PDA and Phone Convergence - Consumers don't really want it

[Bob Russell]

MobilePipeline reports on a new Forrester survey indicating users really don't want to combine their mobile phone and PDAs after all. For example, mobile phone users don't seem to think that they really want all those PDA features.

Many PDA enthusiasts have been saying this for quite a while, scoffing at the idea that adding a phone to a PDA is a always a good thing. Citing feature compromises, battery life, size, cost, and a host of other reasons the idea of independent devices is more palatable. But the industry experts have loudly and confidently proclaimed that the smartphone category will almost completely squeeze out the separate PDA and mobile phone categories.

Don't count out smartphones though.... pretty soon the compromises may start to disappear as technology improves. And consumers might not really know what they want. There was a time when people didn't think they wanted a microwave either!

Forrester's summary (buy the whole article for just $249) says...

PDAs and phones seem to be on a collision course as PDAs get connectivity, phones get bigger screens and richer operating systems, and device makers experiment with new form factors that attempt to marry the two. These integrated devices form the bulk of the "smartphone" category. However, the majority of both mobile phone and PDA users are consistent in saying that they are not interested in this marriage — each device fulfills a different need. While PDAs will continue to integrate phone features that reinforce the device's core functions and smartphones will appeal to PDA owners who crave a single device, the majority of phone manufacturers will pick and choose those PDA attributes that make sense for individual customer segments.

[Alexander Turcic]

Interesting find. I would say I have nothing against integrated GSM in my Dell Axim X50v. But I couldn't imagine my Dell Axim X50v integrated in a smartphone. It is all about the form factor, and I don't want to give up the big screen of the PDA in favor of convergence.

[hacker]

Originally Posted by BobR

But the industry experts have loudly and confidently proclaimed that the smartphone category will almost completely squeeze out the separate PDA and mobile phone categories.

And let me tell you why: Because vendors of these products don't want to spend the money, time, effort, and marketing to have to develop two different product lines.

I am definately in the "Do Not Converge" category. I have lots of valid justifications for keeping my devices separate, in addition to the obvious ones mentioned above.

If this is the way "The Market" is going (as defined by the vendors, not the customers), then I'm going to rapidly find another market to support. I'm not alone in this either, so there will be a dent in the profit margins of companies who don't take the customers into account when making these decisions.

[Brian]

I personally prefer a "modular concept" for portable devices.

1. The core device in my ideal setup is a small, pocketable flip-phone with BT, 2G or faster data, a small color screen, mini keyboard, a 1MP or greater camera for candid shots, SD slot and Palm OS for PIM (addresses, phone numbers, calendering). Stereo headphone jack and a good music player with songs stored on a large SD card.

2. A Bluetooth GPS and BT headset.

3. Add a larger media-centric (gaming, video, music, ebooks, audio books etc) tablet PDA with gaming controls, a built-in microdrive (or a CF slot for one), BT, WIFI, dual expansion (one CF and one SDIO), again running Palm OS, a 4 inch VGA display, and USB Hosting. Keep your music library, audiobooks, ebooks and all your important data on the Micro HDD. Transfer songs/playlists back and forth between this device and the phone. Use this as a portable HDD when connected to a computer and easily transfer files back and forth. Hook up your digital camera (#5?) using USB hosting to transfer, store and view pictures on the large screen.

4. A BT keyboard and mouse added to #3 for a laptop replacement.

#1 and #3 would be able to synchronize their data automatically. Mix and match as the situation dictates. Running out to the store to grab some milk or out for a run and want to listen to some music? Grab #1. Heading out on a 2-5 day business trip? Take everything and still carry less than a laptop. Use #3 during the flight or down-time for gaming and entertainment (TV shows, movies). In a Wifi hotspot at a coffee shop? Grab #2, 3 & 4 to catch up on email and make VOIP calls using Skype, where your incoming calls are automatically forwarded when #1 is off or set to voicemail.

Modular and flexible. #1 and #3 have some overlap, but not much. I don't want a phone that's too big to stick in a pocket, and I don't want a gaming device or PDA with a screen that's too small for movies, ebooks, and games.

Convergence is good up to a point: Jack of all trades, master of none with too many compromises.

This modular concept would require a lot of cross-device and cross-application integration, but it could be possible with the right combination of applications and OS support (disclaimer: I'm not a developer). Maybe Palm OS on Linux will help make my dream come true .

Brian

[hacker]

Originally Posted by ballistic

I personally prefer a "modular concept" for portable devices.

2. A Bluetooth GPS and BT headset.

4. A BT keyboard and mouse added to #3 for a laptop replacement.

Unfortunately, PalmOS doesn't allow Bluetooth to more than one device at a time, a MAJOR pain in terms of usability and functionality (i.e. you can't use your Palm device to dial your Bluetooth phone, and use a Bluetooth keyboard at the same time, or listen to OGG files on your Palm using your Bluetooth headset, and surf the Net using Bluetooth to your phone simultaneously).

I'm of the mind set that some convergence in functionality is fine, but merging two overlapping devices into one doesn't make sense, when you remove critical functionality from both.