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Software and added features are helping turn cell phones into mobile PCs

There was a time when many people simply used cell phones for making phone calls only, but those days seem to be long gone.

"People are getting used to the idea that there's more to a phone than talking," IDC analyst Shiv Bakhshi said to the San Jose Mercury News.  "It's a very exciting time."

Analysts are anticipating a strong sales spike in Smartphones over the next several years.  In 2007, there were 122 million Smartphone sales, which should be topped by 2008 sales figures of 186 million.  In the future, according to Gartner, the numbers will continue to increase, with an estimated 410 million Smartphones sold in 2010.

To accompany sending text and picture messages, using a phone's camera, and listening to music, phone owners are finding multiple other things they can use with their phone.  It's also possible to use your cell phone to also pay bus or train fare, with the technology expected to grow in the future.

Aside from simply placing calls, Nielsen Mobile numbers indicate 53 percent of phone owners send text messages, with 25 percent also relying on multimedia messaging.  Away from messaging, the next most popular use on the phone is ringtone downloads and Mobile Internet, with 19 and 17 percent of phone users using these functions.

Many Smartphone owners also are making use of services such as mobile MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and other online sites that have been re-designed for mobile use.

Nokia also announced its phone owners have downloaded 90 million applications in the last two years, and will continue to make phones that are more "PC-like" than older phones.  Nokia has 45 percent of the Smartphone market, with Research in Motion (RIM) in second with 13 percent, and Apple coming in third with 5 percent, according to Gartner.

Along with those three, Samsung, LG, and other companies are trying to enter the growing market for Smartphones and phones capable of letting owners download new content.



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Are symbian and microsoft....
By Locutus465 on 8/26/08, Rating: 0
RE: Are symbian and microsoft....
By Myrandex on 8/26/2008 3:37:09 PM , Rating: 2
Symbian is just an os...and is the OS that Nokia uses for its Smartphones. Same with Windows Mobile. OSX wasn't on the charts either...

This is about Hardware. Counting specific hardware sales sounds like a good figure here...as it isn't like people go out and purchase Windows Mobile, Android, OSX, or Symbian and install it on their phones.

As for my WM 6.1, I just downloaded it ;)
Jason


RE: Are symbian and microsoft....
By othercents on 8/26/2008 3:59:37 PM , Rating: 2
This will also include hardware that doesn't have a full keyboard, but has "smart phone" software. I'm not sure exactly what categorizes it as a smart phone other than maybe email, calendar, and internet browser.

Other


By Locutus465 on 8/26/2008 4:32:59 PM , Rating: 3
IMHO it's the software that makes the difference... Which is why I beleive it's a fallocy to look at smart phone market ownership from a hardware perspective.

Basically, it's Windows Mobile 5 being installed on my phone that makes it a smart phone... Not the fact that it's a samsung that someone describes as being a smart phone... I could care less about who makes the HW when it comes to smart phones (other than the device be well built), for me it's all about software.

This makes smart phones distinctly differnet from the standard cell market where the hardware is the main focus.


RE: Are symbian and microsoft....
By Tamale on 8/28/2008 10:38:52 AM , Rating: 2
Yet in AT&T's terms, the only defining characteristic is whether or not the phone has a qwerty keyboard.

It's pretty silly really.. if you get a basic phone like the razer you can get a $15/month unlimited data plan, and everything works fine.. even tethering to your laptop. if you get a phone with a qwerty keypad, you suddenly have to pay twice as much for exact same unlimited plan, except it's called "pda connect" or something. if you get a blackberry, it goes up even more... and if you go the legit route and actually order a 'tethering plan' or an actual laptop connect card, it goes up even more.. to like $60/month.

the prices are all based on how AT&T thinks you'll use your device, not the actual capabilities of the device or plan.


By therealnickdanger on 8/26/2008 4:23:20 PM , Rating: 2
I'm running a WMPro6.1 ROM on my Sprint Touch (it came preloaded with WMPro6.0)... so awesome. Between the capabilities built-in to the OS and loading two free apps (Skyfire and TCPMP), I can do everything I do at home or work while on the go. Fortunately, nothing in my life requires such connectivity, but I like having it.


iPhone = death of WM
By vision33r on 8/27/2008 2:40:27 PM , Rating: 1
It doesn't matter what Microsoft does from now on with WM, it's going to lose customers faster than ever.

Before the iPhone came in, it was either Symbian, Blackberry, or WM. WM was the best platform because of IE and Outlook Mobile.

Microsoft was warned of their bloatedness for many years and done nothing about it.

WM was always a techie's OS and that's the problem, even with Samsung's attempt to hide the WM default UI was not good enough.

Pretty soon it will just a 3 way race, Symbian, iPhone, RIM.




RE: iPhone = death of WM
By Tamale on 8/28/2008 10:40:27 AM , Rating: 2
i really don't think windows mobile is that hard to use or bad. hell, it's even quite a bit faster on a blackjack than symbian is on my E62.. and the browsers I've used on the Tilt blow the iphone's away in terms of performance and compatibility.


Because of Apple!!!!!!!!!!
By youdosuck on 8/26/08, Rating: -1
By SiliconAddict on 8/26/2008 7:12:55 PM , Rating: 1
Yah a god who had colon cancer. Tell me. What happens if your "God" dies? What then? Go ahead and rank me down. But you know its true. Without Jobs and his marketing skills Apple IS, unlike what others have said over the years, doomed. Tick...tock...tick....tock.

Apple: The epitome of style over anything remotely approaching substance.


By Locutus465 on 8/26/2008 5:55:09 PM , Rating: 2
On my windows mobile 5 phone setting the alarm is a single tap (or w/o stylus down arrow then OK) on the date/time on the today screen... Here I'm greated with a screen where I can set 3 individual alarms specifying the times and days of the week. My PPC 3 phone that this one replaced worked very similarly. What version of WM are you using that doesn't do this?

Are there any more functions you find that much quicker on Apple? If so what are they? The big iPhone advantages I see are integrated itunes with purchasing and the offical apple apps store, something microsoft doesn't have an answer for (directly on the device anyway).


By sapiens74 on 8/26/2008 6:01:09 PM , Rating: 2
The browser is a killer app. It runs normal webpages and I can order parts, check my hotmail all in a full browser which I cannot on my Windows Mobile Device which is currently a Q9M

Little apps like stocks and weather also make for nice quick touch updates.

Not to mention the IPOD integration which plays all my MP3 (very few Itunes purchases, well relative)

The interface is what makes it so nice. It looks nice and feels quick. My Windows mobile devices feel sluggish and un pretty.

Email with MS Push is much nicer as it shows in HTML, so Signatures and links are shown correctly as if using a full email client.

It is also able to open PDF, Excel, Word docs natively and scales them nicely with the big screen.


By SiliconAddict on 8/26/2008 7:25:50 PM , Rating: 1
Yah and when Firefox Mobile launches for WM and not for the iHype with support for every standard including flash what then?

I know the Q9M. Its shit. That isn't MS's fault. The device had a crappy CPU, subpar memory, and is generally crap. This coming from a friend who owns one. I tried to help her out but really the device sucks.

Oh and finally. the Q9M is a completely different implementation of a mobile OS then something like WM on a device like the Touch Pro. Its designed around non-touchscreens and generally smaller screens at that. It would have been nice if you did a bit of research before actually jumping on the iHype wagon. But that is what the iPhone is good for. Sucking in uninformed consumers.


By robinthakur on 8/27/2008 6:04:32 AM , Rating: 2
I used to have an HTC TYTN so my opinion at least is not uninformed (this was NOT an underpowered smart phone and was widely reviewed and celebrated by the tech cognosscenti). On paper, the Wimo seems to have it all, but the interface, very poor phone software and unreliable build quality make it absolute hell to navigate and use. The touch screen was pretty unresponsive and the phone dropped nearly every call in 3g mode. I went through 3 of them as the keyboards and then the latching mechanism failed.

The same criticism applies to the Touch series because eventually, you do end up getting that crappy stylus out and having to hit tiny windows menus. They are nowehere near the iPhone imp. i'm sorry to tell you.

After that I had several N Series Nokias (all fine), samsung U600's (crap software and cheap design), a Blackberry 8800 (fabulous but slightly fiddly), two iphone 2Gs and an iPhone 3G. At the end of all of that, having used the iPhone 3G and the iPhone original I would never consider downgrading to another type of phone. Those that criticise the iPhone on here would do well to use one for a month and then go back to using an old fashioned phone, because the difference is tangible. Using a phone is rarely this fun.

Interestingly, I only bought the original Iphone 2G to resell to make a fat profit but after unlocking and using it briefly, I couldn't bear to part with it. I think Apple's main advantage is not forgetting that its a phone first and foremost. The rest is very nice, but its easy and intuitive to make calls on. Flash would be nice :(


By Locutus465 on 8/27/2008 9:40:38 AM , Rating: 2
I can accomplish just about every operation short of playing solitair and Pocket Mahjong with out a stylus... All it takes is the courage to keep the stylus in the phone, truest me :)

Could you please out line a few basic operations that you find impossible to commplish w/o the use of a stylus on your WM device? Perhaps I can give it a shot on my Samsung i730 and get back to you on how the experience was.

As far as iPhone, it's a sexy design no doubt. It does have a better out of the box browser than WM (though on WM you can just install Opera). It's a solid design, but I think if you actually tried using your WM device rather than dismissing it for not being an iPhone it would take you about 10 minutes (max) to figure out how to effectivly use the device.


By melgross on 8/27/2008 12:47:58 PM , Rating: 2
Still not impressed. Flash is nothing but a hinderance on a phone. If you love those ads, fine.

Every review for a Win Mobile phone I've ever seen has said that it was the OS that was holding the phone back, even when they thought the hardware was fine.

Despite your weak attempt at sarcasm, there are plenty of phones better than Win Mobile models. Try every other model with a different OS.

It's also interesting that after MS was hyping that they would have 20 million new licenses for Win Mobile phones in the last 12 months, they stopped talking about it, when the actual numbers that came out showed barely 18 million.

What will it be the next 12 months, 16 million? 14? 12?


By Locutus465 on 8/27/2008 2:47:10 PM , Rating: 2
Between blackberry and WM I prefer WM strongly.. But that's just me. I only have limited iPhone experience, for what I did on iPhone it seemed fine basically, but comparing my coworkers 3G to my i730 I find I prefer the functionality of the i730. I'm not saying the iphone is a pile of crap, but I am saying that I personally find it quicker/easier to work with WM.


By SiliconAddict on 8/26/2008 7:16:28 PM , Rating: 2
90% if the complaints with WM have to do with the fact that users don't close apps and Microsoft being the dipshits that they are don't allow the configuration of the X to close said apps but minimize them.
I've used the Pocket PC and WM for years and have had virtually no issues because I manage my memory. WM is more capable then the iHype. The difference is you need to manage your environment. Get your users an app closer and they will be fine.


By sapiens74 on 8/26/2008 9:25:22 PM , Rating: 2
I am the IT manage for my company in Hawaii and for all mobile phones.

It ain't the users. I know how to use Task manager on my Q, I shouldn't have to

I can do in 10 Minutes on the Iphone what it takes me 30 or more to do on any Windows Mobile device.

If we weren't bound to Verizon we would have Iphones, for the money its the best device out there. It's idiot proof and also easy to manage, plus functional where it counts.

once you use the iphone for any period of time, you will see how inadequate WM really is.

This coming from a notorious apple hater........


By Locutus465 on 8/26/2008 10:49:54 PM , Rating: 2
I still want to know specifically what tasks are being discussed... I think I effectivly debunked the alarm clock argument.


By Funksultan on 8/27/2008 8:17:51 AM , Rating: 2
Amen. He started off by bashing the apps, specifically the clock, and Locutus took the time to explain how easy the WM clock/alarm app really is.

Instead of addressing the subject, mysterious operations that take "10 minutes" to do on an Iphone, and "30 minutes" on WM. WTF are you trying to do on the phone that takes 30 minutes to accomplish?


By Serlant on 8/27/2008 12:36:17 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
This coming from a notorious apple fanboy

Fixed.


By robinthakur on 8/27/2008 6:20:59 AM , Rating: 2
You must be joking lol. On a *phone*, whether its a smart phone or not, you expect *end users* to have to use the tiny stylus to open a task manager and figure out the cryptic names of apps, their individual memory usage and close the ones that are causing memory problems? If I told a user they needed to do that, they'd ask for another type of phone.

Most people just choose the icon they want for the app they need to use, they expect memory management to be done by the device! Its things like this which make people swing more towards the iPhone and see its inability to multi-task as a feature and not an oversight. Given the size of the screens on these devices and outside of IM software and daemons why would you need to multitask? Apps launch virtually instantly on the iPhone.

WiMo has not succeeded thus far because it is FAR too complex for the average user to figure out. The fact that a phone is a simple device which abstracts or lacks the complexity associated with a desktop pc is a good thing for most people, bar techies. I consider myself a techie, and I found the OS annoyingly obtuse at times and basically designed for a laptop display rather than a phone. The Apple interface by comparison is a breath of fresh, minty air, showing that Smart phones don't have to be stupidly difficult to use. I think you're being kind by saying that 90% of people don't like wimo because of memory management issues. I'd say that alot people see the problems as (in no particular order): Ugly bulk of the phones, stylus's are no longer cool, ugly interface, slow interface, defficient phone software, build quality issues, over-complexity and finally (if they understand the phone enough to actually try and use it) memory issues.


By Locutus465 on 8/27/2008 2:49:04 PM , Rating: 2
Honestly I was a bit lost when he was talking about memory management.... Personally I don't find I have too many issues with it, but that's just me. On occation I'll have an application mis-behave and then yeah, I end up in memory manger. But besides that, I'm not opening up memory manager often at all.. I think a minimize v. close function would be nice though.


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