There are very good reasons to wait, says Moneyweb’s Hilton Tarrant
The device makers won’t like you reading this. In fact, the operators won’t either.
Don’t buy or upgrade to a new smartphone now. It’s similar to the deflationary curse: Why make a purchase decision now when you can make it tomorrow? After all, goods will be cheaper then. And, in the case of smartphones (and all technology), they will almost certainly be cheaper – unless the rand takes a dive.
But, there’s a very, very good reason to wait when it comes to getting a smartphone. Most of the major handset manufacturers are about to announce important new models, or are busy transitioning to a new platform altogether.
But why should you care about the operating system (OS) on your smartphone? One word: apps. If you’re running an old OS, chances are there won’t be any new applications being developed for it. Also, older versions of platforms are clunky and turn normal tasks like e-mail and web browsing into a poor experience.
“Upgradability” is another factor to consider when it comes to picking a phone (and platform). Will you be able to upgrade to a newer version of iOS/Android/Bada/Symbian/Windows Phone? If you can’t upgrade, you’re stuck on that OS until your next upgrade in two years time – and a lot changes in two years.
Both BlackBerry and Nokia have been (unfairly) pummelled by the investment and analyst community over recent months. Each has its own unique challenges, largely the result of strategic missteps or inaction in the past. And each is transitioning to a new platform/operating system.
Nokia’s move to Windows Phone 7 (WP7) has been well-publicised and we will see the first new model running Microsoft’s (quality) operating system before the end of the year. A video of its flagship device, the N9, running WP7 has already been leaked. (The N9 runs the aborted MeeGo operating system.) And it looks impressive.
There’s nothing wrong with Windows Phone 7. In fact, for the first time, there’s a viable challenger to the current Apple iOS and Google Android hegemony. That does not mean there aren’t great devices available. The Nokia E6, a hybrid qwerty/touchscreen phone, is a fantastic device – don’t get me wrong. Great build quality and an improved OS, but standing in the shadow of a WP7 future. Nokia should’ve arguably shipped the E6 a year ago.
BlackBerry’s transition is different. It’s rewriting its OS from the ground up, basing it on the QNX operating system that the Playbook is built on. This is a major leap forward and if they get it to market quickly, using a BlackBerry will finally be comparable to the smartphone leaders of today. Try using a BlackBerry browser and then use an Android device or iPhone. See what I mean?
The problem is that BlackBerry’s current models are stuck between a very dated platform (the one on your kid’s BlackBerry), and the future. So the current devices available are either running OS 5, OS 6 (a big improvement), with the promise of OS7 on the horizon (it’s more “6.5” than “7”, but anyway). The BlackBerry Bold 9780 is a solid phone – it runs the new “OS 6” which is a leap ahead of the older platform. But the Bold 9900 with OS 7 and hybrid qwerty/touchscreen will be available in months. And there’s the prospect of yet-to-be-announced devices on that new platform…
We should see Apple updating its iPhone before the holiday season. This could be a minor improvement, or a completely new device. At least you don’t have to be too concerned with upgrades – the new iOS 5 will be available in a month or two’s time.
Samsung and HTC continue innovating with an avalanche of new models being released throughout every year. The Samsung Galaxy SII and HTC Sensation are their respective flagship smartphones at the moment, but expect this to change before Christmas.
LG, Sony Ericsson and Motorola have largely faded into the background. Motorola’s MB525 (the water and scratch resistant “Defy”) is a great handset, and Sony Ericsson’s Xperia range has great devices. LG’s Optimus Black is also a solid smartphone, but all three of these give a feeling of simply “ticking the boxes” – there’s very little differentiation on the Android platform.
There are a few options. Buy any of these smartphones with the full knowledge that 12 months down the line they’re going to be very “dated”. Or buy something that’s easily upgradeable like the iPhone 4 – but know that it too will be “old” next year.
Alternatively stall on your upgrade altogether, or stall for now and buy an entry-level smartphone cash for under R1 000 like the Vodafone 858 Smart, or one of the lower-spec BlackBerry devices. This will give you the apps (at least some of them), services and experience you’ll be looking for from a smartphone until you can make a decision later this year with new devices and platforms on the market.
*Hilton Tarrant contributes to “Broadband”, a column on Moneyweb covering the ICT sector in South Africa. He’s perfectly happy carrying both a BlackBerry Bold and Apple iPhone…
The device makers won’t like you reading this. In fact, the operators won’t either.
Don’t buy or upgrade to a new smartphone now. It’s similar to the deflationary curse: Why make a purchase decision now when you can make it tomorrow? After all, goods will be cheaper then. And, in the case of smartphones (and all technology), they will almost certainly be cheaper – unless the rand takes a dive.
But, there’s a very, very good reason to wait when it comes to getting a smartphone. Most of the major handset manufacturers are about to announce important new models, or are busy transitioning to a new platform altogether.
But why should you care about the operating system (OS) on your smartphone? One word: apps. If you’re running an old OS, chances are there won’t be any new applications being developed for it. Also, older versions of platforms are clunky and turn normal tasks like e-mail and web browsing into a poor experience.
“Upgradability” is another factor to consider when it comes to picking a phone (and platform). Will you be able to upgrade to a newer version of iOS/Android/Bada/Symbian/Windows Phone? If you can’t upgrade, you’re stuck on that OS until your next upgrade in two years time – and a lot changes in two years.
Both BlackBerry and Nokia have been (unfairly) pummelled by the investment and analyst community over recent months. Each has its own unique challenges, largely the result of strategic missteps or inaction in the past. And each is transitioning to a new platform/operating system.
Nokia’s move to Windows Phone 7 (WP7) has been well-publicised and we will see the first new model running Microsoft’s (quality) operating system before the end of the year. A video of its flagship device, the N9, running WP7 has already been leaked. (The N9 runs the aborted MeeGo operating system.) And it looks impressive.
There’s nothing wrong with Windows Phone 7. In fact, for the first time, there’s a viable challenger to the current Apple iOS and Google Android hegemony. That does not mean there aren’t great devices available. The Nokia E6, a hybrid qwerty/touchscreen phone, is a fantastic device – don’t get me wrong. Great build quality and an improved OS, but standing in the shadow of a WP7 future. Nokia should’ve arguably shipped the E6 a year ago.
BlackBerry’s transition is different. It’s rewriting its OS from the ground up, basing it on the QNX operating system that the Playbook is built on. This is a major leap forward and if they get it to market quickly, using a BlackBerry will finally be comparable to the smartphone leaders of today. Try using a BlackBerry browser and then use an Android device or iPhone. See what I mean?
The problem is that BlackBerry’s current models are stuck between a very dated platform (the one on your kid’s BlackBerry), and the future. So the current devices available are either running OS 5, OS 6 (a big improvement), with the promise of OS7 on the horizon (it’s more “6.5” than “7”, but anyway). The BlackBerry Bold 9780 is a solid phone – it runs the new “OS 6” which is a leap ahead of the older platform. But the Bold 9900 with OS 7 and hybrid qwerty/touchscreen will be available in months. And there’s the prospect of yet-to-be-announced devices on that new platform…
We should see Apple updating its iPhone before the holiday season. This could be a minor improvement, or a completely new device. At least you don’t have to be too concerned with upgrades – the new iOS 5 will be available in a month or two’s time.
Samsung and HTC continue innovating with an avalanche of new models being released throughout every year. The Samsung Galaxy SII and HTC Sensation are their respective flagship smartphones at the moment, but expect this to change before Christmas.
LG, Sony Ericsson and Motorola have largely faded into the background. Motorola’s MB525 (the water and scratch resistant “Defy”) is a great handset, and Sony Ericsson’s Xperia range has great devices. LG’s Optimus Black is also a solid smartphone, but all three of these give a feeling of simply “ticking the boxes” – there’s very little differentiation on the Android platform.
There are a few options. Buy any of these smartphones with the full knowledge that 12 months down the line they’re going to be very “dated”. Or buy something that’s easily upgradeable like the iPhone 4 – but know that it too will be “old” next year.
Alternatively stall on your upgrade altogether, or stall for now and buy an entry-level smartphone cash for under R1 000 like the Vodafone 858 Smart, or one of the lower-spec BlackBerry devices. This will give you the apps (at least some of them), services and experience you’ll be looking for from a smartphone until you can make a decision later this year with new devices and platforms on the market.
*Hilton Tarrant contributes to “Broadband”, a column on Moneyweb covering the ICT sector in South Africa. He’s perfectly happy carrying both a BlackBerry Bold and Apple iPhone…
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