TALES FROM THE TOP

The very future of our mobile handsets and the wireless communication industry is being discussed, debated and predicted at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week.

And from all accounts it seems Touch Screen handsets is the now and the future.

Samsung for one, changed it’s slogan from “A Mobile for Every Lifestyle” to “A Mobile to TOUCH Every Lifestyle.”

The iPhone can be credited for starting the Touching trend in phones, HTC, LG, Samsung, recently Nokia and Sony Ericson played catch-up.

I was slow to follow the hype, and only started  using a touch screen phone extensively in 2008.

I realized that my text messaging activity actually goes down to just a few hundred a month, on months  I use a touch screen phone, even when the handset comes with an actual keypad underneath. I can average atleast 2 thousand messages sent when using a non-touch phone.

On the flipside, my calls are higher when on a touch phone than on a conventional one.

My mobile subscription gives me unlimited free calls but limited free text messages — so on months I use touch screen, I am actually saving a lot of $$$ just by being too lazy to message.

After all the hype, and the advancements in touch screen technology, I am still not convinced.

So I hope, while handset manufacturers ponder how to make their touch phones even better, they should spare a thought for those out there with big fat fingers who can’t be bothered with touch screen phones.