My wife has just upgraded her cell phone. When faced with the choices, she was offered a staggering array of phones each with a plethora of functions. These phones can do everything: play videos or MP3s, take photos and videos, record voice files, keep your diary, task list, contacts and manage your emails, browse the Internet, set reminders, play chess (quite well!), allow you to create and edit documents, spreadsheets and databases, and so much more. And, they even allow you to make a phone call! All they’re missing is a corkscrew.
But these all-in-one devices are not for everyone. For starters, they’re quite expensive (even if you get it free on a contract, you have quite a hefty contract and insurance is high). In every business cycle, for every product, there is a point at which the features exceed the maximum required functionality level of the consumer. At that point, the curve begins to flatten and the drop is not long thereafter. (Just ask Microsoft – they crossed the usability/functionality threshhold a long time ago with MS Office).
At that stage in an industry, its time to shift attention away from adding more features, and towards connecting in with customer values, and making sure you add real value. What’s the next trick for cellphones? It certainly won’t be in simply adding extra functionality.
It can even make phone calls
While I’m one of those guys that loves the added features on my phone (I use a Treo650) I couldn’t agree more that this convergence of technologies is a poor-man’s innovation, and a cop-out.
However, as I stated over at “Hello_World�, I believe that the manufacturers do it simply because they have their hands in golden handcuffs…!
You’ve put in pics of the Motorola MPX. I assume you didn’t read the terrible reviews of the phone? It’s NASTY!!!
You see, windows CE (mobile/pocket PC) devices are the proverbial “hammer looking for a nail”. They can do everything, but are great at nothing.
Conversly, the Blackberry is an interesting example of great design. It ain’t pretty, but it “just works”. It does it all. I love it.
To be honest, the picture was the result of a random Google image search (although your comments indicate I chose a good example after all). I tend to think of some of the options available as a sledgehammer trying to whack in a screw. Not only overkill, but also inappropriate.
PS – I can’t see what all the fuss is about Blackberry. Sure, it works. But then, with reasonably ubiquitous hot spots, why wouldn’t I just fire up my laptop and do it all through that? Am I missing something?
Do you really think hot spots are reasonably ubiquitous?
Having said that, I’m also not crazy about the blackberry, any half decent phone with gprs access can get your mail in a flash, and even if there isn’t a hot spot handy, I can get my mail on my powerbook anywhere with the same phone’s bluetooth/gprs…!