Good news for ultra mobile PC vendors trading in Europe today. The Financial Times reports that the iPhone will launch in the UK, France and Germany with 2.5G only during 2007. (shortened story here.)
So, the ‘real Internet’ (says Kevin Tofel) on a mobile phone won’t actually be mobile until at least 2008 and I suspect that it will be at least late 2008 before Europe gets a 2nd gen, 3G iPhone. This also means that if you’re choosing a mobile phone to partner with a notebook or ultra mobile PC as a modem, you can forget the iPhone. My recommendation would be this 3-step plan to the 3-device strategy.
- Don’t go ‘high-end bulky business smartphone’ go thin, light and stylish. Take the chance to buy an object of desire. A nice 3.5G capable Samsung U700 or LG Shine that will slip into your pocket and give you email, RSS, mini-web, camera, storage and a 3G cellular modem.
- Throw your notebook in the bin/eBay.
- Buy a 5-7″ ultra mobile PC that will give the the real, true, honest, full Internet experience, a mobile video experience like none you’ve had before, a mobile workstation for real on-the-go productivity, an in-car navigation and entertainment solution and more storage and connectivity that any normal user could expect to use.
- Use your desktop PC for your hi-end and long duration productivity work. If you must have a notebook, get one that replaces your desktop PC.
- If Apple turn up with an 800×480 device capable of the FIE and HQ video playback then sure, lets take another look but remember, if you want the FIE its not going to go into your pocket for a few years yet. You’re going to need to consider that three-device strategy until those folding scrolling screens are sorted out and Bill Gates recons that’s going to be another 5 years at least.
iPhone news via Mobile2Day.de
