The InformationWeek -- Blogs
Over The Air

Topics:   Mobile

  • Email this page E-mail this page
  • Print this page Print this page
  • Bookmark and Share
  • icon

Why Can't I Find A Good 3G Smartphone?


Posted by Stephen Wellman, Mar 6, 2008 03:04 PM

We heard about upgrades today to both RIM's BlackBerry platform and Apple's iPhone, but frankly, I couldn't be more underwhelmed. Why? Because it's March 2008 and I still can't buy a 3G BlackBerry or iPhone. So why should I care about these upgrades?

Sure, Research in Motion is working hard to put social networks on BlackBerry smartphones and Apple is finally getting around to letting a few outside developers put applications on its smartphone, but neither of these devices can run on a GSM-track 3G network.

I am sorry, but 3G is a necessity these days, especially for the kinds of richer applications that developers are pushing on smartphones. And while there are a number of interesting 3G smartphones on the market, none of them has the enterprise-ready support of BlackBerry or the usablility of the iPhone. And that's why I am so annoyed.

For now the best GSM-track 3G smartphone I've used is the Motorola Q9h. I used one for a few months, and I was impressed. But, it was far from an optimal experience. The Q9h suffered many of the same problems of other Windows Mobile devices -- quirky user interface and an at-times awkward user experienced coupled with all-too-frequent software crashes. But by WinMo standards, the Q9h is a Mercedes roadster.

Now, I am sure many of you out there are about to bombard me with e-mails about the Nokia N95. I tried out a review copy of that phone, too. It was great, but I hated the keyboard. And I also felt the N95 wasn't as easy to use for e-mail as the BlackBerry and it was nowhere near as fun as the iPhone. Nice phone, but not what I was looking for.

How much longer must I wait for a 3G BlackBerry or a 3G iPhone? What do you think? Are any of you as frustrated as me?

« iPhone SDK Details Include Full MSFT Exchange Support And iTunes Apps Store | Main | Should T-Mobile Buy Sprint? »



Sign Up Now
For InformationWeek News Alerts




This is a public forum. United Business Media and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. United Business Media makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers.

Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of United Business Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in United Business Media's Terms of Service.

Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business.




 
Mobile Video


Sign Up For The Over The Air Newsletter
Every Friday, our experts and analysts explore the business, strategy, and management issues most important to mobile and wireless technology.

Sign up for our free, weekly newsletter today!

Newsletter Archives



  1. Actors, Messages and Low Lock Contention for Java
  2. Of Course The Transformers are Multicore with SMT technology
  3. Find John Fast!!


Join The InformationWeek Group On LinkedIn


                           


  1. Why I'm Dropping Bing For Google
  2. Nokia's N97 Gets Massive Firmware Update Promising Bug Fixes
  3. Video: Talking About Firefox 3.5, Apple's Snow Leopard, The Return Of Steve Jobs, & More
  4. Bing Is Worth A Fling
  5. So Long, And Thanks, Google Earth, For All The Fish


  1. Review: Apple's Speedy iPhone 3GS
  2. Tech Innovation USA: From Resilient Networks To Self-Scheduling Devices
  3. How Government's Driving Cloud Computing Ahead
  4. Government As Early Adopter
  5. InformationWeek Analytics: Data Loss Prevention
  6. Strategic Security: Web Single Sign-On

 

  Ars Technica
Boing Boing
Channel 9 Forums
CRN Blogs
Dr.Dobb's Portal: Blogs
Engadget
Gizmodo
GrokLaw
  Lifehacker
Schneier on Security
Slashdot
TechCrunch
Techdirt
Techmeme
Valleywag

  DECEMBER 2008
NOVEMBER 2008
OCTOBER 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008
AUGUST 2008
JULY 2008
JUNE 2008
MAY 2008
  APRIL 2008
MARCH 2008
FEBRUARY 2008
JANUARY 2008
DECEMBER 2007
NOVEMBER 2007
OCTOBER 2007
SEPTEMBER 2007