The phone market gets smarter

Although the majority of Americans still have regular “feature” cell phones (i.e. not a smartphone), Nielsen Wire is reporting that the number of smartphone users is growing so much so that by the end of 2011, half of the country will be smartphone users.

This probably isn’t a surprise to anyone. Smartphones are a newer a better technology and the longer it’s around, the more people are going to buy. What Nielsen doesn’t report on is how many smartphones are being made. After all, 21 percent have smartphones right now compared to 14 percent a year earlier. But how many more different types of smartphones are available now as compared to a year ago?

Not only is quantity contributing to the ever-increasing rise of smartphone users, but price is a huge factor. I’m a Verizon customer (thus, no iPhone for me), and if I’m going to buy a smartphone I can get the Samsung Omnia from as low as $9.99. The Droid Eris is $79.99 and the BlackBerry Storm 2 is $99.99. Overall there are 14 Verizon phones for under $100 (all of these prices include two-year contracts).

My next phone (when I get the money for it)

And other carriers aren’t skimping on smartphones for under $100: Sprint and AT&T both have nine each. The more inexpensive smartphones get, the more people who are going to buy them. The option is basically buying a smartphone for, say, $49.99 where you have the option of downloading apps and browsing the Web, or spending the same amount of money and not being able to do that.

Yes, smartphones do cost more per month. That’s where they get people. I’ve seen it happen to myself and my friends. What happens is that you get hooked on using those extra features.

While smartphone growth has been steadily increasing, Nielsen is showing that the country is getting hooked on smartphones. It’s expected that the amount of smartphone users will start growing more rapidly.

By 2012 there will be more smartphone in the market than feature phones.

Some holiday shopping

Getting cool gifts for people is difficult. Getting tech gifts for people can be even more difficult because of the price tags attached to everything. But now that Thanksgiving is over and the leftover turkey is finally out of your fridge you can start looking for those gifts you still haven’t bought for the upcoming holidays.

On the low end:

For someone into fitness there are two cool options out there: The Nike + iPod kit and the Fitbit.

Now Nike + iPod is initially cheaper at $29, but it works with a Nike+ shoe, otherwise you should buy the pouch for the shoe sensor. This kit is nice because you can go online where your results will post and, thanks to the nature of competition, you can try to be better than others.

Fitbit is $99 and can automatically synchronize with your computer within a certain distance of it. Fitbit is also small so it can slip into your pocket or clip onto your clothes. The device also monitors your sleep patterns and soon it will also be connected socially online.

In the middle:

The Flip Video camera can be bought from as low as $149. It’s cell phone-sized camera records videos and can capture still images from the videos. Also, it has a built-in USB connector so you don’t need wires and cables to connect to a computer.

The high end:

There are so many to count, so I’ll give a general nod to smartphones and netbooks. These are expensive.

Smartphones, like Droid, Blackberry, iPhone, etc. are usually around $150-$200, but I’ve added them into the “high end” category because to make a smartphone really worth it the monthly fees for e-mail and Internet will really get the price up.

Netbooks are so convenient, especially for the person who doesn’t want something too big but wants to be able to get online. The Toshiba Mini NB205 is small with a 10 inch screen but it has a long, 9 hour battery life. And it’s $400.

Another neat netbook is the Litl. The screen flips so it can be used like a regular laptop or stood up like an easel or picture frame. However, this is pricey and will run you $700.

Smartphone no brainer

Really only one phone comes to mind when I think smartphone: the iPhone. I don’t own it, I think it’s a bit pricey, but let’s face facts: it’s the best out there and although Droid is cool, at this point it’s too new. But, while the iPhone makes up just over half of the smartphone market, Android smartphones, which have really only been out for two months, already make up one-fourth. That’s right, these two operating systems combined are 75 percent of the U.S. smartphone market.

I’m not terribly surprised. But I did find it interesting just how quickly Android’s numbers are building. I suppose that partly has to do with the fact that initially there was only one Android phone out and then just two weeks ago two more were added and onto the Verizon network to boot.

But speaking of Verizon and Apple, I missed the little tidbit that Apple is interested in bringing the iPhone over to Verizon as well when the exclusivity contract with AT&T expires. It’s an incredibly smart move. Just based on my own actions I know that if I had a job (student life is tough) and the iPhone was on Verizon, I would buy it. But I’m not switching over to AT&T, which I kind of hate based on what I’ve seen from friends who are on the network, just for a phone. That would be ridiculous. But if that phone came to me…

Fun fact: worldwide two systems also account for 75 percent of smartphones but the two are the iPhone and Symbian. Android has sold considerably less worldwide with only 11 percent of the market.

Happy thumbs

Apparently I’m not the only one who thinks having an actual keyboard on a phone is a nice addition. At JK On the Run a poll shows that more people prefer the keyboard to not having the keyboard. The comments are very interesting too, like the one about using a “face-plate changing software keyboard.” When I voted, for a keyboard, these were the results:

Android Anticipation

When I bought a new phone a year ago I opted not to get the nicer phone I was eyeing because I didn’t know if I was going to get frustrated with using a touch screen. So I went with the upgraded version of the phone I already had. See, I’m an impatient texter and an English major and the QWERTY keyboard that came with the phone I ended up choosing made it all easy. I’m that person who sends texts with apostrophes.

Right now, the new Motorola Droid is looking like a godsend. And not just to me. With Verizon’s profits considerably down and AT&T’s up, it was clear the company needed something to compete with the iPhone. It doesn’t hurt that Droid also has a QWERTY keyboard just in case I get frustrated with the touch screen. I was ecstatic when I first caught wind of Droid, because I’ve been seriously coveting my friend’s iPhone, but I was reluctant to leave Verizon just for a phone. Now, I don’t have to.

A lot of people probably saw the teaser commercials for droiddoes.com. With the launch date just over a week away the site now has actual information about the phone’s capabilities: such as a GPS using Google Maps.

But will the Droid actually deliver on its attacks on the iPhone? Will Droid actually be better?

I believe the hype has been so great that, at least initially, the release of Droid will help Verizon. It’s the months after that initial wave of buyers that will be the real test. Once people buy it and try it will they like it enough to keep it? Will it become a new phenomenon? After all when watching movies and television shows I often notice the iPhone is the phone of choice.

Will we begin to see Droid creeping into the media? Droid comes out Nov. 6. By Jan. 1, just after the holiday season, we’ll probably know.