Earlier today, we learned
that smartphones have finally hit the magical point where more than half
of all mobile users had a smartphone (in Q1 2012, according to Nielsen.)
This begs a crucial question: at what point do "smartphones" simply
become "phones"? At some point the turn has to be made, and given how
quickly smartphones are penetrating the market, it seems as though it's a
turn that could be made fairly soon.
We've seen
this happen with a number of technologies already. There's almost no
point in distinguishing between a TV and an HDTV anymore, because the
cost has come down so dramatically that anyone can afford an HDTV.
Stereos no longer really need to be labeled as "HiFi", because sound
quality is pretty high even in the cheapest of devices. Sure, there will
be a difference on more expensive equipment, but the standard already
meets the criteria. What was once called a "super computer" would be
considered slow compared to devices we carry in our pockets. Similarly,
it doesn't seem as though the day is that far off where "feature phones"
no longer exist, and every new phone is "smart" to some extent.
Smart by ubiquity
There
are already free (or almost free) devices available for every major
platform including Android, iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry. Moving
forward, the number of free devices will only increase and further push
feature phones to the side. Cost is already less and less a determining
factor in the choice between feature phones and smartphones, and the
only real deterrent now is technological proficiency. Sure, there will
be those who have no interest in smartphones because of some sort of
fear of technology (which is often really just a fear of not being able
to learn how to use the new tech,) but those people won't be able to
stop smartphones from fully penetrating the market. Rather, those people
will be forced to buy a smartphone due to a lack of feature phone
options.
Admittedly, this is a phenomena that
we will see first in wealthier regions like the US/Canada, western
Europe, Japan, etc., but eventually it is something that will extend to
every part of the world. And, when we live in a world where all cell
phones are smartphones, will we even bother with the term? If we do,
what will distinguish basic smartphones from the upper echelon? With the
speed at which the mobile market is evolving, what was dubbed the first superphone
just two years ago isn't even able to run the newest version of its
operating system because of a lack of internal storage. Now, the only
company that even bothers with the marketing term "superphone" is RIM, because, well, let's face it, RIM needs every buzzword available to turn that ship around.
