AT&T planning Java phone debut

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1033-957973.html">http://news.com.com/2100-1033-957973.html</a><br /><br />On the heels of a decision by Sprint and Nextel to offer similar devices, AT&amp;T is going to be offering a Java based smart phone in the coming weeks. Why? More revenue. Not from the phone itself, but from selling software. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/java.gif" /><br /><br />"American carriers with Java dreams are gunning for the same success that Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo had with its iAppli Java download service, regarded as the most popular download service in the world." My 2 cents? Dream on. The Japanese market is markedly different from the US. We have computers here, on every desk and most homes that want one. Americans simply don't use their phones for anything but talking and playing insanely annoying ring tones that sound like they came from a 1982 handheld video game. So many wireless services in the US have closed down for lack of interest. WAP sites in the US stink. They are down all of the time and few notice because few use them. Using WAP on a Sprint PCS phone or T-Mobile phone is one of the most frustrating experiences. Either we don't know how to use it or the sites just stink.<br /><br />Anyway, back to my original thought. In a country where $150 Palm PDAs reign supreme and, according to Palm themselves, few ever buy third party software, what makes the phone companies think people are going to buy a $200 phone so they can buy software from their carrier? Most people don't use the capabilities of their phones today. Messaging? Send a message to anyone on the Sprint PCS network and I'd bet 9 out of 10 wouldn't have a clue how to reply. Some may not even figure out how to read it.<br /><br />I think this is different from those buying Treos, Pocket PC phones, Communicators, and other higher end devices. Those are targeted at people that want to be more connected and know the capabilities of the device. Different market entirely, one that would laugh at buying software from a carrier. These lower end $200 devices seem to be aimed at Joe Consumer. Do you think they are going to fool with it?

[Eciton]

You've hit the nail on the head there. Even here in Europe, where we've had far greater and more varied phone usage for years, and where SMS has been part of the national consciousness since the mid-90s, this wouldn't really succeed. Those that would buy software for their phones have a 9210, a Treo or a PDA. IMHO :)

[igreen]

Either of you gents have a teenager? If they priced it right...a teenager would buy this junk. As for messaging....my 17 yr old uses it a lot. So do his friends.

[frankn]

Two points(and maybe slightly OT :D ):

American commute time is automobile centric. We are in love with our cars and would drive to work rather than take mass transit. Hence our phone use is voice centric. Ever try sending SMS or using your PDA in your car while driving?

Second, voice minutes are cheap in comparison to the rest of the world. Why would I go to the trouble of sending SMS or email on a phone when I can just as easily call via voice?

I just don't see a typical American user buying JAVA apps for a phone.

Thoughts?

[Ed Hansberry]

Ever try sending SMS or using your PDA in your car while driving?
Yeah, as long as traffic is light and you have cruise control set, it isn't too bad. :lol:

You are right though - most people in the US don't think of any sort of data on their phone.

[kennyg]

Yes, they may be debuting a Java solution, but they are also piloting the XDA devices as well, they are not limiting themselves to a single technology solution as others seem to be.

[johncj]

As a developer, I'm amazed at the cluelessness of the wireless carriers when it comes to these devices. I just got a Sanyo 4900 and Sprint's PCS Vision. Sprint's stuff is way too broken for an end user (right now) and their pricing structure is ridiculous for developers. You have to pay by the KB just to test your apps, because there is no way to download code to the phone except by using up your precious data allowance. It may take a couple of years, but Microsoft will the carriers lunch. If nothing else, Microsoft knows how to treat developers.

[PlayAgain?]

The java solutions are getting very sophisticated now. They may have a reputation for looking like old Turbo Basic applications for DOS but they have certainly moved on from there with VNC clients, spreadsheets, 3D games and wotnot, they're not the poor relation they used to be. Also, the cross-platform benefit will be too much for operators to resist.

Why should operators sell applications that will only run on a Treo, or only run on a Symbian smartphone or only run on a PocektPC, or only run on a manufacturer's proprietry OS when they can sell easily accessible applications that will run on them all?

And despite what people say about WAP (for it was over hyped), it is very useful and very simply to use. Already, I can say that I want directions to London from 'where I am' using Location Based Services. I know that the 'full internet' (as some say to describe pretty pictures) can be prettier, but when I'm paying by the Kb for GPRS connection speeds, I don't really care.

Dang, I drifted. Sorry.

[don dre]

I live in the northeast where we do use mass transit. I have no need for actual connectivity with mazingo except for email. At any rate, if I want software for connectivity I'm far more likely to get it for a wirelessly connected PDA. Phones are best small, and small is terrible for these otehr functions. But your right, most Americans take cars even if they live in area where mass transit is possible (most don't.) I don;t consider buses to eb mass transit since they offer few benefits that subways and trains do, like no stop lights.

[PPCRules]

First, I have to admit I don't understand the minds of a lot of people, but from the evidence I see, I think the carriers will do okay on this, althought it may not be a fast takeoff.

I don't understand why anyone would pay for downloaded ringtones but from what I hear, this is big business. And I don't understand why anyone needs a phone plan for more than $20 a month, but most are much more than that.

Like igreen said, this will mainly take off with teens. Every teenager has a phone now, and not every teenager has learned the value of money yet. This gap is where most of the carriers' revenue will come from.

As long as the payment is delayed, and comes mixed in the monthly bill with SMS, downloaded ringtones and other charges, the cost will slip right by and people will buy something else next month.

Remember, the user base is huge to start with, so if even a small portion get into this any time soon, there is still a lot of money to be made. And compared to developing infrastructure, the cost for carriers to start this up is small for the reward to be had.