Nokia and others to launch "iPhone-like" devices next year?

Nokia and others to launch iPhone-like devices next year? So far we’ve seen few companies, like Intel, BenQ, HTC (Touch) and even Nokia trying to create something similar to the iPhone. And now, according to DigiTimes, more companies are set to enter the race. Apparently, the Taiwan’s “OEM reporting puls” says that we should expect to see more Windows Mobile-based all-touchscreen devices from such companies as Asustek, Compal and Arima Communications next year. In addition, DigiTimes’ sources also claim that Nokia’s controversial touchscreen handset will be released in the first half of 2008…

Now, you may like or hate Apple — it’s your choice. But one thing is certain – they have managed to disturb the whole mobile industry with the iPhone. Can you name some other company that can do that? Ok, maybe Google, but we still wait to hear something official from them.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

sickofwm

if the new devices are Windows mobile-based, how on earth can they compare to the iPhone – WM is apiece of crap – have you tried it? apparently not -
dusanb

Well my friend more people use Windows Mobile based devices than iPhone. I guess it works for them. However, I do agree Windows Mobile is everything but a solid system, though it’s quite expandable.
Will Park

Windows Mobile is far from perfect, but its a damn good platform. The power is in the customizable expandability. All platforms have their downsides, but they all have their different merits. To blindly discount a platform out of loyaly to a singular brand is ignorant
sickofwm

you say it’s a “damn good platform” – having used 3 different devices that were WM-based, I can categorically state that it is anything but “damn good” – it is bloated, frequently requires reboots (far more than other handheld OS’es) requires, requires far more key presses to accomplish almost any function – it has a registry for heaven’s sake, something of dubious value in a PC much less a handheld – it uses memory poorly – I can go on but I challenge you to prove it is “damn good” in the fac eof tall the contrary evidence – it’s on version 6 to boot and it still sucks – explain that!
sickofwm

your other statement that its power is in its “customizable expandability” is total nonsense – the usefulness and hence, power, of any system is its ability to accomplish its intended task most efficiently, effectively (cost and time wise), and elegantly – WM does none of these well – it’s huge, slow, and ill adapted for handsets – if Ballmer and Gates used it for any time at all, they’d fire the entire team – but since MSFT doesn’t know good software when they see it, those 2 would be unable to tell how badly it sucks – “what do you mean, it takes 4 key presses to delete something – that’s better than 6″

just read Ballmer’s response to the mom who complained to him about Vista for her daughter’s PC and you’ll see exactly what I mean (this has been verified as an accurate exchange)

“While on stage at a Gartner’s ITxpo conference today, Ballmer got an ear-full from the mother of a 13-year-old girl who said after installing Vista on her daughter’s computer she decided only two days later to switch back to XP because Vista was so difficult. Ballmer defended Vista saying: ‘Your daughter saw a lot of value’; to which the mother replied: ‘She’s 13.’ Ballmer said that Vista is bigger than XP, and ‘for some people that’s an issue, and it’s not going to get smaller in any significant way in SP1. But machines are constantly getting bigger, and [it's] probably important to remember that as well.’ Says the mother: ‘Good, I’ll let you come in and install it for me.’”
Andrew

I’m not an Apple fan but I gotta admit, I used an old version of Windows Mobile and it was pretty crappy. I personally liked all the complicated stuff, since it allowed me to get rid of all the customisation my operator had preinstalled onto it and I got a regular PDA with a phone built in. They really should have tucked this stuff away though so that people who didn’t know how to use it cold just ignore it.

Then again, Apple only had to build their UI for a single phone and they pumped pretty much the entire budget into it. Apart from the lovely looks and interface the iPhone’s a two/three year-old device.