Current Multimedia Phones Are Too Complicated For Most People
Jun 28th, 2007 | By James Lewin | Category: Digital Music, iPods & Portable Media PlayersA new report from JupiterResearch shows that, while millions of people are buying multimedia phones, few are using the phones’ music capabilities.
Highlights of their report:
- 27.9 million US consumers are expected to have music phones by the end of this year;
- The music functionality of these phones will remain largely underutilized;
- Only about five percent of users report sideloading songs onto their phone (i.e., transferring digital songs from a PC to a phone);
- Only two percent report downloading songs over the air.
The introduction of Apple’s iPhone will bring iPod functionality to mobile phones, which is likely to dramatically increase the number of users sideloading songs via their PC or Mac. However, Apple does not currently support downloading songs over the air, probably because it would be impractical over AT&T’s slow network.
In addition to network limitations, other reasons people aren’t using phones music capabilities include:
- Prices are too high;
- People have lots of portable music alternatives; and
- Multimedia phones are too hard to use for most people.
“Despite strong industry interest in music on mobile phones, adoption remains in its earliest stages,” said David Schatsky, President of JupiterResearch. “It isn’t the type of activity that can be forced into the marketplace, but it is something that should be nurtured in those who have already embraced it.”
[…] Almost as important as the iPhone itself is the fact that music buyers are rapidly¬†switching to digital music, an area that Apple already dominates. Most¬†other music phones are too complicated for most people to figure out, which could give Apple a huge advantage over other cell-phone manufacturers. Rate This Post: (1 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Bookmarking links: Related Topics: Apple, cell phones, iPhone, iTunes, mobile phones Related articles: iPhone Actually Lives Up To Its Hype, 90% Say iPhone Better Than Their Own Cell Phone, Apple Stores Staying Open Until Midnight Friday For iPhone Buyers, Apple iPhone Activation Handled Through iTunes, Apple Announces iPhone Plans Starting At About $60/Month […]