HANDSET MANUFACTURERS seem hell-bent on jamming every conceivable service into their phones or other portable devices and new research says that may not be such a good idea.
The conventional wisdom says consumers have a preference to use converged devices, meaning single devices that combine the functionality of previously separate devices, but the idea that there will be wholesale adoption of a device that simply combines multiple devices is unrealistic, says high-tech market research firm In-Stat.
In a recent survey of US businesspeople, users tend to remain loyal to older technology, and employers are reluctant to force the issue.
“On the other hand, once a converged device proves to offer additional value and technological obstacles are addressed, adoption progresses relatively quickly,” said Bill Hughes, In-Stat analyst, in a release.
“The smartphone is a successful example of a converged device where a single device combines a PDA computing device and a mobile phone. In this case, the smartphone offers a benefit to the user in the form of real-time data, typically wireless email.”
The company also found:
* One positive sign of progress in convergence is that 8% of road warriors, businesspeople who travel frequently, have given up a desk phone to rely solely on their mobile number.
* Before employers can insist that employees use fewer devices, manufacturers need to address battery life and ergonomics issues for portable devices.
* The survey shows that many more users prefer to carry redundant devices than chose to have a single telephone number and a single computing device.
