Comments on: The next big thing? http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:54:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: FireFly, GlowPhone, FlyPhone and now HealthPhone? « 3G Doctor Blog http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4862 FireFly, GlowPhone, FlyPhone and now HealthPhone? « 3G Doctor Blog Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:29:06 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4862 [...] in London, Elizabeth Woyke writes in Forbes about a new entrant to the senior mobile market (“the next big thing” according to a recent interesting thread on David Wood’s Symb...) as kids phone manufacturer FireFly announce plans to reassign their focus to create phones for the [...] [...] in London, Elizabeth Woyke writes in Forbes about a new entrant to the senior mobile market (“the next big thing” according to a recent interesting thread on David Wood’s Symb…) as kids phone manufacturer FireFly announce plans to reassign their focus to create phones for the [...]

]]> By: David Wood http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4561 David Wood Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:50:27 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4561 Thanks to everyone for posting a good set of comments. The comments led me to write a new post in reply: "<a href="http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/06/simplicity-simplicity-simplicity/" rel="nofollow">Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity</a>". Thanks to everyone for posting a good set of comments.

The comments led me to write a new post in reply: “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity“.

]]> By: Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity « Symbian Blog http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4560 Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity « Symbian Blog Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:47:20 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4560 [...] example, let’s again consider Raku-Raku phones (which I mentioned in my previous post, The Next Big Thing?).  These handsets are designed to give users a simple experience when using the handset.  But the [...] [...] example, let’s again consider Raku-Raku phones (which I mentioned in my previous post, The Next Big Thing?).  These handsets are designed to give users a simple experience when using the handset.  But the [...]

]]> By: ChrisR http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4554 ChrisR Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:38:56 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4554 Why not use Symbian for a dumb phone? If you're already set up to use it and you have lots of engineers who know it. The incremental license cost is now zero, and it's capable of running on very low end hardware if you take care. Techview is still very small :-) Anyway, a simple phone doesn't have to be dumb - just easy to use and the UI should be optimised for different things. It's another segment where an open OS should offer good opportunities for collaboration and co-development. Raku-Raku proves that the economics are viable, all we need are some brave manufacturers for the rest of the world. I think these kinds of devices are temporary though, as the current generation who are used to mobile web and connected technologies continue to age, we won't expect devices to just make calls. We will want devices which are easy to use and where the screen is clearly visible without putting our reading glasses on! Why not use Symbian for a dumb phone? If you’re already set up to use it and you have lots of engineers who know it. The incremental license cost is now zero, and it’s capable of running on very low end hardware if you take care. Techview is still very small :-)

Anyway, a simple phone doesn’t have to be dumb – just easy to use and the UI should be optimised for different things. It’s another segment where an open OS should offer good opportunities for collaboration and co-development.

Raku-Raku proves that the economics are viable, all we need are some brave manufacturers for the rest of the world.

I think these kinds of devices are temporary though, as the current generation who are used to mobile web and connected technologies continue to age, we won’t expect devices to just make calls. We will want devices which are easy to use and where the screen is clearly visible without putting our reading glasses on!

]]> By: Open business, mobile revenues and…. « Symbian Blog http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4538 Open business, mobile revenues and…. « Symbian Blog Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:10:04 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4538 [...] Symbian Blog Official mouthpiece of the Symbian Foundation Skip to content AboutNewsEvents « The next big thing? [...] [...] Symbian Blog Official mouthpiece of the Symbian Foundation Skip to content AboutNewsEvents « The next big thing? [...]

]]> By: Christian http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4535 Christian Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:55:21 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4535 Actually, these phones do not look simple to me at all. And why would you need Symbian for a dumb phone? Actually, these phones do not look simple to me at all. And why would you need Symbian for a dumb phone?

]]> By: chips http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4533 chips Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:56:42 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4533 I think when Google generation turns 50 then "more is less". Which means addressable market effectively zero. I think when Google generation turns 50 then “more is less”.
Which means addressable market effectively zero.

]]> By: Vinay Kapoor http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4531 Vinay Kapoor Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:50:59 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4531 David, a very interesting point. The simpler and easy to use phone has never really attracted media attention, and that may be partly to blame why the mobile industry (which has it's obsession with media fueled trends) has overlooked this entire segment. I think there is value in offering devices that are easier and simpler to use with fewer features. We all know them as low end products, which is a very unfortunate label. A lot of people I know have little background or interest in technology and just want to make a call. Unfortunately, such ppl often feel alienated and end up buying high end devices due to the sales push from operators and manufacturers. It just makes for poor consumer experience. The irony is that the devices, platforms, channels etc for selling this exists today just it's just a case of something that the industry as a whole should pay more attention to! David, a very interesting point. The simpler and easy to use phone has never really attracted media attention, and that may be partly to blame why the mobile industry (which has it’s obsession with media fueled trends) has overlooked this entire segment.

I think there is value in offering devices that are easier and simpler to use with fewer features. We all know them as low end products, which is a very unfortunate label.

A lot of people I know have little background or interest in technology and just want to make a call. Unfortunately, such ppl often feel alienated and end up buying high end devices due to the sales push from operators and manufacturers. It just makes for poor consumer experience.

The irony is that the devices, platforms, channels etc for selling this exists today just it’s just a case of something that the industry as a whole should pay more attention to!

]]> By: David Doherty http://blog.symbian.org/2009/10/03/the-next-big-thing/#comment-4523 David Doherty Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:02:38 +0000 http://blog.symbian.org/?p=2487#comment-4523 One thing I have to say from looking at the offering of the companies (most of which are represented by the excellent line up of speakers at the Senior Phone Conference) serving todays senior phone market is that they all seem to have a very withering perspective of the ability for seniors to do new things. Too many pass off basic mobiles as the solution to a seniors needs but I think this will only be the case until seniors are MOTIVATED to WANT a mobile device themselves. Whilst it’s quite easy to see the benefits in stripping away pointless functionality developers must not overlook the need to identify and serve a need before developing services that senior customers will want. From my research into the senior market (during which I taught an 80 year old to text!) I found that many retired people don’t feel a need to pay an additional subscription because they already feel reachable enough. The fact that it would be easier for me if my grandparent had a mobile with them at all times does not equate into a good enough reason for my grandparent to want to change their behaviour. IMHO simplicity just isn’t enough and this is shown in the fact that seniors pick up and master new pastimes and sports such as golf, but not because it’s simple. …oh if you ever want to restore your faith in the capacity of a 50 year old I don't think you can do much better than by watching a repeat of todays Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp which was won by 50 year old Irish jockey Michael Kinane riding Sea the Stars. Whilst I know that I could never be able to ride a horse like Mick, I bet you he’d have no problem mastering predictive text, updating his mobile social network, Video Calling his grandchild or checking his mhealth dashboard… if he WANTED to of course! One thing I have to say from looking at the offering of the companies (most of which are represented by the excellent line up of speakers at the Senior Phone Conference) serving todays senior phone market is that they all seem to have a very withering perspective of the ability for seniors to do new things.

Too many pass off basic mobiles as the solution to a seniors needs but I think this will only be the case until seniors are MOTIVATED to WANT a mobile device themselves. Whilst it’s quite easy to see the benefits in stripping away pointless functionality developers must not overlook the need to identify and serve a need before developing services that senior customers will want.

From my research into the senior market (during which I taught an 80 year old to text!) I found that many retired people don’t feel a need to pay an additional subscription because they already feel reachable enough. The fact that it would be easier for me if my grandparent had a mobile with them at all times does not equate into a good enough reason for my grandparent to want to change their behaviour.

IMHO simplicity just isn’t enough and this is shown in the fact that seniors pick up and master new pastimes and sports such as golf, but not because it’s simple.

…oh if you ever want to restore your faith in the capacity of a 50 year old I don’t think you can do much better than by watching a repeat of todays Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp which was won by 50 year old Irish jockey Michael Kinane riding Sea the Stars. Whilst I know that I could never be able to ride a horse like Mick, I bet you he’d have no problem mastering predictive text, updating his mobile social network, Video Calling his grandchild or checking his mhealth dashboard… if he WANTED to of course!

]]>