4. Phones: It's Time for Some Serious Changes

Overall I've been quite impressed with this year's crop of mobile phones, especially what are called "smartphones". Smartphones tend to be small, with numeric keypads that can be used to somewhat awkwardly enter text and, most importantly, they have open operating systems like Symbian or Microsoft Windows Mobile for phones. PDAs are essentially large smartphones using the same or a more computer-like operating system.

Another breed of phone is called the "feature phone". Feature phones can do a lot, but have less open, more proprietary operating systems. Then there are all the other phones out there. These "other phones" for want of a better name are often outfitted with some great features, but the features are even less easy to port across an entire phone hardware or software line.

The problem is that cool apps that work on one phone often fail on another, even a very similar model. I've been looking at a Motorola Razr from Verizon that run's Networks in Motion's GPS navigation system. The system works just dandy, however, unless a phone has a GPS built in and runs the right OS, which most don't, you can't just install the software on it and expect the NIM application to work.

The Networks In Motion GPS navigator in action.

OK, so that's a clear hardware related issue. PCs without GPS add-ons can't run navigation software either. But the problem doesn't stop there. I have a Tom Tom Go 700 GPS. It can download traffic information from Tom Tom's website by connecting to the Internet using an Internet capable mobile phone. Traffic info can then be used in planning routes. It seems Tom Tom has certified a number of Motorola 500 line phones to work with the Tom Tom Go 700, but, as of my last check, not with my Motorola 557 with its near $100 a month voice and data service charges. When I called customer service, they told me that since the phone was not certified, they couldn't help. So, I tried and tried to get the GPS connected using the phone and finally succeeded. But, I can't imagine the average Joe or Jill phonie going through all this hell. They'd either give up hissing or buy "the right" phone.

[One more thing on GPSes: Someone is going to make a mint when they figure out how to get more recently updated map databases out to GPS vendors and users. I'm tired of being told to make a left turn onto Santa Monica Blvd in West Los Angeles, when a median strip in the middle of the street has made that impossible since a year and a half ago.]

Sony Ericcson's W950

Imagine buying a PC or Mac that is tightly glued shut and has no external slots for adding anything, just a USB connector. Now imagine that every time a new application you really wanted came out you had to buy a new computer. How long before you'd start screaming? Sure most mobile phones are free or cheap, but that's not the answer. As things are now, a telephone carrier can suck you in with a free or low cost phone, lock you into a two to three year service contract and then tantalize you with all kinds of new applications that won't run on your current phone. Today, the carrier's motto is "Upgrade or die." And most of us either put up with our obsolete phones for the duration of our contracts or spring for a new one at a not too modest price.

The solution is simple: standardization. Dump the "other phones" and the "feature phones" and make all phones smartphones. With only a few open OSes to worry about it should be easy to port a new application to just about any phone. Yes, there are multiple versions of even the open OSes, but a lot of apps can move up the OS upgrade ladder without any changes.

And then on the hardware side, let's get the ducks in a row too. What does it cost to put a GPS receiver in a phone? Not much, I'd guess. How hard can it be to support a range of fairly standard display sizes and resolutions in the smartphone OSes and, perish the thought, assign a standard set of keys and key presses to all phones? Sure progress might slow a bit, but standardization would help remove the chaos from today's phone market. Chaos may be good for carriers and even phone manufacturers, but it is stifling for those of us who use mobile phones.

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