Last night, at a sneak preview for Superman Returns, a friend of mine showed me his new phone: the Motorola “Q”.
Although he had been a devoted Treonaut for 3 years, he simply couldn't resist the skinny profile, lightweight package and ‘sexy’ look of the Q.
After playing with it for a while, I had to admit, that this was a terrific device. Even more, I found myself fervently hoping that the Q is a monster seller: to both existing smartphone owners, and those who have not yet taken the plunge.
The Motorola Q smartphone is the latest in a long line of technology dubbed: “Treo Killer.” So, why am I pleased to see it hit the marketplace?
Simple.
For too long, the Treo alone has represented one side of the smartphone argument: a truly converged device that combines a phone with full-function web/email/PIM, one-handed operation and a full QWERTY keyboard…
…while the growing number of Nokia devices (and their knockoffs) define the much larger other side: That a smartphone should be a phone first and foremost…and, then give the user a limited use of PIM, web and email functionality. So what if it takes 3 or 4 presses of keys to do what a Treo does in one? We’re smaller, lighter, cheaper and whole lot sexier.
Small size, affordable price and (most of all) style sizzle are the selling points here. For too many potential Treo users, this is the paradigm they have come to know and accept. If we accept Ed Colligan’s assertion that the vast bulk of Treo owners use only a fraction of its potential, then what impetus is there for the Nokia users to step up to a fully converged device? That’s where the “Q” steps in…
Although Motorola’s Razr line has done much to evangelize for the Nokia model in America, the Q is clearly endorsing the Treo paradigm. It’s saying that those looking for a fully converged device can have one that’s light, sexy and (comparatively) inexpensive. If the Q takes off, then it pushes three agendas that can only be beneficial for Treo owners and for Palm:
1) It will raise awareness of the possibilities offered by a fully-converged smartphone, to even the most ‘basic’ of cellphone users. It will help the fully-converged paradigm to take market-share away from the Nokia paradigm
2) It will do what great competition always does to market leaders: it will force them to be ingenious, innovative and competitive. Palm will have to move the Treo line into more diversification of models, focused on the personal user, as well as the business user (the target of their Treo 650 and 700 series). This will mean better devices, which are more convenient to use, carry and afford
3) It will validate Palm’s vision for smart devices, and solidify their standing in the stock markets and with investors
That’s it…I’m off the bloody soapbox.
p.s. SUPERMAN RETURNS is a fantastic movie. Go see it!