
Yeah, I understand that they're easy and that everyone should have one. Right? I don't get why every phone company is trying to make a touch screen phone that will supposedly overcome the Apple iPhone. All though the iPhone is not the first touch screen phone, it's the one that became the most popular. The future is in the palm of your hand.
Touch-screen capability is the latest step in cell phone development, and it’s proving to be a popular one.
Sajwn Boese, manager of Wireless World in Vermillion, said his store sells between 15 and 20 touch-screen phones a month. Wireless World sells three touch-screen models: the LG Voyager, Samsung Glyder and LG Dare.
“We’ve seen more and more sales recently,” Boese said. “A few people get them, then everyone wants one.”
Boese said manufacturers are trying something different to evoke interest in cell phone purchases. It’s a tactic that seems to be working.
Last year, 30 million touch-screen handsets were sold, according to an IMS Research report. LG reported selling seven million touch-screen handsets this summer and the Samsung Instinct has been Spirit’s best-selling handset in company history.
Sales are not expected to slow down soon. IMS Research projects that between 2008 and 2012, 200 million touch-screen devices will be sold.
The first “must-have” touch-screen device was the Apple iPhone, released in June 2007. In the first 30 hours of launch weekend, 270,000 iPhones were sold.
The latest version of the iPhone 3G boasts faster Internet access, GPS, camera, iPod capabilities and downloadable applications like games and news feeds. The retail price for the 8 GB iPhone is $199.99.
The iPhone is only sold on AT&T networks, although some carriers have started selling devices without contracts or by unlocking the restrictive software. Starting June 29, AT&T service providers in South Dakota began supporting the iPhone.
Other mobile phone companies were quick to jump on the touch-screen bandwagon. LG released the Voyager in November 2007 to be sold exclusively by Verizon Wireless. Like the iPhone, the Voyager features a large touch-screen cover and applications like a camera and Internet access.
The Voyager, however, has an internal screen and a full QWERTY keyboard. Retail price without a contract is $149.99.
Sophomore Mike Yaggie owns a Voyager model and although it was spendy, he said the purchase was well worth it.
“I really like (the Voyager) better than any other phone I’ve ever had,” Yaggie said. “The touch screen works well and for texting, the keyboard is always there to back you up if you need it.”
Boese recommended the Voyager and the Samsung Glyde for those whom text a lot because of the physical keyboards available on each of the phones.
“The Voyager is much easier to type on,” he said. “The (LG) Dare is nice, but for those who text a lot, the absence of the physical buttons might turn them off.”
Voyager also features V-Cast Mobile TV, although Boese said that service was not offered in the region.
Wireless World’s third model, the LG Dare, has a full touchscreen cover and 3.2 megapixel camera. Boese said the Dare offers many features.
“For instance, if someone used their phone for an alarm clock a lot, the Dare has an option to drag the alarm clock to the front screen,” he said.
Senior Brooke Kuchta recently bought a Dare and loves it. Although she was warned about the problems of touch-screen phones beforehand, Kuchta said she’s had no issues with her phone so far.
Original Article