The dPhone certainly lacks the ring off the tongue like that of the Apple iPhone but, if rumors are correct, Dell will enter the mobile phone market early in 2009. You can expect a touch display, no physical keyboard, and running either Android or WinMo operating system. If history says anything, I certainly expect the companies relationship with Microsoft will steer it in the WinMo direction.
Now, there are a couple of questions that come to mind when I consider a Dell phone:
- Which market will they target, consumer or enterprise?
Logic tells us that Dell will attempt to tackle the Blackberry domination in the corporate world. This is certainly their comfort zone as the leading enterprise computing solution. However, this is a whole new world. There are different priorities for businesses when choosing their smartphone solution. With RIMs stronghold on the market, Dell will need to get creative to lure people away from their beloved Crackberries.
On the other hand, the consumer market is easier to crack and it may be a good way to tap the market to build a customer base before becoming an attractive enterprise solution. This does bring me to my second question:
2. Will the new Dell Phone be as bad an attempt at the cell phone market as the Dell Jukebox was at the mp3 player market?
I think it is safe to say that the Dell Jukebox was/is a flop. Yes, it did have some loyal followers, but it in no way compared to other devices on the market (most notably the iPod).
To be successful, Dell will need to focus hard on both form and function. They have a mountain of apples and berries ahead of them if they plan to be a big player as a smartphone manufacturer.
Check back soon for more info on the dPhone. You’ll know as soon as we do.
Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it,