The news release hits my desktop with “Verizon Wireless' Samsung Haven: A Sanctuary Of Features And Simplicity” I react with “Yessss!” That’s how I see my older Samsung HUE II, “A Sanctuary Of Features And Simplicity.”
No reception problems to speak of no matter which way I hold the phone. Native, bare bones case means no rubber sleeve to contend with, and with no apps on the phone – other than the stock Celltop choices – I don’t put money into a data plan. I use the camera sparingly, so I can appreciate the idea that you could have a phone without one. Text messaging? I would not want to be without that; it seems Samsung and Verizon thought to enable it on this little charmer.
Price? They hit that on the mark – easy affordability. And how about the easy-to-read display? For those of a more youthful age who may be chuckling at this point, just wait until you get your first pair of bifocals; you will welcome big numbers on a phone when you can’t find your glasses. Also they describe the keypad as a “Large, Tactile Keypad with One-Touch Access Keys”.
But what really got my attention from this announcement was not the new Samsung phone. It was more about the drawbacks of maybe we expect too much from a phone in the first place.
Not long ago, US car manufacturers were accused of taking potshots at Toyota’s problems in their advertisements. Besides the media jumping on the iPhone 4’s recent troubles with the term “death grip”, today's The Wall Street Journal ran a full-page Motorola ad titled, “No Jacket Required” – the ad is for the new DROID X™.
Further on in the ad copy – truth be told I was laughing at this point – it reads, “…a customer shouldn’t have to dress up their phone for it to work properly.” and it goes on to say, “…allows you to hold the phone any way you like to make crystal clear calls without a bulky phone jacket.” For those of you about to defend your recent iPhone purchase – how’s that online purchase and reservation thing working out for ya – surely we can agree this is a clever ad.
Back to Samsung. Whereas Consumer Reports told folks they may want to take a pass on the iPhone 4, the Samsung Haven earned the prestigious Good Housekeeping Seal. Where other phones may have more sophisticated apps, the Samsung Haven bundles a couple of simple and useful applications, calling them “Lifestyle features”:
- Well-Being and Health Tools – A reminder alarm with up to five alarms, a fitness trainer that offers 15 unique stretching techniques, four different healing music selections to help relieve stress, and a medical information application that lets users make medical notes and stores their information such as allergies and medications
- Personal Organizer and Tools – Calendar and scheduling assistant, calculator with currency converter, world clock, and stop watch
I imagine your reaction right now is, “Hello, Baby Boomers!” Maybe. But, not a bad market to chase, and with a smart (phone) approach to a market segment, too. It’s not all about features and functionality in wireless apps – the recent Citigroup security flaws on their iPhone app come to mind. Sometimes simplicity offers greater peace of mind; or as Samsung says, “A Sanctuary”.
If you don't follow Paul Gilster's column, I would encourage you to do so. In this piece he brings forth some worthy thought on "Google's Android is a potent challenge" (to the iPhone's future success):
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/04/612967/in-smart-phones-the-system-counts.html
Posted by: Peter | August 04, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Moved to a LG Cosmos, yesterday - still learning the lay of the land, and the slide-out keyboard (haven't used it much; still favor the keypad and T9). I feel like I have maintained simplicity and functionality, but gained some utility with some new features.
Posted by: Peter | August 06, 2010 at 08:33 PM