The new offering from Apple is apparently so desirable that it has been enough to see the company make a profit at a time when many other companies are reporting record losses, downsizing, and in some cases liquidation. Nokia for example has reported that profits were down by nearly 70 per cent due to lack of sales of new phones, however, mobile phone reviews are full of Nokia offerings. To top it all off, a new super secret phone called Zumba is trying to break into the market with technology so secret that no-one has yet seen it work. Rather than being received with awe and wonder, the new gadget is being met with much suspicion.
First, we need to find out what is so special about the iPhone. By all accounts, it has pretty much the same functions as any other phone, yet it could also do with better camera and texting facilities; and the apparent furore about a lack of video function has left many disappointed, yet not disappointed enough to not purchase the phone. This may have something to do with the fact that Apple are generally a generous bunch, and it's last phone upgrade was available to all iPhone owners and they could simply trade in the old for the new with no contract penalty.
Negative aspects aside, it is a versatile and multipurpose piece of equipment. Of course it makes calls and you can send texts, but it is also a GPS device, music player, hand held console, web browser and camera all in one go. The fact that the phone is super-stylish, as are all Apple products, and reasonably priced, means that people are willing to invest in technology that will continue to improve, especially when they can have an upgrade for free.
Nokia on the other hand have just announced the upcoming release of the new N97, and it is pitched as being the rival to iPhone. Nokia's offering does have video functions, and the new style pull out keyboard layout is said to be in preparation for its future as a hand held games console. Mobile phone reviews have not exactly been singing the praises of the prototype however, and it seems that there is a general level of belief that Nokia will not pull it off well enough or in time. The fate of the N96 may repeat itself with the N97, with Nokia offering too little too late, and failing to keep up with the competitors.
At least people mobile phone users are willing to give Nokia a chance, unlike the offering called Zumba. The new phone is certainly not a contender for the position held by iPhone, its pitch is that its strength lies in its simplicity. The Zumba is all about the voice. Voice activated calling, texting and recorded voice playback from incoming texts. This new technology, they promise, is secret and revolutionary. Unfortunately as the phone has not been seen to work, and all footage of it working is not allowed, the public are thinking the whole thing is just hype.
Given that other phones are moving toward becoming multi functional all in one gadgets, why anyone would invest in a phone as separate from their camera, slash, GPS, slash, walkman, slash (anon) is quite frankly beyond me.
Dom Donaldson is an expert in the technology industry. Find out more about Mobile Phone Reviews and what is on offer from the major phone providers at Pocket Lint.
Tags: cell phones, technology, nokia, iphone, mobile phone reviews, latest mobile phones, zumba