Mobile phone wars heat up

Lincoln Russell 9 Jan, 2007 at 6:21am ET Article published in Tech

Reports that Apple with team with Cingular to produce a new mobile phone are expected to be confirmed at Macworld today. Meanwhile, Google has released a statement saying it will partner with Samsung to produce a new line of services on Samsung products.

Beginning in early 2007, selected Samsung phones will be provided with a range of Google products and services aimed to create a more dynamic user experience, including Google search, Google Maps, and Gmail.

On a related note, check out how to find your mobile phone with Google Maps.

Also in mobile phone news, Microsoft is also raining on Apple’s parade, saying the project has too many hurdles.

Comments

9 Jan 2007 ~ 8:46pm pseudonym

General Keebler wrote:

Reports that Apple with team with Cingular to produce a new mobile phone are expected to be confirmed at Macworld today. Meanwhile, Google has released a statement saying it will partner with Samsung to produce a new line of services on Samsung products.

On a related note, check out how to find your mobile phone with Google Maps.

Also in mobile phone news, Microsoft is also raining on Apple's parade, saying the project has too many hurdles.

Source: [url=][/url]

The iPhone is going to run everyone else into the ground I think. And that inquirer article is just plain retarded. It states no real facts or "hurdles" and is way off on the iPhone service provider. Sounded more like "Well we couldn't do it so poop on you" to me.
10 Jan 2007 ~ 6:41am rapture No 3g and an insane price tag. I think it looks amazing but I'll never buy one. I can see that nice big screen getting really messed up while in my "care" too.
10 Jan 2007 ~ 8:16am Shorty Ladies and Gentlemen.. meet the iphone..

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

What a hideous piece of technology.

It's no doubt full of proprietary technology. They lock down the ipod, they can now lock down your phone. Want to add photos to contacts..? Better have them from iphone-photo at only 89c... blah blah. Guess the rest. No doubt you can only use itunes ringtones.

It looks like a kids toy. Really. What a garish, childlike interface. I want a smartphone, not an advanced speak and spell or "my first cellphone".

Touch screen only. Why do handset manufacturers think that touchscreen only phones work..?

The Treo, Blackberry, Sony Ericsson and Nokia handsets work because they provide a quick, comfortable keyboard when you need it. Touchscreen at your leisure.

The HTC devices lost their "niche" over time because typing "I will be home in 20 minutes" on a touchscreen device in an SMS.. is like trying to write war & peace.

This will no doubt appeal to the "gotta have it" generation.

No 3G? Dear Apple, we are now in the 2000's. The days of dial-up 9.6k or GRPS are numbered.

Personally, I like a smart, small handset that I can SMS & email on.. and even make (shockingly!) a phone call on

This thing is an ugly brick.
11 Jan 2007 ~ 12:34am pseudonym

Shorty wrote:

Ladies and Gentlemen.. meet the iphone..

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

What a hideous piece of technology.

It's no doubt full of proprietary technology. They lock down the ipod, they can now lock down your phone. Want to add photos to contacts..? Better have them from iphone-photo at only 89c... blah blah. Guess the rest. No doubt you can only use itunes ringtones.

It looks like a kids toy. Really. What a garish, childlike interface. I want a smartphone, not an advanced speak and spell or "my first cellphone".

Touch screen only. Why do handset manufacturers think that touchscreen only phones work..?

The Treo, Blackberry, Sony Ericsson and Nokia handsets work because they provide a quick, comfortable keyboard when you need it. Touchscreen at your leisure.

The HTC devices lost their "niche" over time because typing "I will be home in 20 minutes" on a touchscreen device in an SMS.. is like trying to write war & peace.

This will no doubt appeal to the "gotta have it" generation.

No 3G? Dear Apple, we are now in the 2000's. The days of dial-up 9.6k or GRPS are numbered.

Personally, I like a smart, small handset that I can SMS & email on.. and even make (shockingly!) a phone call on

This thing is an ugly brick.

I disagree. If you had to deal with the crap the companies pass off as cellphones here in America, I think that you'd think differently.

I really can't say if the touchscreen will work or not but if it works as it should, I wouldn't really see the difference between that and a keyboard. I don't see why a touchscreen can't work just as well as a keyboard if done correctly.

I'm also pretty positive that you could set up the pictures any way you like. The photo iPod is not limited as to where your pictures come from so I doubt the iPhone will be limited by that. And most of the demos showed pictures of people in it, and I doubt that the only pictures of people you can get on a phone come from iTunes

As for ring tones it wouldn't surprise me if you were right, but it may just support some other format because not all of us want a song for a ringtone.

No 3g is ridiculous though. I think that may have been determined by the fact that Cingular was the company willing to shell out the cash and their network wasn't ready for that.

It does everything you say you want it to do and IMO it does it elegantly. It makes phone calls, it does email, and it does texting MUCH better than anything I have ever seen. Plus the visual voicemail is fricking sweet.

/me realizes he is defending Apple and goes to cry in the corner :bawling:
11 Jan 2007 ~ 5:08pm Riptide As someone who works for a cell provider (Bell Mobility), I think this sucks. As Shorty said, the gotta have it generation will no doubt go for it. But for someone who wants a functional phone I'm not sure it's gonna fly. I can see ppl surviving without 3g, but not without some sort of physical keyboard. Touchscreen only blows. I'm using a PPC 6700, which has both a keyboard and a big touchscreen, and I hate using the touchscreen. If they have a stylis that will make it somewhat easier. But can you honestly say you want to 'type' out an email using a touchscreen with (or without) a stylis?

All in all, without a physical keyboard, I'm happy this is a product that my company will never stock.
12 Jan 2007 ~ 3:28am Shalimar

Shorty wrote:

Ladies and Gentlemen.. meet the iphone..

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

What a hideous piece of technology.

It's no doubt full of proprietary technology. They lock down the ipod, they can now lock down your phone. Want to add photos to contacts..? Better have them from iphone-photo at only 89c... blah blah. Guess the rest. No doubt you can only use itunes ringtones.

It looks like a kids toy. Really. What a garish, childlike interface. I want a smartphone, not an advanced speak and spell or "my first cellphone".

Touch screen only. Why do handset manufacturers think that touchscreen only phones work..?

The Treo, Blackberry, Sony Ericsson and Nokia handsets work because they provide a quick, comfortable keyboard when you need it. Touchscreen at your leisure.

The HTC devices lost their "niche" over time because typing "I will be home in 20 minutes" on a touchscreen device in an SMS.. is like trying to write war & peace.

This will no doubt appeal to the "gotta have it" generation.

No 3G? Dear Apple, we are now in the 2000's. The days of dial-up 9.6k or GRPS are numbered.

Personally, I like a smart, small handset that I can SMS & email on.. and even make (shockingly!) a phone call on

This thing is an ugly brick.

No Thanks!
Shorty just summed up my feelings exactly!

Ditto what an ugly looking thing indeed. :thumbsdow

Maybe they will throw in a free toaster as a sweetner.
12 Jan 2007 ~ 9:22am dragonV8

Shalimar wrote:

Maybe they will throw in a free toaster as a sweetner.

Don't need to buy a phone to get that.
Just FLD 50,000 points worth and hey presto.:):topic:

sorry, couldn't help it.
12 Jan 2007 ~ 9:24am Thrax Noticed: Americans are going gaga over this phone. Aussies, Britons and others think it's vile.

Theory: They've had phones capable of performing similar tasks, roles and functions for almost five years. We've not -- this is the most technologically-advanced phone offered in the US.

I hate the FCC. I hate Apple.

GRRRR RAARRRGH HATE.