Results

There have been many failed attempts by mobile companies to make the elusive “iPhone killer,” a mythical touchscreen device that can compete with the friendly interface and cult popularity of Apple’s phone. Because of AT&T’s exclusive deal with Apple, the iPhone is bringing in revenue for just one mobile carrier, and rivals like Verizon and Sprint are working with top manufacturers to develop competitive phones. Here are some of the potential contenders that will be hitting shelves soon.

Finnish giant Nokia is said to be developing a touch screen phone for release sometime in the summer of 2008. As Businessweek recently reported, “That has left wireless aficionados to troll through Nokia patent applications for clues. One of them describes a phone that can sense motion without actually being touched, so a user might, for example, tilt the device to scroll down a Web page.” This is pure speculation, of course, but it would certainly give new meaning to the term “smart phone”. Perhaps a more realistic version of this iPhone competitor is the recently announced Nokia Tube, which was demonstrated at the Evans Data Developer conference. Photos show the Tube to be almost a clone of the iPhone’s sleek design, though the name suggests that it is aimed at multimedia buffs who want to check out the latest YouTube hits on their phones.

Sony-Ericsson has also jumped into the touchscreen smart phone market with their recent unveiling of the XPERIA X1, the first Sony-Ericsson device to utilize Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system. The XPERIA X1 has a unique interface which includes both tappable graphics (which they’re calling “XPERIA panels”) and traditional buttons to access the phone’s many features. The XPERIA X1 will be somewhat of a hybrid touchscreen, as it also includes a QWERTY keyboard which folds out for easy typing. This is a nod to business users, who tend to rely on typing functionality for emails, and who haven’t been as enthusiastic about the iPhone for that reason.

Sprint has also been pushing for an “iPhone killer” for its network, and they’ve worked closely with Samsung to develop the Instinct, which should be available in June 2008. Samsung and Sprint tapped engineers at Berlin’s Iconmobile Group for software development, striving for a balance between simplicity and function in the phone’s user interface. The resulting platform is slated to integrate with a number of top applications including TeleNav GPS software. The Instinct also has Bluetooth 2.0 capability, a more natural-feeling keyboard, radio and TV streaming, and a camera/camcorder combo. Initial reviews of this phone are very promising.

Smart phone users are important customers for mobile providers. They spend more than the average cell phone user, since their daily activities include web surfing and emailing. For this reason, manufacturers and providers alike are eager to produce a phone that can lure users away from Apple and AT&T. While many devices have more functionality or better stats than the iPhone, it has still managed to snag more than 25% of the U.S. smart phone market, despite being offered on only one mobile network. This year just may present consumers with a true “iPhone killer” that can compete with Apple’s innovative product.

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

By Haley January Eckels