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Weird (stupid) decisions of Sony Ericsson |
anonymuser
Joined: Dec 17, 2002
Posts: > 500
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Video calling was included on every phone and billed as a big feature for a while because the networks wanted it there, basically, since they completely misjudged their customers and believed it would be "the next big thing" and make them lots of money. That meant even the most basic phone had to have video calling just so it was possible for someone else to video call it, even if (or especially if) the target market for that handset had no interest in video calling anyone themselves.
We're now seeing networks easing off on that idea since - without anyone needing to point it out - video calling has simply not been a mass market success, despite everyone's best efforts. It has its uses, and there will always be a minority willing to pay for their video-calling handset and pay through the nose for their video calls, but the notion that it could ever be as ubiquitous as regular voice or text is well and truly dead now, meaning the manufacturers can relax a bit and actually weigh up whether it's a worthwhile addition to x or y handset at the expense of whatever else, without the networks forcing their hand.
Apple have shown that they can omit video-call altogether but still make the networks plenty of money out of their 3G licenses by making the iPhone all about accessable data and mobile internet instead - a far more useful and obvious application for all that high speed data, when presented to the customer in the right way.
In retrospect, the weirdest, stupidest decision by SE was to not invest enough in smartphone development through the good years, when their feature phones were flying out the doors, and to have left themselves so helpless now in the face of the iPhone etc. That the company that brought us the P800 now has only an HTC knock-off in the smartphone sector, and a Nokia-OS'd phone to come later this year, is just sad.
[ This Message was edited by: Boinng on 2009-02-19 11:23 ] | |
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MackTypeR
Joined: Jul 26, 2005
Posts: 28
PM |
The main reason why video calling didn't take off is the price of it I think, when I was on the 3 network I got 50mins free a month which I tried to use up, but since leaving 3, I no longer have any free video call minutes so I never use it.
Sony Ericsson is still the best for me too, I hate Nokias and Samsungs, their UI is awful and I don't find any of their features any better.
SE did go a lot downhill after the K800i, the K850i in particular was a ugly phone and was designed really bad.
The last few months though I think things are looking good again, the phone designs are getting back to their best.
I just wish I could afford an Xperia!  |
gtr83
Joined: Sep 27, 2008
Posts: > 500
From: Indonesia
PM |
@Boinng
Your first paragraph there is pure fact.
Nokia 3520 > 6600 > W800i > W890i > C702 > C905 > BB 9500 > Samsung INNOV8 |
Knight UK
Joined: Feb 11, 2009
Posts: 69
From: UK
PM, WWW
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Its not just the price, you don't always want people to see you all the time.
And really its just another thing to go wrong, that you don't ever use. | |
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Posted: 2009-02-19 12:19
