Why bother with high-end phones anyway?

The Feedster

It may be from Japan, but a new survey that shows just how little people use the high-end features on their mobile phones is just as relevant anywhere in the world.
The large study of almost 15,000 people last month shows that the most cutting-edge phone features, such as the RFID osaifu keitai e-cash chip and GPS, are used by fewer than 1 person in 5.
While genuinely ground-breaking services are being ignored, more mundane - and perhaps easier to understand - functions are making inroads. The much-maligned (at least by us) QR Code has, so they say, been tried by 52 per cent of respondents.
Even cameras not universal
Given that familiarity seems to make a technology more acceptable, you'd expect everyone to be into the cameras on their phones. Apparently not - the survey found that almost one person in ten who had a cameraphone had never even tried the function.
Lastly, almost 5 per cent of people admitted trying nothing but plain-vanilla voice calls - an intriguing prospect for any phone maker willing to target the market for super-simple and cheap handsets.


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rolfw

This survey matches my experience, I have had a couple of smart phones and an Ipaq and found that most of the time I only used the basic phone functions.

Have now got a Samsung G800 and use the camera quite a bit for taking pictures of installations etc, but otherwise I just use the phone as a phone.

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2cvbloke

As long as I can Call, Text, maybe have a quick blast on the net for something, I'm happy, but even the internet side isn't that necessary, and there's all kinds of things on my phone which I haven't a clue what they do or why they're there, it just seems to be a waste of memory space, which you can't free up as it's hard-coded into the phone!!!

mhku

I use GPS on mine. Just wish google maps worked offline.

jimbo

I've got a samsung which has most features from MP3 and radio to 3G but I don't use them much. Silly isn't it. That's on a vodafone contract but my previous Nokia on PAYG O2 seems to get a better signal.

Jimbo

dig deep

I use mine as a phone

Nothing else, don´t even try to sms, have no speedy thumb

But my kids,,,, wow

danfreet55

I think you've got to look at it from a professional point of view. There's loads of professions from sales to property development that can benefit from the additional features such as GPS, email on the go - just look at the success of the Blackberry among professionals, and the subsequent addiction!
I've got a HTC Touch Diamond -nice full review here: _http://www.mypocketpcmobile.com/FullReviewHTCTouchDiamond/tabid/247/Default.aspx.
Working in sales means the GPS navigation is the best feature for me and the camera comes in really handy too.

Thanks,
Dan

Channel Hopper

Still on a Nokia 5100, well , when it feels like switching on.

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

holmroad

Well I personally feel that by FAR the majority of people use the 'basic' voice & text functions most - with maybe a 'touch' of internet accessing when out & about, but unfortunately it CAN cost you!
The remainder are predominantly merely gimmicks - again thats in MY opinion!

danfreet55

This surprises me actually. All of my peers have at least a cameraphone and many have smartphones.

I'm all set with my HTC Touch Diamond, which does everything I need it to do _http://www.mypocketpcmobile.com/FullReviewHTCTouchDiamond/tabid/247/Default.aspx

The GPS system is surprisingly useful in many situations and email is what I use it for most of all.
Dan

guest

I have an ancient Philips C12 and use it for voice only. Don't even use SMS.

The Batteries are pre-historic in composition, but I put a new pack in every couple of years. 99p I think the last pack cost!

Oh, and I had to fit a new SIM as the original one outlasted the ability of 02 to communicate with it .................

pedro2000uk

I like the way they sell new phones, telling you how great they are and once you've bought it.... they tell you it's already out of date and what a #*& you'll look if you don't sling it and buy another one......

If a phone is really well designed though you can't beat having a camera, video & audio recorder, mp3 player, doc reader, internet access and store stb s/w upgrades/ channel lists, strong signal lists.. etc. etc... all on a phone.

mad_elf

Its true. However, as it is mentioned the survey is done in Japan. If you look at the figures and the sites that cause most of the traffic globally you will notice that these sites are kind of socializing sites i.e. youtube and facebook. Most people use laptops now a day but will switch to mobiles as it become cheaper and more convenient, seems not far though.