The battle for consumers looking to spend less than 200 Euros on a phone is hot and heavy since the addressable market is much larger than that of the super smartphones running iOS and Android, otherwise known as the devices that get all the attention from the technology press. Samsung is introducing a new feature phone, the C3530, and it’s estimated to cost 5,990 Russian rubles or roughly 145 Euros, which for the system specifications you get is the very definition of insanity. First off there’s the screen, measuring only 2.2 inches across and with a resolution of 240 by 320 pixels. There’s quadband GSM/EDGE, meaning you’ll be able to make and receive calls and texts regardless of where you are in the world, but there’s no 3G for high speed web browsing. There’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack, support for microSD cards, 3.2 megapixel camera, FM radio, and that’s it.
Samsung thinks they can charge so much for so little because the entire device is made out of brushed metal. For that amount of money you’re better off getting something like the Huawei Ideos, a 2.8 inch Android 2.2 device that for only 5 Euros more gives you GPS, WiFi, plus a full blown smartphone operating system so you can enjoy a wide variety of applications.
If you’re in the market for a cheap phone however, then there’s Nokia’s recently announced C2-01 which is half the cost at only 70 Euros, but comes with the 3G. You get a smaller screen, only 2 inches, but you’ll need a small phone to fit in your pocket because all the money you saved is taking up space.
Are you looking for a low to mid range phone? Why are you considering a device in that price category when a little bit more savings could buy you something infinitely better in each and every respect? I’d like to know, from a consumer research perspective, but also to try and figure out if these simple feature phones are attractive to people other than those who seek to have a device that’s easy to use.
[Via: Unwired View]