Mobile-review.com: Communicators, Smartphones and PDA in 2006 - the Forecast

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://mobile-review.com/pda/articles/2006-forecast-en.shtml' target='_blank'>http://mobile-review.com/pda/articles/2006-forecast-en.shtml</a><br /><br /></div><i>"In the beginning of the new year it's customary to sum up the previous year and also make forecasts, guess trends of the upcoming year. We've try to imagine what we are for in 2006, which models will come out, which trends will be most clear and bright. We'll build our forecast on the facts. The accuracy of it doesn't depend on the author's insight, but on how the companies will complete their plans for 2006, marked in their documents as "confidential". ... This operating system is trying to win its share of the market. If in the Symbian-segment we'll clearly see the monopolization, the Windows Mobile segment in 2006 will show us a burst of the number of manufacturers (we mean manufacturers and not trademarks)."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Jan06-Asus.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Anton Kotov, over at Mobile-review.com, is forecasting the 2006 models and trends. The good thing about the article is that it covers both, Symbian and Windows Mobile based devices. It also seems to cover all the device manufacturers. The article is definitely a good weekend reading material. :-) I am excited about the clam-shell HTC Star Track, and sad to find out that HTC has cancelled its plans to develop the HTC Excalibur, which was supposed to have the same specifications as the Moto Q. Please share your thoughts and comments with us.

[randalllewis]

One development the article missed which may be interesting to watch in 06 is represented by the Cingular 2125- a carrier branded phone.

In a news article on the release of the 2125, Cingular noted that by buying the phone from HTC itself rather than through another manufacturer, it did not have to pay a royalty to anyone and that is why it is able to offer the phone at a relatively low price for a highend phone.

The 2125 is the first carrier branded phone from a US carrier. If it does well, I expect we will see more in 2006.

[Stinger]

Hmmm... I'm not sure about that article. I noticed quite a few factual errors and I disagree with their conclusions about Linux. The Motorola ROKR E2 runs Linux and even a poorly selling mid-range phone will out-sell the vast majority of smartphones.

What I really don't get is Motorola/Palm's decision to make their flagship products (Q and Treo 700W respectively) exclusive to Verizon. Verizon may be a big player in the US, but in global terms they're a very small player. Surely it's better to get their products out to the rest of the world instead of carving out a small niche?

Whatever happens in 2006, I reckon it'll be the most intersting and exciting year for smartphone lovers so far. :)

[Kris Kumar]

Hmmm... I'm not sure about that article.

I was intrigued by the reference to Moto Q's cancellation. :?

The long-awaited announced Moto Q smartphone was cancelled in the end of 2005, as well as the number of Motorola handsets. The model will keep on roaming from one exhibition to another, but it won't get to the shops, exactly the same story was with Motorola MPx.

The intriguing part was - "The model will keep on roaming from one exhibition to another, but it won't get to the shops.."

Was this article written around the same time the Moto Q European version cancellation news went on the air? Or does the writer know something we don't.