With so many people now owning an iPhone and Google's entry on its way, where does that leave the traditional mobile phone manufacturers? Will they just concentrate on the low-end market or is it possible for them to come up with something as appealing given that they don't have the same level of market infiltration in home computing or internet presence? Are they just going to be manufacturers of components and do hardward R&D for phones branded by companies not traditionally in the mobile phone game?

There plenty of high end phones to compete with the iPhone: HTC, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony all have high end phones that do various wizz bang things.

Maybe iPhone users just seem to flash their phones around more often and mention it, probably the case, I rarely see anyone with a Blackberry cept those provided for work and I presume that's because they're secure.

Personally as a 'low-end' phone user I find that even the cheapest handsets available in shops are loaded with features that I don't use, which makes the phone slower, bigger, and harder to use.
So I think the low-end manufacturers have already loaded too much on, there is no such thing as a simple phone anymore.
I only use my phone to make emergency calls, so why do I need coloured gradients, polyphonic ringtones, an operating system, and buttons that switch on the bloody internet by accident all the time?
I would like to see them invent something practical, like a phone case that doesn't shatter when you drop your phone 30 centimetres.

There plenty of high end phones to compete with the iPhone: HTC, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony all have high end phones that do various wizz bang things.

but none of them made more profit than nokia last quarter



last edited by tequila at 15:14:36 19/Nov/09

Google's entry is already here, it's the mobile OS Android and it's not limited to any one manufacturer. Many of the traditional phone manufacturers are implementing Android-powered devices.

therms came in from pruning his roses to deliver that!

I went back a notch with my last phone, Sony-Ericsson W880i, which is minimal for me. Does some good stuff I use when I'm bored - like RSS news feeds which I plow through while waiting for a train or something like. Has a fair bit of other stuff I don't really use, like IMAP for example.

The slim form-line is what drew me too it. You can hardly feel the thing carrying it around.

I'm looking forward to an HTC Dream or HTC Tattoo or something-or-other Android now though. Something I can develop for. I'm avoiding iPhone, mainly because of the lack of a QWERTY k/b. If I'm going to get a phone to do stuff on, I want a keyboard.

thermite - my phone sounds like exactly what you want - pretty much all it has is calls, sms, and alarm. Cost me 5pounds in London. You're welcome to it when I upgrade to something that switches on the internet all the time ;)

OP - I think there is still a big enough market for normal phones as compared to the smartphone. There are plenty of people who just want a phone, and not mp3/camera/internet on their phones. However, I think 20 years down the track, all 'mobiles' will be all-encompassing devices, and the companies will have to compensate. However, they already are to an extent - iPhones may seem more prominent, but all the major companies have some form of smart phone. Motorola Droid, G1, Samsung Galaxy, Nokia N900, Palm Pre, etc etc

I'm looking forward to an HTC Dream or HTC Tattoo or something-or-other Android now though. Something I can develop for. I'm avoiding iPhone, mainly because of the lack of a QWERTY k/b. If I'm going to get a phone to do stuff on, I want a keyboard.

I understand that one of the downfalls of the iPhone is considered the lack of physical keybaord, and here it is confirmed again, but I don't understand why? When I'm weighing pros and cons for a new phone, the iphones keyboard is in the pro column.

but none of them made more profit than nokia last quarter

don't you mean apple?

Google's entry is already here, it's the mobile OS Android and it's not limited to any one manufacturer. Many of the traditional phone manufacturers are implementing Android-powered devices.

Oh I didn't really know that, I was just reading an article that says Google is releasing its own phone branded as a Google phone.

I got the cheapest phone when I bought one recently, I had a nice phone a few years ago but I lost it. I only want a phone with calls, sms, a couple of games to keep me busy while I'm on the bog and an alarm.

I would like to see them invent something practical, like a phone case that doesn't shatter when you drop your phone 30 centimetres.

Have I got the phone for you Thermite.

SONIM XP3

I bought one of these for my boss at work. You can run over this in a car and it still works. He actually managed to kill it by taking it for a swim and they just replaced it (3yr unconditional warranty). It cost like $350, he just uses it when he is kyaking (otherwise he has a gayPhone).

I understand that one of the downfalls of the iPhone is considered the lack of physical keybaord, and here it is confirmed again, but I don't understand why? When I'm weighing pros and cons for a new phone, the iphones keyboard is in the pro column.

I'd like to say I have a good reason, like I'm a 'kinesthetic learner' for example - but I don't. I just like having something to press.

Same would go for trying to replace a standard computer keyboard with say a touch-screen of the same dimensions, with keys rendered in the same size and colour as a normal keyboard - I couldn't get used to the no clicks and the feedback of the keyboard under my fingers.

I realise phones/laptops/netbooks are all about compromise - but I still want my QWERTY.

don't you mean apple?

no I meant everyone but apple, I find it interesting that apple can release a product and within 24 months they are making more money off their single phone product than nokia makes on all of their phone products

ingenious

Understable - so it's basically about having something to press? I got used to using the touch keyboard on my ipod touch, and I really enjoy being able to type inaccurately and have it correct for me :D

Understable - so it's basically about having something to press? I got used to using the touch keyboard on my ipod touch, and I really enjoy being able to type inaccurately and have it correct for me :D

Yeah I have an iPod Touch as well, so I'm not *quite* the k/b freak I just made out that I am - but I figure I'd be using the phone a hell of a lot more than my iPod (which I just use in my car or traveling really) - so typing efficiency would more meaningful. Really only thinking about SMSs to be honest. I guess the iPhone on-screen K/B is still a huge step up from the old ABC keys and predictive texting (which it incorporates anyway) - and I'm getting by fine with those systems now!

I think personal image is a part of selecting a phone too - call me superficial, because I am. If you walk around with a Blackberry, for example, you look more like you're getting s*** done. You have a keyboard there, you must be using it to tap out 200-page reports and important emails, for sure. If you flit around town carrying an iPhone you must just be killing time and more interested in music than doing business.

i just use whatever phone work gives me and pays for;

currently a blackberry curve;

no I meant everyone but apple, I find it interesting that apple can release a product and within 24 months they are making more money off their single phone product than nokia makes on all of their phone products

ingenious

The article says:

Apple does not unveil profits per business line, but Strategy Analytics estimated Apple's operating profit for its iPhone handset unit stood at $1.6 billion in the third quarter, compared with Nokia's $1.1 billion.

So its a guess. The iPhone is an amazing achievement but that entire article is based on one third party's estimate so its not exactly proof...

But unless their estimate is off by a third it's an accurate assessment of the situation...

yeah not everyone is sucked into the iphone trend....
im not the biggest fan of touch screens to begin with.
i use a motorola pda for work, and i wish i didnt.
i love my nokia 31whatever, and ive dropped/thrown/stood/sat on it hundreds of times, and not a scratch.
my mate just bought a new phone, the latest nokia 31whatever, and loves it.
so yeah, the high end phones aren't the be all and end all imo.
having said that though, id probably love msn on my phone !!!!!!

i still use my s***ty sony/ericsson i230. cost $40 with $10 of call credit ;p

i like having a phone i can lose/smash/throw at dogs & not care about it.

yeah not everyone is sucked into the iphone trend....

sucked into?

its an awesome phone for professional users, not everyone pinches pennies on a device that lives by their side 24x7
mine organises my day, checks a few email clients, make all incoming/outgoing calls, plays my music, stores notes and provides entertainment

I don't feel at all ripped off

same goes for my n97.

what apps have you bought teq? DO you have the dog whistle?

There's always going to be old people who just want to make a call. All I want my phone to do is calls, sms, picture messaging and the occasional email. I don't need all the extra stuff.

is that all? what about ring tones and spiffy apps?

i just use whatever phone work gives me and pays for; currently a blackberry curve;

same same but it's a Bold (how is the curve spook?)

but i leave mine at home and we take my wife's little flip top Samsung when we go out. i don't mind the extras i just hate the size and feel in my pocket. and it really is only work stuff i need my BB for, i can do without my personal email during the day.

i recall when phones started huge, then went really minimalist, now are on the way back up again because of all the extras

yer, curve is ok;
its pretty locked down under the work bes, which is a shame;

still getting used to the tiny keyboard with my massive man hands;

is that all? what about ring tones and spiffy apps?

my current phone makes a ringing noise when it rings, I hate stupid f*****s with poofter ring tones that yell out lines from borat, makes them look like a wanker. I happen to know a guy who has just that, popped collar pinksalmon coloured shirt wearing f*****.

There's no trendy about the iPhone, it's the goods. I didn't like the because of the whole evil Apple thing but once I used one I got one and I honestly couldn't go back to a Nokia or a winmobile. Some people (including me) just have/had some odd self depriving (of owning one) thing about them for who knows what reason.

They pick on the odd thing here and there but I don't think I've ever owned a mobile that I've had to do without one or two things before. They're not perfect but they're the best I've found so far.

I'd like to know when the N900 is coming out, because I'm tempted to get one.

P.S Wrong again tequila, wrong again.

a professional phone that has a dog whistle app on it.....
that's 4 times the size of my current phone and 6 times more expensive.
that doesnt have a qwerty keyboard

= iphone

mine organises my day, checks a few email clients, make all incoming/outgoing calls, plays my music, stores notes and provides entertainment

orly, mine only takes incoming calls :(
i have to use the string and can to make outgoing calls. :(
and it organises your day?
or you input data into it in order then follow for the day?
i have a brain for that......

an iphone coudl s*** icecream and pay you to use it, and i still wouldnt want one

f*** apple and f*** any device thats locked down by apple, oh and itunes, lolz

Personally as a 'low-end' phone user I find that even the cheapest handsets available in shops are loaded with features that I don't use, which makes the phone slower, bigger, and harder to use.
So I think the low-end manufacturers have already loaded too much on, there is no such thing as a simple phone anymore.
I only use my phone to make emergency calls, so why do I need coloured gradients, polyphonic ringtones, an operating system, and buttons that switch on the bloody internet by accident all the time?
I would like to see them invent something practical, like a phone case that doesn't shatter when you drop your phone 30 centimetres.

Same.

I cbf with all the wanker phones, more s*** to go wrong, update blah blah blah.

I recently got a new SE C903 and it has more crap than I need and it is a 'basic' phone. It's actually nice having a good camera in it though, in good light it kicks arse, other than that too much s***!


last edited by mission at 07:47:28 20/Nov/09