Open Letter: What *I* would like from a mobile phone
I am getting heartily sick of the me-too model chasing of mobile phone
manufacturers. While I don't suppose any of them read this group, I
would like to put my suggestions forward for what I would like from a
phone.
* Longer battery life. Every time battery technology advances, they
make the phones smaller. My old timeport, with a double-size battery,
could last 25 days on standby. How about forking the design tree? -
if batteries get better give us a CHOICE between smaller phones or
longer life on large phones.
* standard acessories. Why should I not use my five-year old car kit,
charging cable, headset, charger? Come to that, why can I not use a
standard wall brick for charging all makes of phone, and the same USB
cable on them all?
* on the subject of USB, another neat idea would be a flip-out
connector like some USB memory sticks, so you don't need a USB cable
at all. Or put /all/ the phone book information on a standard card,
like SD, so you don't need to connect the phone anyway.
* A phone that is a phone. I don't want to play music, take movies,
watch TV. I already own a torch and a clock. I just want a phone that
works in every corner of every country I visit.
* A phone that takes more than one SIM, with both active at once. I
want to put my company SIM in one hole, and my private one in another,
and answer calls on both numbers. Technically most phones can handle
multiple incoming numbers. Commercially the providers don't want to
co-operate.
* A phone with a simple method of changing the number of rings before
it goes to voicemail, and lets you pick up a call while it is being
recorded to voicemail.
* True voice operation - to let you turn it on, answer calls, dial
arbitrary numbers. Not just a handful of voice tags in your phone
book.
* A standard phone book format that can be transferred between phones,
and between manufacturers without synchronising with desktop
software. If I wanted to use microsoft outlook I would. I don't want
to be bullied into it.
* Big, clear, display. Some of us are getting older and a display
that does not need a magnifying glass and a darkened room would be
useful.
The EU wants to put a stop to the roaming charge rip-off within
europe. Perhaps they could turn their thoughts to standard sockets
and standard data formats next.
> I am getting heartily sick of the me-too model chasing of mobile phone
> manufacturers. While I don't suppose any of them read this group, I
> would like to put my suggestions forward for what I would like from a
> phone.
> * Longer battery life. Every time battery technology advances, they
> make the phones smaller. My old timeport, with a double-size battery,
> could last 25 days on standby. How about forking the design tree? -
> if batteries get better give us a CHOICE between smaller phones or
> longer life on large phones.
If you look at the phones with fewer useless features, you'll see the
batteries last a lot longer...
> * standard acessories. Why should I not use my five-year old car kit,
> charging cable, headset, charger? Come to that, why can I not use a
> standard wall brick for charging all makes of phone, and the same USB
> cable on them all?
It's a game the manufacturers play to corner the accessories market and
possibly to get you hooked onto their brand, buggrit.
> * on the subject of USB, another neat idea would be a flip-out
> connector like some USB memory sticks, so you don't need a USB cable
> at all. Or put /all/ the phone book information on a standard card,
> like SD, so you don't need to connect the phone anyway.
Too simple, too elegant. Let's *force* you into buying *our* accessories...
> * A phone that is a phone. I don't want to play music, take movies,
> watch TV. I already own a torch and a clock. I just want a phone that
> works in every corner of every country I visit.
Look, most phones are designed for 17-year-olds. You and I have met.
Neither has been 17 for several decades...
> * A phone that takes more than one SIM, with both active at once. I
> want to put my company SIM in one hole, and my private one in another,
> and answer calls on both numbers. Technically most phones can handle
> multiple incoming numbers. Commercially the providers don't want to
> co-operate.
I think your last sentence has hit the proverbial nail on its head.
> * A phone with a simple method of changing the number of rings before
> it goes to voicemail, and lets you pick up a call while it is being
> recorded to voicemail.
Is that currently a feature of the phone, or the network provider? I
thought it was the latter...
> * True voice operation - to let you turn it on, answer calls, dial
> arbitrary numbers. Not just a handful of voice tags in your phone
> book.
That's a bit radical...
> * A standard phone book format that can be transferred between phones,
> and between manufacturers without synchronising with desktop
> software. If I wanted to use microsoft outlook I would. I don't want
> to be bullied into it.
SIM cards that took longer names and more information would be a good start...
> * Big, clear, display. Some of us are getting older and a display
> that does not need a magnifying glass and a darkened room would be
> useful.
I saw something om Auntie's website yesterday about a mobile phone that
was being launched for the 'over 50s'. It looked more like it was
designed for the over 75s and probably is not suitable for someone who
works, let alone goes to the USA (IIRC it is only dual band). I'll hunt
out the URL though.
> The EU wants to put a stop to the roaming charge rip-off within
> europe. Perhaps they could turn their thoughts to standard sockets
> and standard data formats next.
> On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:04:31 GMT, Helen Deborah Vecht
> <helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk> wrote:
> >The GeriPhone URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6462559.stm?ls
> Wonderful Helen just Wonderful and about time to if I may say so, any
> idea what the price of this NONE all singing and dancing wonderful
> phone may be when it hits the stores ?.
No, but the Vodafone 'simply' phones are no cheaper than some of their
singing, dancing, shooting and snapping counterparts. £50 at a guess...
Re: Open Letter: What *I* would like from a mobile phone
robertharvey@my-deja.com wrote:
> I am getting heartily sick of the me-too model chasing of mobile phone
> manufacturers. While I don't suppose any of them read this group, I
> would like to put my suggestions forward for what I would like from a
> phone.
>
> * Longer battery life. Every time battery technology advances, they
> make the phones smaller. My old timeport, with a double-size battery,
> could last 25 days on standby. How about forking the design tree? -
> if batteries get better give us a CHOICE between smaller phones or
> longer life on large phones.
>
> * standard acessories. Why should I not use my five-year old car kit,
> charging cable, headset, charger? Come to that, why can I not use a
> standard wall brick for charging all makes of phone, and the same USB
> cable on them all?
>
> * on the subject of USB, another neat idea would be a flip-out
> connector like some USB memory sticks, so you don't need a USB cable
> at all. Or put /all/ the phone book information on a standard card,
> like SD, so you don't need to connect the phone anyway.
>
> * A phone that is a phone. I don't want to play music, take movies,
> watch TV. I already own a torch and a clock. I just want a phone that
> works in every corner of every country I visit.
>
> * A phone that takes more than one SIM, with both active at once. I
> want to put my company SIM in one hole, and my private one in another,
> and answer calls on both numbers. Technically most phones can handle
> multiple incoming numbers. Commercially the providers don't want to
> co-operate.
>
> * A phone with a simple method of changing the number of rings before
> it goes to voicemail, and lets you pick up a call while it is being
> recorded to voicemail.
>
> * True voice operation - to let you turn it on, answer calls, dial
> arbitrary numbers. Not just a handful of voice tags in your phone
> book.
>
> * A standard phone book format that can be transferred between phones,
> and between manufacturers without synchronising with desktop
> software. If I wanted to use microsoft outlook I would. I don't want
> to be bullied into it.
>
> * Big, clear, display. Some of us are getting older and a display
> that does not need a magnifying glass and a darkened room would be
> useful.
>
> The EU wants to put a stop to the roaming charge rip-off within
> europe. Perhaps they could turn their thoughts to standard sockets
> and standard data formats next.
I'd love a newsreader that automatically puts trolling pricks in the
kill file.
>* Longer battery life. Every time battery technology advances, they
Indeed. I go for PDA size phones with longer battery life rather than
matchbox sized "fashionable" phones. The XDA II's external battery
turned it into a brick, but the thing only needs charging once a week
or so with light usage. I wish there was an external battery for the
Motorola A1000.
OTOH "kids" these days want small phones, which means small batteries
and short battery life. If that's where the "new phone every year"
sales are coming from, you can hardly blame manufacturers for selling
something that's in demand.
>* standard acessories. Why should I not use my five-year old car kit,
This comes down to the batteries, as the power supplies and charge
control circuits are tailor made for the manufacturers preferred
batteries - for commercial reasons. Oh, and the sales revenue from
replacement accessory sales every year when you change model and/or
manufacturer.
Standard connections and chargers would be a massive sales hit for
phone manufacturers and 3rd party suppliers. It'll never happen unless
it becomes a legal requirement.
>* on the subject of USB, another neat idea would be a flip-out
>connector like some USB memory sticks, so you don't need a USB cable
>at all. Or put /all/ the phone book information on a standard card,
>like SD, so you don't need to connect the phone anyway.
With SIM card readers, the cable's not an issue? The phone book
information is in your question below.
>* A phone that is a phone. I don't want to play music, take movies,
Already available.
>* A phone that takes more than one SIM, with both active at once. I
>want to put my company SIM in one hole, and my private one in another,
>and answer calls on both numbers. Technically most phones can handle
>multiple incoming numbers. Commercially the providers don't want to
>co-operate.
Even if both SIM's are for the same network, they'd rather sell two
phone's - one to the company for "work use" and another one to the
person for personal use. It improves their sales figures ;-)
>* A phone with a simple method of changing the number of rings before
>it goes to voicemail, and lets you pick up a call while it is being
>recorded to voicemail.
The "older" Nokia Communicators used to allow this. However, it could
have been network (02) specific.
>* True voice operation - to let you turn it on, answer calls, dial
>arbitrary numbers. Not just a handful of voice tags in your phone
>book.
Too dangerous - imagine your phone being off and saying to someone
"I'm going to text the boss and tell him he's a w****r"... and the
phone, being helpful ;-), turns on and does it for you!
>* A standard phone book format that can be transferred between phones,
>and between manufacturers without synchronising with desktop
>software. If I wanted to use microsoft outlook I would. I don't want
>to be bullied into it.
A enhanced format for SIM card stored contacts would help here, but
would need industry wide agreement.
>* Big, clear, display. Some of us are getting older and a display
>that does not need a magnifying glass and a darkened room would be
>useful.
There's a recently launched phone with an "amber on black" screen that
does this - like the old VT100/TN5250 monitors that were a pleasure to
use.
>The EU wants to put a stop to the roaming charge rip-off within
>europe. Perhaps they could turn their thoughts to standard sockets
>and standard data formats next.
For a "pure phone" I like it. I'm old enough to have used amber on
black text-only computer terminals, but I am over 10 years below the
"50+ generation" ;-)
In terms of the minimal features, it's something an SME could provide
to a sales person, for making essential calls, with the "five
emergency numbers" being programmed for big clients and the "big red
button" being programmed for the office.
>I am getting heartily sick of the me-too model chasing of mobile phone
>manufacturers.
<snip>
>* A phone that takes more than one SIM, with both active at once. I
>want to put my company SIM in one hole, and my private one in another,
>and answer calls on both numbers. Technically most phones can handle
>multiple incoming numbers. Commercially the providers don't want to
>co-operate.
> >I am getting heartily sick of the me-too model chasing of mobile phone
> >manufacturers.
> <snip>
> >* A phone that takes more than one SIM, with both active at once. I
> >want to put my company SIM in one hole, and my private one in another,
> >and answer calls on both numbers. Technically most phones can handle
> >multiple incoming numbers. Commercially the providers don't want to
> >co-operate.
Re: Open Letter: What *I* would like from a mobile phone
>>* Big, clear, display. Some of us are getting older and a display
>>that does not need a magnifying glass and a darkened room would be
>>useful.
>
> There's a recently launched phone with an "amber on black" screen that
> does this - like the old VT100/TN5250 monitors that were a pleasure to
> use.
What's that one then? I used to like the old "amber on black" screens for
readability.
Re: Open Letter: What *I* would like from a mobile phone
"CM" <chris.geller@angelfire.com> wrote in message
news:7jp00390grqh84034m8dpd7tktqbes4g2o@4ax.com...
> On 19 Mar 2007 06:36:00 -0700, robertharvey@my-deja.com wrote:
>
>>I am getting heartily sick of the me-too model chasing of mobile phone
>>manufacturers.
>
> <snip>
>
>>* A phone that takes more than one SIM, with both active at once. I
>>want to put my company SIM in one hole, and my private one in another,
>>and answer calls on both numbers. Technically most phones can handle
>>multiple incoming numbers. Commercially the providers don't want to
>>co-operate.
>
> http://www.2simphone.com/
>
>
They don't want to cooperate over answering machines in the phone which is
why AFAIAA only Motorola have ever done it and then only occasionally.
Re: Open Letter: What *I* would like from a mobile phone
<robertharvey@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:1174311360.338063.43660@e65g2000hsc.googlegro ups.com...
>I am getting heartily sick of the me-too model chasing of mobile phone
> manufacturers. While I don't suppose any of them read this group, I
> would like to put my suggestions forward for what I would like from a
> phone.
>
> * Longer battery life. Every time battery technology advances, they
> make the phones smaller. My old timeport, with a double-size battery,
> could last 25 days on standby. How about forking the design tree? -
> if batteries get better give us a CHOICE between smaller phones or
> longer life on large phones.
>
> * standard acessories. Why should I not use my five-year old car kit,
> charging cable, headset, charger? Come to that, why can I not use a
> standard wall brick for charging all makes of phone, and the same USB
> cable on them all?
>
> * on the subject of USB, another neat idea would be a flip-out
> connector like some USB memory sticks, so you don't need a USB cable
> at all. Or put /all/ the phone book information on a standard card,
> like SD, so you don't need to connect the phone anyway.
>
> * A phone that is a phone. I don't want to play music, take movies,
> watch TV. I already own a torch and a clock. I just want a phone that
> works in every corner of every country I visit.
>
> * A phone that takes more than one SIM, with both active at once. I
> want to put my company SIM in one hole, and my private one in another,
> and answer calls on both numbers. Technically most phones can handle
> multiple incoming numbers. Commercially the providers don't want to
> co-operate.
>
> * A phone with a simple method of changing the number of rings before
> it goes to voicemail, and lets you pick up a call while it is being
> recorded to voicemail.
>
> * True voice operation - to let you turn it on, answer calls, dial
> arbitrary numbers. Not just a handful of voice tags in your phone
> book.
>
> * A standard phone book format that can be transferred between phones,
> and between manufacturers without synchronising with desktop
> software. If I wanted to use microsoft outlook I would. I don't want
> to be bullied into it.
>
> * Big, clear, display. Some of us are getting older and a display
> that does not need a magnifying glass and a darkened room would be
> useful.
>
> The EU wants to put a stop to the roaming charge rip-off within
> europe. Perhaps they could turn their thoughts to standard sockets
> and standard data formats next.
Funny isn't it, competition and commercial pressures have brought us mobile
phones which have powerful CPUs, large memorys and multi-functional
capabilities, but the very fundamentals of a phone's function have barely
improved since the early days.
- Still very poor sound quality, often clipped, broken and distorted
whenever signal strength is less than perfect.
- Cell to cell transfer never seems to work very well when travelling.
- Reception still poor in many areas of the country for many networks.
- The most common thing you need to do i.e. find a number and make a call is
often much harder than it needs to be.
The problem is these are the boring unsexy things that you can't really sell
a handset on. If cars were like phones they'd have brilliant in-car
entertainment, satnav, screens, etc. but a stuttering, popping, underpowered
pig of an engine.
Re: Open Letter: What *I* would like from a mobile phone
In message <od-dnQYxxP5p1pzbnZ2dnUVZ8qKvnZ2d@giganews.com>, MichaelJP
<mjp@nospam.com> writes
>Funny isn't it, competition and commercial pressures have brought us mobile
>phones which have powerful CPUs, large memorys and multi-functional
>capabilities, but the very fundamentals of a phone's function have barely
>improved since the early days.
>
>- Still very poor sound quality, often clipped, broken and distorted
>whenever signal strength is less than perfect.
>
>- Cell to cell transfer never seems to work very well when travelling.
>
>- Reception still poor in many areas of the country for many networks.
>
>- The most common thing you need to do i.e. find a number and make a call is
>often much harder than it needs to be.
>
>The problem is these are the boring unsexy things that you can't really sell
>a handset on. If cars were like phones they'd have brilliant in-car
>entertainment, satnav, screens, etc. but a stuttering, popping, underpowered
>pig of an engine.
>
>
I like the analogy, I can just see it now. Big comfortable armchair
seats, air conditioning, big screen TV with surround sound and solid
tyres and crap suspension so that they would be very comfortable
provided you didn't actually try to drive them.
--
Paul Harris
Re: Open Letter: What *I* would like from a mobile phone
On Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:28:04 -0000, "MichaelJP" <mjp@nospam.com>
wrote:
>> There's a recently launched phone with an "amber on black" screen that
>> does this - like the old VT100/TN5250 monitors that were a pleasure to
>> use.
>
>What's that one then? I used to like the old "amber on black" screens for
>readability.
Open Letter: What *I* would like from a mobile phone 
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