Smartphones

There are slightly more than six billion people on the planet. Not everyone is connected as those folks in the Silicon Valley areas of the world. We have about 15 +/- percent of the adults who work on systems/devices, creating stuff, collaborating, sharing content/information and even blend the devices into their social networks and entertain. They buy newer/better/more devices every 3-6 months. Then we have another 15 +/- percent who use the basic mobile device applications – email, phone, photo/video exchange, use the web for productivity and creativity. They upgrade or add devices every 6-12 months.

Jump to the other end of the spectrum and we have about 50% of the folks who:

• suffer from information overload and don't mind disconnecting now and then
• use their systems, devices "now and then"
• feel the mobile phone, Internet are intrusions to their business/personal life but use them because…they need them
• don't have/don't want Internet access, mobile phone

It is pretty expensive and difficult to first encourage the slackers to use the always-on devices/services and then to buy new units more often! Read more

April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At CTIA Wireless 2009, Nokia announced it will deliver the thinnest QWERTY smartphone, the Nokia E71x, to consumers across the United States together with AT&T in the coming weeks.

Echoing the sleek design and feel of the world renowned Nokia E71, the Nokia E71x offers the ultimate QWERTY experience to messaging enthusiasts who want a device to complement their busy lifestyles - all in a thin, stylish package. Visit Nokia at CTIA Wireless 2009 in the Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, booth #7553, where Nokia will show off the new Nokia E71x, and demonstrate mobile innovations that are redefining the way consumers communicate, access information, network socially with friends and search the Web.

"The E71x is a lean, mean multimedia machine for busy people who want Internet-on-the-go capabilities in the palm of their hands," said Mark Louison, President, Nokia Inc. "Together with our carrier and industry partners in North America, Nokia continues to enhance the consumer mobile experience through a growing range of QWERTY music, messaging and feature rich devices."Read more

April 1, 2009 -- Sprint and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) yesterday announced the upcoming availability of Samsung Instinct s30, a successor to the iconic Samsung Instinct touch-screen phone that made its debut last summer exclusively from Sprint. Instinct s30 offers full touch screen functionality and the broadband speeds of America's most dependable 3G network.*

Instinct s30 raises the bar with built-in instant messaging, an improved Web-browsing experience through both the default browser and Opera Mini 4.2 as well as the popular games "Guitar Hero – World Tour" and "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" preloaded to keep consumers connected and entertained while on-the-go. Instinct s30 offers a thinner streamlined design for a smoother feel in the user's hand with two color options – Cobalt Metal or Touch of Copper. Read more

March 30, 2009 – Motorola, Inc. today introduced Motorola Evoke QA4, a socially-inclined device with a 2.8" full touch-screen that keeps you constantly connected. Evoke supports different messaging styles with a full touch-screen QWERTY keyboard and slide out traditional keypad. Customize the home screen content with integrated widgets and personalized RSS feeds, and use the full HTML browser to share pictures, videos and more online.

"We understand the importance of having a mobile phone that helps you stay connected simply and seamlessly with your friends and family, whether you prefer to talk, text or network," said Mark Shockley, corporate vice president and general manager, Motorola Mobile Devices. "Motorola Evoke offers the cutting-edge convenience and instant gratification of a full touch-screen, intuitive online browsing and the ability to stay plugged in on your terms." Read more

March 4, 2009 -- Palm, Inc. and Sprint today announced the upcoming availability of the Treo Pro smartphone for the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network on March 15.

Treo Pro will be available through all Sprint retail channels, including www.sprint.com/treopro, 1-800-SPRINT1 and Sprint retail stores, for $199.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement (after a $100 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate, with an Everything plan with data or a $30 per month or higher data add-on). It also will be available through the Palm Store (www.palm.com/store) and Palm's B2B sales organization beginning March 16.

Treo Pro is a sleek, full-function smartphone offering users the ease of use and robust features they demand while providing the reliability and manageability IT departments require. With the EV-DO Rev. A speeds of Sprint's Mobile Broadband Network, Wi-Fi, GPS and Windows Mobile 6.1 capabilities, Treo Pro helps busy professionals stay connected on the go so they can structure their lives around their priorities without sacrificing work productivity.

"Business decision makers require a product that not only integrates seamlessly into their existing IT infrastructures, but one that's also cost-effective," said John Traynor, vice president, business products, Palm, Inc. "Treo Pro delivers just that - a feature set that IT managers need to support their mobile work force." Read more