The touch screen phenomena is not a new thing, been there for few years now. But the launch of iphone created such a hype not just because of never-seen-before touch screen but for the touch screen hand-held device without a stylus. Of course, the way it was showcased, and the brand of ‘Apple‘ added to the hype.
iphone was received with never seen before enthusiasm even though the less preffered AT&T was the service provider. But the ‘phone’ part of the iphone received severe criticism. The iphone seems to lack many vital features of a good mobile phone(3G and many others). But the stylish 3 inch touch screen display with very good safari browser, and minimal keys were its best features. Also, the interface was like never seen before.
Soon there was launch of ipod touch, that’s iphone minus the phone. Was it to salvage the dent caused by the not so merciful reviewers of the iphone or the smart strategy of Steve Jobs, not to miss out the touch screen hype? ipod touch is very vibrant, and offers all that the iphone had to offer but the phone and all these at a much cheaper price!
N810, a new gadget by Nokia, is a device to compete with ipod touch. Why is the world’s largest telecom supplier going to something without a telephone? Internet has taken over huh? The technology sure seems to suggest this. A little over 4 inch display with reduced QWERTY keyboard, web browser, music player and WiFi makes it very desirable but for the ‘phone’. Who would be interested in such a device? There are many people showing their disappointment over not including the normal phone feature. Why did Nokia do this?
Why are they going for this ‘internet tablet’ hand-helds? Why don’t they want to provide the ‘phone feature’? Is it to make it stand out? The strategy is unclear to me, as i still prefer to have a good phone with add ons like music player, camera and web browser.
As the iphone’s launch date in India nears Nokia, Motorola and Samsung seems to be building new strategies to defend their territory. Motorola has plans of rolling out MotoMusic service, a WAP and internet based platform for music downloads directly to the handhelds, a competation for itunes. MotoMusic is available in China currently. Wonder why don’t they try that out in the US where more people would be actually buying music unlike in India. This still is to complement the music phones. Nokia has announced their mobile services brand Ovi soon in India, to host music, gaming, navigation, and many other services. Sony Ericsson having already made killer sales in the recent past with just their walkman phones would also be planning for something similar for India.
Touch screen seems to be ‘the thing’ for the next generation of mobile phones, if the ‘phone’ exists. Strategy Analytics study says nearly 40% of the phones by 2012 would be touch-screen ones. iphone, Razr 2 could just be the beginning.
Is the technology trend seems to be shifting towards no phone internet devices and touch-screen music players? Have to wait and watch if this would be the new era. Also, it would be interesting to see the response for such devices in India where majority don’t ‘buy’ music for their devices. Time would change the India buyer or the seller in India?