Is More Always Better? Looking At The Future Of Mobile Phones
At times we can be fickle creatures. Drop us into a recession and we'll start to cut-back in a big way, arguing that we don't need superficial perks and costly additions when simple and satisfactory will do. Perhaps the most obvious sector in which we have seen such a trend is the motoring industry. Recent research and the introduction of the "Scrappage Scheme" has seen car-buyers choosing economy and reliability over style and performance as buyers are urged to opt for a more secure (and greener) investment.
However, when it comes to mobile phones the industry seems to be in an altogether different state of affairs, and frankly the idea of technical simplicity is not "in" at all. The rise of so-called smart phones' is testament to this. Despite the slight increase in price, consumers are becoming more willing to spend a little extra for a phone that not only makes calls and sends text messages, but also offers music, video, internet connection, and virtually any kind of application you can imagine.
But is more always better? Without naming any specific brands, I have recently read many mobile phone reviews made by customers and although I am eager to read gleaming tales of utmost efficiency and usability, it is fair to say that there are issues - and those that are written about most often are the same that have plagued the industry since the late 90s. Reports of low battery life, screens that crack easily, and bad customer service are all-too frequent - and I can't help thinking that gadgetry over-complicatedness is bound to start putting certain consumers off. Leaving those who want simplicity, economy and reliability without any options.
Of course it is hard to predict what will happen in an industry that moves so fast, especially during such tumultuous economic times. That said, costliness is sure to be the most obvious aspect and an article at Moneywise highlights the likelihood of future trends of making sure mobile communication is affordable. Natalie Bonney writes about the onset of voiceover internet protocol: VOIP is basically Skype for mobile phones. VOIP's popularity is thanks to its excellent value for money: you pay a connection charge but nothing for the calls. Nokia has announced that its N97 will have VOIP as standard, indicating that mobile calls could eventually get a lot cheaper.
Of course, cheaper is inevitable. But call me pessimistic, I can't help thinking that there will also be a good proportion of consumers who want the cheapest and most efficient mobile phones available - resulting in some kind of gap between simple phone' users and smart phone' users. I envisage an econo-revolution with mobiles similar to what we are seeing with cars at the moment, where phones offer calls, texts (and maybe internet) alone - i.e. no music, no camera, no apps - and where reliability truly is key.
Public mobile phone reviews www.reviewcentre.com/consumer_reviews2.html
T Roberts - Electronics and consumer goods. If you would like your own product reviewed feel free to get in touch.
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