MobileTechReview Looks at the Sharper Image Windows Mobile 6 Unlocked Pocket PC Phone

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/pho...ketPC-Phone.htm

"The Sharper Image 101TSI is a relatively compact and light (4.3 ounces) Windows Mobile 6 Professional Pocket PC phone with a QVGA touch screen. Once you get over the lack of 850MHz, 3G and WiFi, it looks pretty good on paper with Bluetooth 2.0, a 2 megapixel camera with auto-focus lens, 400MHz Samsung processor and a GPS. It sells for $499, which is a might high given that you buy the powerhouse AT&T Tilt or T-Mobile Wing without contract extension for a similar price. The phone is actually the AMOI N810, and AMOI is a large Chinese manufacturer of cell phones that are sold primarily in China."



When I first heard about this phone a few months ago, it seemed like a curious product for The Sharper Image to be offering. After reading the MobileTechReview article, it seems even more curious - it's not like it's particularly inexpensive at $499, and lacking one of the phone bands needed for true North American phone operation, it seems like an ill-conceived product.

UPDATE: I was just told (thanks Jim!) that The Sharper Image filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. Seems like this device could have serious warranty fulfilment issues. 8O

[Jason Dunn]

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/pho...ketPC-Phone.htm

"The Sharper Image 101TSI is a relatively compact and light (4.3 ounces) Windows Mobile 6 Professional Pocket PC phone with a QVGA touch screen. Once you get over the lack of 850MHz, 3G and WiFi, it looks pretty good on paper with Bluetooth 2.0, a 2 megapixel camera with auto-focus lens, 400MHz Samsung processor and a GPS. It sells for $499, which is a might high given that you buy the powerhouse AT&T Tilt or T-Mobile Wing without contract extension for a similar price. The phone is actually the AMOI N810, and AMOI is a large Chinese manufacturer of cell phones that are sold primarily in China."



When I first heard about this phone a few months ago, it seemed like a curious product for The Sharper Image to be offering. After reading the MobileTechReview article, it seems even more curious - it's not like it's particularly inexpensive at $499, and lacking one of the phone bands needed for true North American phone operation, it seems like an ill-conceived product.

UPDATE: I was just told (thanks Jim!) that The Sharper Image filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. Seems like this device could have serious warranty fulfilment issues. 8O

[TTown]

It doesn't surprise me. The Sharper Image, while a cool store to look in, has always been overpriced.

[aNiMeMaN14]

HOPE THESE GO ON SALE :lol:

[VulcanTourist]

Sharper Image had a bad business model from the start: mail-order catalog with trumped-up prices, attempting to capitalize on the average uncritical person's presumption that anything offered in a mail order catalog had to be priced competitively. Their transition to the Web was a natural move, with the existence of online businesses like Amazon and Newegg creating the same uncritical presumption in many Web surfers' minds.

So you're telling me people finally caught on? Took 'em long enough, though... a few Sharper Image corporate execs got pretty rich in the interim, I'll wager.