S60 Open to new features

Andy Abramson over at VoIP Watch points to an interesting piece about how there is some value in diverged devices, i.e. a device that's good at fewer things rather than adequate at many. Which is right? I think they both are.

In a sense, even the most basic mobile phone Nokia sells is a converged device. Since I don't have any of our current low-end phones, I'll reach back into the back of my phone drawer and pull out my Cingular (now AT&T)-branded Nokia 3120, a small candybar phone from about 4 years ago. The phone was fairly cheap or even free with a two year contract. Even this phone includes many features:

• An address book (beyond just names and phone numbers)
• An alarm clock
• A (very basic) Internet browser
• A calendar (complete with reminders)
• A (basic) game machine. This particular phone has bowling, darts, Football (the American type), and a driving game.
• A 4-function calculator
• Stopwatch/Timer
• Voice recorder
• Instant Messaging

Of course, it's primary function is as a phone, and it works well as that. But it has way more functionality than, say, my cordless phone at home, which is truly just a phone, except that it has a way to record speed dials.

Even a "converged" device that has a primary function, and it had better do that well. Therefore, I expect my Nokia N95 to function well as a phone. I think what separates, say, a Nokia N95 from a Nokia 3120 or similar phones is that the secondary function(s) are compelling, easy to use, and approaching the quality of a similar "unconverged" device that performs the same function.

Using the Nokia N95 as an example, the camera and the music player--two of the "secondary" functions of the N95 I use daily--aren't as good in some ways as a standalone digital snapshot camera and a digital media player respectively, but they are good enough for my everyday use and they are always with me.

Because of this convergence, I don't have to mess with multiple devices at places like the YMCA. I notice that other people are carrying about both a cell phone and their portable media player. Meanwhile, I have my Nokia N95 with me, which serves as both. My music player stops when an incoming call comes in. I don't have to pick up another device, my headphones are in, and I can easily take a call without skipping a beat or missing a stride on the elliptical.

While I can talk about how great convergence is for me, or how great it might be for you, at the end of the day, it's a matter of personal choice. Do you want to carry one device or many? What do you carry? Let me know in the comments!

I have to highlight this fantastic post that Rita El Khoury (a.k.a. Dotsisx) put together that shows what things a Nokia N95 8GB replaces in her life. The pictures she posts really tells the story. Kind of reminds me of the Great Pockets campaign we did.

What things does your S60 device replace? Does your S60 device replace more things than it does for Dotsisx? I'd love to see those pictures!

I got a comment on a recent post here that I've been thinking about how I want to respond to. Specifically, it was this one from akBoom:

Is this the ideal way to live life; having to manage 10 tasks at once, that too out of work hours? What happened to quality time with the family, the simple pleasures in life like taking kids to school, chatting with them on the drive there.

Thank you sir but this convergence and available 24/7 business has gotten too far.

Remember that being available 24/7 cuts both ways: not only can your boss reach you, but so can your spouse or your kids. Because I can do anything from anywhere, perhaps I can take an hour or two off and go to the gym or spend some quality time with my kids during the traditional work day? Or maybe if I take five minutes to peck out a response to an urgent email, I can save myself from having to deal with an multi-hour phone call later?

Nokia S60 devices enable you to be always connected to the things and people that matter most to you. If, how, and when you use that connection is up to you, the user. Just because your phone rings or an email comes into your mobile phone, it doesn't mean you have to respond to it. Just because you have one of these devices in your pocket doesn't mean you pull it out at the dinner table during mealtime or when you're sharing a special moment with your kid. Or maybe you do pull it out because you want to capture that special moment and share it with the world.

What do you think about this? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.