list [of investors]... so there is a lot of confidence," said Hesse.
The "A" list includes Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.
Hesse is also confident that regulatory review will complete in time to have the deal solidified by year's end.
The Clearwire WiMAX network could provide service for up to 140 million people in the U.S. by 2010.
Cabs are mobile loot mobiles
By Judy Mottl | September 17, 2008I suddenly don't feel so alone and stupid any more.
It seems that I'm not the only one who loses a cell phone every six months or so.
A new [report](http://www.credant.com/mountains-of-mobiles-left-in-the-back-of-new-york-cabs.html) from Credant Technologies states that 31,544 mobile phones were lost, at least for awhile, after being left in the back of New York and London yellow cabs just in the first six months of this year.
That's a lotta phones. Miraculously three quarters are reunited with owners (the survey doesn't indicate what happened to the remaining 8,000 handsets .... did I hear someone say eBay?)
The figure averages to two per taxi, and doesn't even include 2,752 other mobile devices such as laptops, iPods and those tiny memory sticks we all love to use.
The reason the devices go missing?
Well because people are using them while on their way to whatever destination made them grab a taxi in the first place. Cabbies say riders spend half their travel time doing work either on the phone or sending email.
According to Credant, this behavior is putting lots of personal, and corporate data, at risk.
*"This is a warning to the business community and individuals to be vigilant when travelling with mobile devices especially as more people are using the latest range of 'must have' mobile smartphones to store large amounts of sensitive personal and business information," Michael Callahan, chief marketing officer, states in a press release.*
Callahan, who doesn't note whether he's personally lost any type of mobile device, pointed out some interesting stats:
{Disclaimer Alert: I've lost five phones in two years, some of which I know what happened too.. some which I don't}
The lost devices have the capacity to store:
- 10,000 Word documents
- 11,000 pictures
- 500,000 contact details
- 1.1 million emails
If you get past the marketing mumbo jumbo about how we all need to use better security and encryption -- hey, Credant is a security vendor after all -- the company's survey offers up some good funny points as well:
Also left behind in taxies are sawn-off shotgun, a couple of kids, 12 dead pheasants, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and toilet seats.
When cabbies recalled " strangest objects" [[a toilet seat isn't a 'strangest' object I'm guessing in NY?]] the list included a drunken wife left as a tip, $2,700 in cash -- which apparently made its way back to the owners -- 12 dead pheasants, prosthetic devices and even pets.
Now.. where is that darn cat?
Bill & Jerry 'connect' with real people
By Judy Mottl | September 12, 2008I don't watch *Big Brother* (ok.. no snickering) so I didn't catch the second Microsoft ad that debuted last night featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld.
But I caught it on YouTube this am, and I have to say, a few parts made me laugh.
Essentially Bill and Jerry crash with a typical family to 'connect' and I have to admit several aspects resonated with me, though none related to Microsoft products and functionalities.
Here's the [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBWPf1BWtkw) to the long uncut version which elicited a few chuckles, especially over the 'missing' giraffe episode.
My favorite person in the ad? The grandmother of course. She does the laundry, cuts the lawn, fixes the car and pretty much predicts what comes into play.
Campaign Tech: Obama says McCain's no techie
By Judy Mottl | September 12, 2008If there's one lightning rod in this year's Presidential campaigns it's the use of the word 'change.'
And as Barack Obama points out in his latest television spot, according to [AP](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080912/ap_on_el_pr/obama), John McCain's technology skills haven't changed much since he landed in Washington in 1982.
Here's a snippet of the latest ad focusing on how McCain doesn't know how to use email:
*"He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an e-mail, still doesn't understand the economy, and favors two hundred billion in new tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class," it says. It shows video of McCain getting out of a golf cart with former President George H.W. Bush and closes with a photo of him standing with the current President Bush at the White House. "After one president who was out of touch, we just can't afford more of the same."*
John McCain, who is 71 years old, has supposedly said he relies on staff for email correspondence and computer skills.
It's a savvy message that could resonate with baby boomers who were pushed and pulled into the digital age themselves, and one that will clearly make an impact with the iPhone generation which has never known life without cell phones or smartphones or laptops or PCs.
Lots of talk, few specifics on Motorola's handset strategy
By Judy Mottl | September 11, 2008Greg Brown spent an hour this morning talking to investors in New York and while lots of words were spoken, and questions posed, few specifics about how Motorola plans to make its mobile device business work as a spin-off were doled out.
To be fair, a majority of the talk was devoted to Moto's other business lines such as rugged enterprise devices, cable set-top boxes, the Symbol technology integration and its public radio segment -- pretty much the business lines that make money for Motorola.
So just like a parent who tends to boast about the three kids in college over the youngest child who's still working nights at Burger King, Brown was looking to spread good news and confidence in light of the third quarter financials coming soon.
He did kick-off his talk by mentioning how newly crowned co-CEO Sanjay Jha, who will spear head mobile device business once its spun-off next year, "will be a great partner" and that he couldn't be "more pleased" with how his co-leader has taken to the task in the past month.
Brown was similiarly gracious about the contribution Symbol Technologies' teams are providing to the business focus and that "Symbol is teaching Motorola" when it omes to mobile voice integration and application delivery.
Motorola sees long-term opportunities with its 3G venture but is clearly not going to step away from CDMA and GMS technologies as well, and sees 10-12 percent long-term growth going forward with its enterprise mobility segments.
While it has invested in both WiMAX and LTE technologies, Motorola believes the WiMAX investment will pay off first though "we don't know when it will cross over into revenue growth" at tihs point.
About three quarters into the one-hour talk Brown did start talking about the impending spinoff effort that Jha will lead noting it will only happen when Motorola is confident it will sustain itself as an independent business, and that right now hundreds of people working on cross-functional teams are primarily focused on all the issues tied to the spin-off.
"This is a substantial undertaking," and the Motorola brand will be critical to consumer mobile devices, noted Brown.
The Motorola leader spoke highly and enthusiastically about Moto's continued partnership with Microsoft and its current Windows Mobile 6.1 mobile OS and how it's a complimentary technology to both the consumer segment and the rugged device segment. Yet he acknowledged the importance of the many other platforms Motorola uses including Linux, Symbian and its own proprietary platform.
Color me Android
By Judy Mottl | September 10, 2008Reuters is [reporting ](http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSWEA895920080910)that Google's first Android smartphone will debut on September 24th -- just two weeks from now, though exclusive carrier T-Mobile and Google of course aren't publicly commenting on the impending smartphone arrival.
If it does arrive, it bodes well for what's likely the most anticipated mobile device since Apple launched its iPhone just over a year ago. But whether it's anticipation level is on par with the iPhone debut is still a huge unknown in my view.
The Android has drawn attention due to its open source platform approach, and of course, because Google's behind it. But is that enough for the mainstream mobile user to care?
Given what Google is, are mobile users just projecting that its search innovation will transcend into mobility device innovation?
As pundits have repeatedly stated, users want smartphones that offer something better than the last one did, or speedier connectivity, or more exciting software tools.
I mean look what the touch screen design has done for smartphones -- one pundit said that feature alone can help propel device sales for players who have been lagging. So it's no surprise Nokia and Motorola are running touch screen capability to market very soon.
So I'm guessing Android will have a touch screen (what a story it would be if it didn't right...), and it'll have some great applications -- at least I'm assuming since it's all about the platform right.
But what else could it have that the iPhone or any other device doesn't have right now?
Or will the Google hook be enough to cause another product swell in the marketplace?
Moto loses another mobile division leader
By Judy Mottl | September 08, 2008Motorola's multimedia chief honcho Mike Hickey has jumped ship, taking the CEO job over at Wolfson Microelectronics, a British chip maker.
It's a curious announcement and one Motorola isn't providing information on at its Web site. But Wolfson put out a few releases, and according to a CNN report the 49-year-old has been working in Moto's mobile division for three years.
One has to wonder if Hickey left because of Sanjay Jha coming onboard this summer as the new mobile division CEO and also co-CEO for Motorola.
Obviously he was spared during Co-CEO Greg Brown's executive bloodbath that took place the first six months of this year so that must mean Brown wanted him to stay on.
Maybe Motorola will announce a replacement during a talk Brown is giving to investors Thursday. Brown's expected to provide some specifics on new products and strategies.
Samsung's courting SanDisk
By Judy Mottl | September 05, 2008Reuters is [reporting](http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSSEO16274820080905) this morning that top chip maker Samsung Electronics is mulling buying up flash memory maker SanDisk, though a spokesperson said a decision hasn't been made.
The move would be a huge boost for Samsung financially and market wise.
It would save $350 million a year it now pays SanDisk in licensing fees, and as flash memory is gaining big ground with storage vendors it could propel Samsung into the lucrative industry.
Reuters noted that Seagate was rumoured to be courting SanDisk last month.
The big loser, according to analysts quoted, would be Toshiba, which partners with SanDisk and competes with Samsung. No surprise stock prices fell for Toshiba but were up for both SanDisk and Samsung this morning.
The $3B plus deal would likely hit some challenging regulatory reviews, say pundits, over anti-trust concerns.
Bill & Jerry at the Shoe Circus
By Judy Mottl | September 04, 2008I had heard that Microsoft was looking to come back with an ad that would blow the Mac vs. PC guys away.
I love those guys. Yes I'm a Mac groupie from college, but I've also come around to see the beauty of the PC. And I just always found both of them cute and funny, and entertaining.
About three minutes ago I saw the advertising response from Microsoft. I think anyway.
I think but not sure because it was soooooooooo badddddddd.
Jerry Seinfeld's walking the mall, sees Bill Gates trying on shoes at Shoe Circus, runs in and has an inane conversation during which he asks Bill if he wants a Churro (which Jerry is munching on), measures Bill's foot at one point, asking, 'is that your toe,' to which Bill says 'no, it's leather,' and then shows Bill how to stretch the shoes to fit (Gates is a size 10 by the way) and Bill gets shoes.
As they walk out the parking lot (both with Churros in hand at this point) Jerry asks some inane question about a new PC that can be eaten while you work on it (I need to rewind the DVR and check that I will admit).
I think Jerry then asks Gates to answer using his 'shorts' and Gates slows his pace, wiggles his tush and Seinfeld proclaims yippee.
Maybe it's me. Maybe it's the Microsoft advertising team.
But to have one of the funniest guys in the last decade and one of the greatest, if not greatest, computing visionaries on television, in the same skit and not create one genuine moment beyond disbelief is a testament.
A testament to what, though, is what I'll be pondering as I watch it again and again.
Campaign Tech: Obama's ringing endorsements...
By Judy Mottl | September 04, 2008I got to thinking today about what our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates use and don't use when it comes to technology.
So I fired off some emails to the two campaigns, with questions about what each candidate thinks about technology today, the impact to our lives at work and at play, and what, if any, technology they use on a personal basis.
As I await responses, I decided to do a little checking around, starting with their respective campaign sites and I have to admit, as a registered independent, I'm slightly impressed with Obama-Biden's '[Mobile](http://www.barackobama.com/mobilev2/)' page.
12 ringtones with Obama's voice booming out various messages right there for the downloading.
And some of them are downright spunky and be-bopping.
There's something for every music lover it seems -- a little rap, a little jazz, a little gospel, a little hard rock, a little inspirational gospel sounding.
I didn't hear any Barry White ringtone rendition, though, which is disappointing as I likely would have downloaded that just for the fun of it, and conversation-starting aspect ;)
My favorite (in terms of beat that is) is No. 7.
There are also some wallpaper options though I couldn't seem to get them to download.
But there is a neat text message sign-up so fans can get alerts about specific issues and updates on the campaign.
Over at the site's [Downloads](http://www.barackobama.com/downloads/#) page you can get wallpapers too and even some widgets. There are also buddy icons.
Not too shabby.
**Tomorrow**: a look at the McCain-Palin site and tech aspects.
A handset for everyone, plus their mother
By Judy Mottl | September 02, 2008Remember those days in grade school where the teacher would put a huge jar of marbles on her desk and ask the class to guess how many were in the jar?
No one, not even the smartest second grader, ever came close to the right answer. And since the teacher never, ever actually counted out the marbles we likely will never even know if the 'correct' answer was correct, now that I think about it.
I got thinking about this today as *BetaNews* reported on the fact that at least 100 more new handsets were going to hit the market by year's end. And just over a third, about 35, will be 3G phones.
That's in addition to the dozens that have already hit the shelves this year.
According to Matt Thornton, an analyst at Avian Securities, coming to market are the following (just in time for back to school and the holidays):
- HTC's Dream on Google's Android platform
- RIM's Thunder, Kickstart, and Javelin devices
- Sony-Ericsson's Xperia (though reports today state this could be on shakey ground)
- Nokia's 5800 Tube, 7510 Supernovia, N79 and N85 (Nokia just released 3 the other week)
- Samsung's KC910
- Motorola's Alexander, Atila, and Ischia devices (about 35 total from what Motorola stated during its most recent earnings call )
Motorola, in particular, was cited by Thornton as in a "tough battle" and the "most challenged."
Which is nothing new, but it's not clear if Thornton's numbers include Moto's 35 new handsets (the vendor is aiming to have 50 new ones total this year).
And doesn't it say something about Moto if the 'challenged' vendor is able to push out a total of 50 in one year?
The big question, though, is how many handsets is too many? Or rather, can there be too many?
Even a bigger question, at least in my mind, is when will some savvy handset maker go the Dell custom PC route and let people build their own smartphone.
I broached this 'smartphone' by design concept to an industry analyst.
I will admit that at first he didn't get my concept, which I think is pretty simple. Users would log on to a handset maker's site, and just like Dell letyou design your own system we'd be able to design our own smartphone - from form factor to memory size to keyboard choice to applications.
I don't think it's as outrageous an idea as the analyst essentially thinks it is. He pointed to the fact that there are more moving parts to a handset.
I responded that users don't have to have decision-making on every part.
Maybe a modified format could be choosing various features and the handset maker offering up the closest designed options.
Neither the analyst or I have any idea of how fast assembly and delivery in such a product design scenario would work. And obviously there are limitations but I think they could be easily overcome.
Users would get exactly what they want with a phone, and I'd think brand loyalty would grow.
So what's your take? Is it a half-brain idea?
After all how many smartphones can fit in a jar?
How many handsets are needed, I wonder. How many different smartphone variations are there already? Will there come a time when every possible combination of smartphone feature has been created?
