The next Padfone will be unveiled within few weeks and I’m wondering why other smartphone and tablet makers don’t launch similar devices. I do understand Apple and Samsung — cause these two are the only ones making money right now and they want us to buy phone and tablet separately — but I don’t get other contenders. What about LG, HTC, Huawei and ZTE? It’s not like they’re diving in cash (at least when it comes to mobile phone sales) – so why not experiment with novel form factors.
Future of computing
The way I see it, a device like Asus Padfone is the future. A smartphone will be at the center of our digital lives, allowing us to access not only key information, but also to complete many of the tasks traditionally done on a computer. That said, I don’t quite understand other handset makers – why they don’t offer such a device. It could be that…
Carriers don’t like the idea
Carriers want us to buy two different devices with two separate plans. Thus far we haven’t seen Asus announcing a single partnership with a major operator (group) for the Padfone. You could say the Taiwanese company isn’t that verse in dealing with carriers, but I must disagree – I see their tablets, netbooks and ultrabooks in various operators’ portfolios. So it’s gotta be that they [carriers] don’t like what Padfone is offering. Then again, it’s fair to add that for one reason or another Asus was slow to launch the Padfone — it’s still not widely available even though it was announced a year ago.
But…
Some of the companies could sell such a device unlocked, requiring no contract signing. That would beef-up the price, but I’m sure there would still be interested buyers. The way I see it, Chinese Huawei and ZTE should be especially interested in something like this. They want a piece of the high-end market and launching a Padfone-like device could help them move in that direction. HTC and LG are losing money as well and they too could benefit from the extra geek love blogosphere would give them (after launching such a product).
What do you think about this? Would you like to get a Padfone-like device? And would like to see other companies making them (alongside Asus)? Do let us know what you think in the comments below…