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Smartphone's heavy hitters dominate market |
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March 14, 2011
By Katelyn Gendron
Assistant Managing Editor
A cell phone can be considered many things: a flashy accessory, a portable mini computer or even a basic device for making calls. Understanding the differences between the various cellular models such as feature phones and smartphones can help maximize service without overpaying for unnecessary amenities.
Feature versus smartphone
Cellular customers who just want to make and receive calls or text messages without the added costs of data packages are shoe-ins for feature phones within their network, be it AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular or Verizon Wireless. A feature phone, most of which lack the operating system capable of running applications or "apps," is a model simpler than a smartphone.
Feature phones typically have a far less complicated interface and can be linked to the Internet and gain access to e-mail — most often at an additional cost per megabyte download — but lack the speeds associated with smartphones.
Cellular providers offer a wide variety of feature phones, some for as little as $30.
Smartphones, on the other hand, such as the various Android, BlackBerry and iPhone models, allow users to purchase and download apps for anything from subway maps to flashlights to wallpapers and international radio. Smartphones can also "sync" directly to e-mail for alerts and correspondence, as well as the Internet and App Store, most often for the cost of an all-inclusive data package of approximately $30 each month.
Smartphone's heavy hitters
Choosing between an Android, Blackberry and iPhone can be equated to professing one's preference for a Mac or PC computer — it's a matter of personal opinion. Those who prefer Mac may gravitate to the comparable iPhone interface as opposed to those of Android or Blackberry models.
Verizon Wireless recently grabbed a share of the iPhone market — previously exclusive to AT&T — by offering the iPhone 4 to its customers, beginning Feb. 10.
"Verizon Wireless experienced the company's most successful first day of sales in the history of the company with the introduction of the iPhone 4. Although we don't comment on sales, over 94 million Verizon Wireless customers, as well as another approximately 200 million customers with other carriers, now have access o the iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless and there is clearly a lot of pent up demand for the product," Mike Murphy, spokesperson for Verizon Wireless, said.
According to Peter Nixon, director of New England Sales at AT&T, his network still provides the highest level of service necessary for the iPhone.
"The partnership between AT&T and Apple brought the world the most innovative product that has ever been introduced in the wireless industry. And sharing that technology with other carriers can only bring more innovation and more choice for consumers ... only AT&T's mobile broadband network lets you take full advantage of the iPhone," he said, adding, "AT&T's iPhone is twice as fast."
Chelsea Whittington, spokes-person for U.S. Cellular, noted her network's most popular models are Android-powered smartphones.
"The Samsung Mesmerize (a Galaxy S device), with its large touch screen and super fast 1 GHz processor, makes watching videos, playing games and zipping through business and entertainment applications easy," she said. "The LG Optimus U is ideal for smartphone users who want to explore a wide range of multimedia entertainment and time-saving Android applications. Both phones have cool Swype technology for blazing fast text messaging. Other Android-powered phones include the Samsung Acclaim, LG Apex and the HTC Desire."
Mark Elliott, communications manager for wireless devices, Sprint New England, said his network's BlackBerry users are "extremely loyal to that brand" due to its e-mail functionality. Other models popular among Sprint customers include Samsung Epic 4G and the HTC EVO 4G smartphones, he added.
"The HTC EVO 4G is our most recognized phone," Elliott said. "It was the first 4G Android smartphone. It was recognized for bringing things [into the marketplace] phones hadn't done before with its eight megapixel camera and HD video. You can video chat without having to connect to a WiFi network."
Deciphering data
Data usage is increasingly craved among today's consumers in the cellular marketplace as customers are using their cell phones for Internet, e-mail, music, movie and application downloads more now than ever before.
"Overall, we're seeing a growing appetite for data. In fact, data traffic on our network is doubling every seven months ... Our 4G smartphones are popular and data-hungry," Patty Razz, spokesperson for T-Mobile, said. "T-Mobile customers using 4G smartphones consume more data versus customers using 3G smartphones with similar features."
She added, "T-Mobile is focused on fueling the adoption of mobile data for all, by continuing to offer innovative and affordable devices, as well as aggressive data plan pricing, flexible service plans and rich and compelling data services."
Data plans start at $10 per month with a two-year network contract.
Murphy noted the growing demand for smartphones, such as Motorola Droids and the iPhone 4, among his Verizon's customers.
Data plans with Verizon Wireless can be charged per MB download, a $10 per month package or a mandatory $30 plan for models, such as the iPhone 4.
AT&T offers several data packages, including 200 MB of data for $15 per month of two gigabytes for $25 per month.
Sprint bundles data usage into its overall calling and text plans such as the "Unlimited Data" package for $69.99 per month.
The future of cellular service
The future of technology for wireless providers is in smaller, sleeker cellular devices and the expanding market for tablets — a smaller, thinner version of a computer, such as the iPad — according to the major networks.
"You'll continue to see some great evolution in 4G devices. We have announced 18 different 4G devices and the 4G Blackberry Playbook, which is their tablet," Elliott said. "You're going to see a lot of new devices getting 4G network capabilities, which will offer more robust applications."
According to Murphy, Verizon Wireless customers can expect faster networks and better cellular devices. "Verizon Wireless recently debuted its new 4G LTE network in Boston, Massachusetts, and 38 other major metropolitan areas, covering more than 110 million Americans. Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States," he said.
"The company has committed to launch 140 additional 4G LTE markets during 2011, covering two thirds of all Americans by the end of this year," he continued. "In 2011, Verizon Wireless will also launch the HTC Thunderbolt, one of the world's first 4G LTE Android smartphones and exclusive to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network."
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