I am using a mobile phone for around 8 years now. And I wonder lately what can we do to force the mobile phones companies and GSM telcos to come up with a product that is wanted by the people and not by the companies. Below I put together in no particular order some features of an ideal phone for me:
- weight less than 100 grams
- standby up to 3 weeks
- talk time up to 8 hours
- shape something between an Ipod Nano and a Siemens M55
- should support all GSM frequencies (900, 1800, 1900)
- the screen should be OLED based
- should have support for store up to 500 contacts with multiple phone numbers, email, and so on.
- should have support for an organizer with calendar, tasks, notes. Again most of you know what I am talking about.
- should support external storage probably miniSD or something similar with 512MB standard and support for up to 2-4 GB.
- should have an audio player which supports mp3, aac and ogg.
- should have bluetooth support
- should be a voice recorder
- should have an integrated handsfree
I am reasonable sure that I do not need 3G until there is a killer application for it, integrated camera, GPS, or java games. How much I would pay for a phone like this. Probably around 50-60 euros.
Is it possible for the industry to deliver something like this for the money? Yes.
Do they want to deliver. I am sure no.
Maybe the starting point for pushing a phone like this to the mainstream would be the virtual operators which are providing a cheap service based on the infrastructure of the real operators. If I missed something feel free to fill in.
Your’re nearly there! I think more in line of a laptop type device with these attributes (except for having a big screen). Phones are too limited for accessing information and displaying it clearly, especially for those of us who are over fourty, and who’s eyesight isn’t what it was.
1. The most important part in an organizer/calendar/tasks/notes would be the ability tu synchronize with a desktop – so that you will be able to move ALL that valuable data tu your next phone!!! (that also would suggest some USB connection)
2. miniSD is too small/limited/expensive – SD would be just perfect !!!
3. WIFI & VOIP should also be an option !!!
1. You can syncronize your calendar over bluetooth with a desktop. No need for wires
2. I am dreaming for a miniSD which is cheap enough to be added to the phone.
3. Wifi and VOIP would add to the cost and complexity of the phone.
Anothe great thing would be an IR output that can be tuned as a remote. I’ve heard ideas about this for a long time but apart from the new LG I’ve never actually seen one marketed.
BTW MiniSD will drop in price towards the end of the year, once the 2GB & 4GB cards come out.
& of course it needs a decent scheduler/organizer that can be synched to outlook or similar.