how smart is MS smartphone?
Carriers both GSM and CDMA have launched smartphone services for their users - Cingular (2125) and T-mobile(SDA) rolled out their non-touch screen windows-enabled smartphones in the US market while MS plans more than 3 types designed for customers of different profiles. Thats really ambitious, expensive and time-consuming, but MS wants to play the market, while Motorola's Q smartphone awaits a launch with Verizon. Atlast CDMA segment is blessed with good devices - Smartphones with Palm and now Moto!
Microsoft's 'Photon' is still under covers after alerting the market about their convergent plans. PocketPC, PDA, Mobile device - all in one. Hmmm... I do admire the concept of wireless convergence, but I prefer the 'agility of fingers' than a boring stylus and ofcourse the ease of my Apple for docs, spreads, detailed e-mails, presentations and the works. I can't imagine how sleek the device would look on the photon OS (i completely dread the look of giant I-PAQs).
'Rundo' by MS, a new cool device leverages the bluetooth GPS antenna is targetted at runners, skiers and other out-door people who can keep a track of their workout, sync with along with a map of say the mountain/lake that you ran at. MS is asking partners such as HTC to build cool devices.
This is a clear MS's competitive strategy when compared to most of the other handset or any smartphone vendor. Let us see how people adopt these smartphones and would they prefer it over any like Symbian, Linux(popular outside the US), Palm Treo or RIM's blackberry! Will price alone be a deciding factor?
Here is a tid-bit from a user - I used 'I-mate' Smartphone 2002 two years ago. It was compatible in GSM environment in Europe and Asia. I was a happy customer, got my GPRS, and MMS set-up with the Hutch operator in India. The easy-to-use UI, decent screen size, cool apps(yes, 2 years ago I liked the idea over Mobile IM), mobile internet, voice capability and PDA capability was satisfying. Though, it needed another $100 for the attachable camera(moderate output), it did give me more than satisfactory results connecting, transferring heavy data(most of which was missing in it), photos, recordings and sync features.
Only if I could re-use it in the US for calling purposes than simply connecting it to my laptop for browsing, it wouldn't have been given away. I still cherish the images and the voice clips (some are even 10 minutes of excellent voice quality) over my i-Tunes. I tried to sync it with i-Pod too, but somehow it never plays on it. Well, it was a big give-away for me:( Given a choice over Blackberry, I would still opt for a smartphone. If Microsoft has better features - you bet I will grab it, only if the prices don't hurt!
Note -The first smartphone was called Simon designed by IBM in 1992 and shown as a concept product at COMDEX. It was released to the public in 1993 and sold by BellSouth. Besides a mobile phone, it also contained a calendar, address book, world clock, calculator, note pad, e-mail, and games. Customers could also use a stylus to write directly on its screen to create facsimiles and memos.
Microsoft's 'Photon' is still under covers after alerting the market about their convergent plans. PocketPC, PDA, Mobile device - all in one. Hmmm... I do admire the concept of wireless convergence, but I prefer the 'agility of fingers' than a boring stylus and ofcourse the ease of my Apple for docs, spreads, detailed e-mails, presentations and the works. I can't imagine how sleek the device would look on the photon OS (i completely dread the look of giant I-PAQs).
'Rundo' by MS, a new cool device leverages the bluetooth GPS antenna is targetted at runners, skiers and other out-door people who can keep a track of their workout, sync with along with a map of say the mountain/lake that you ran at. MS is asking partners such as HTC to build cool devices.
This is a clear MS's competitive strategy when compared to most of the other handset or any smartphone vendor. Let us see how people adopt these smartphones and would they prefer it over any like Symbian, Linux(popular outside the US), Palm Treo or RIM's blackberry! Will price alone be a deciding factor?
Here is a tid-bit from a user - I used 'I-mate' Smartphone 2002 two years ago. It was compatible in GSM environment in Europe and Asia. I was a happy customer, got my GPRS, and MMS set-up with the Hutch operator in India. The easy-to-use UI, decent screen size, cool apps(yes, 2 years ago I liked the idea over Mobile IM), mobile internet, voice capability and PDA capability was satisfying. Though, it needed another $100 for the attachable camera(moderate output), it did give me more than satisfactory results connecting, transferring heavy data(most of which was missing in it), photos, recordings and sync features.
Only if I could re-use it in the US for calling purposes than simply connecting it to my laptop for browsing, it wouldn't have been given away. I still cherish the images and the voice clips (some are even 10 minutes of excellent voice quality) over my i-Tunes. I tried to sync it with i-Pod too, but somehow it never plays on it. Well, it was a big give-away for me:( Given a choice over Blackberry, I would still opt for a smartphone. If Microsoft has better features - you bet I will grab it, only if the prices don't hurt!
Note -The first smartphone was called Simon designed by IBM in 1992 and shown as a concept product at COMDEX. It was released to the public in 1993 and sold by BellSouth. Besides a mobile phone, it also contained a calendar, address book, world clock, calculator, note pad, e-mail, and games. Customers could also use a stylus to write directly on its screen to create facsimiles and memos.
posted by viXos @ 2:01 PM
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