Fancy features don't sell phones in U.S.

[Rocco Augusto]

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/05/31/78775_HNfancyphonefeatures_1.html?source=NLC-WIR2006-06-01

"Advanced features aren't moving mobile phones off shelves in the U.S. even though more users are adopting them, according to a recent survey by research company J.D. Power and Associates. Price and design are the biggest reasons consumers give for buying particular handsets, said Kirk Parsons, an analyst at the Westlake Village, California, company. Few respondents said they chose their current phone because it had a particular feature. The company surveyed 18,740 users in two waves, one last October and one in February. They were allowed to give multiple reasons for the purchase, Parsons said."



In the Smartphone world, I wouldn't see this study holding much merit. Everyone I know that has recently bought a WM5 device has done so because the newer models sport EDGE as well as push email in select devices. Spending my days peddling out cell phones to customers, I can say that this would definitely apply to average Joe or Jane Consumer. Everyday I have a handful of customers that would love to grab a phone with feature XYZ on it but instead choose the RAZR because it is a sleeker looking device. Hopefully this will change as newer technology like DVB-H and UMTS/HSDPA as well as newer handsets like the HTC Star Trek become more steadily available in the US.

[Rocco Augusto]

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/05/31/78775_HNfancyphonefeatures_1.html?source=NLC-WIR2006-06-01

"Advanced features aren't moving mobile phones off shelves in the U.S. even though more users are adopting them, according to a recent survey by research company J.D. Power and Associates. Price and design are the biggest reasons consumers give for buying particular handsets, said Kirk Parsons, an analyst at the Westlake Village, California, company. Few respondents said they chose their current phone because it had a particular feature. The company surveyed 18,740 users in two waves, one last October and one in February. They were allowed to give multiple reasons for the purchase, Parsons said."



In the Smartphone world, I wouldn't see this study holding much merit. Everyone I know that has recently bought a WM5 device has done so because the newer models sport EDGE as well as push email in select devices. Spending my days peddling out cell phones to customers, I can say that this would definitely apply to average Joe or Jane Consumer. Everyday I have a handful of customers that would love to grab a phone with feature XYZ on it but instead choose the RAZR because it is a sleeker looking device. Hopefully this will change as newer technology like DVB-H and UMTS/HSDPA as well as newer handsets like the HTC Star Trek become more steadily available in the US.

[Kris Kumar]

Half the time the much hyped fancy features are all hype and little substance, and too complex to use.

No wonder physical attributes like style and price move the product.

[sojourner753]

I remember back when I bought the Nokia 6310i (I think thats the number). I picked it over the other phones soley because it wanted bluetooth.

I left the dumb phone world after experiencing the Motorola v600 hackery and never looked back.

I broke down and upgraded my smt5600 to the 2125 because of EDGE.

[Mike Temporale]

Originally Posted by sojourner753

I broke down and upgraded my smt5600 to the 2125 because of EDGE.

And because you know Windows Mobile is better, right?

[Jerry Raia]

I see so many RAZR's now it makes them common and dull. I was working with two people who both had them and when I asked them what they thought of them all I got was a litany of complaints of what they couldn't' do with it or what didn't work. One was T-Mobile, the other Cingular. Moto and the carriers can give away (practically) as many of these toys as they want. If they don't do much other than look good they wont be worth much in the long run. Ptooey I say!

[sojourner753]

Originally Posted by Mike Temporale

And because you know Windows Mobile is better, right?

Well, the smt5600 was a WM smartphone. But the answer to your question is still yes. :wink:

[Mike Temporale]

Originally Posted by sojourner753

Well, the smt5600 was a WM smartphone. But the answer to your question is still yes. :wink:

ops: I meant from your Motorola v600. :lol:

[sojourner753]

To be honest,

I left the v600 'cause it was so crappy. But once I experienced Windows Mobile, I can agree that its much better.