Andrew Lim
It's thought that Andrew was born with built-in Bluetooth. When he talks, radios make that strange buzzing sound usually associated with network interference and there are rumours that he has an alphanumeric keypad implanted in his back.
Thursday 11 December 2008, 12:01pm
Fully customisable handsets need to make a comeback
I recently reviewed the Nokia N79, which comes with exchangeable covers. This is hardly a revolutionary concept, but it is brilliant: exchangeable covers need to make a comeback right now.
For months I've been speaking to mobile manufacturers about how they're going to get out of the black hole of the recession and few have come up with any solid answers.
During my review of the Nokia N79, I realised that one of the answers, for consumers at least, would be the ability to 'upgrade' their handsets without needing to sign up to expensive new contracts or buy a new phone -- enter exchangeable covers.
One of the greatest joys about the old-style Nokia handsets, which allowed you to customise the front and back, was that a new cover felt like a new phone. Transparent cases, cases with your favourite football team, even Transformers cases, were all the rage and I think they could be again.
The problem for manufacturers is that unofficial covers don't make them any money, and that people buy fewer phones. In the current market, are people going to buy new phones anyway? I say bring back the fully customisable mobile phone, and do it soon.
Comments on this post
yeah i miss old phones , because if you want to upgrade your phone it will be for better spec phone not for other colors , and you will be able get colors not the usual (black , white,red ) , and if you broke your cover you can get another one fast and cheap , and i think they should make laptops with exchangeable covers.
Posted by ahmad on Tue 16 December, 2008 2:28 AM
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I was clearing out some cupboards and found my Nokia 5110 from...7 years ago?? I really fell for the novelty factor so I had 10 covers for it at one point. That's possibly extreme but even now I look on eBay for dodgy imitation covers for my phone that isn't meant to be taken apart :S - just so I can identify my phone from the rest! I would love it if covers made a comeback and I wouldn't mind the manufacturer's own - honest!
Posted by Jen on Fri 27 February, 2009 2:44 PM
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