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> ARE consumers "too dumb" to use mobile phones?
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Most advanced phones *are* complex.
The problem arises when you buy a phone for its looks or battery or any reason axcept for the features, then you are faced with options you don't want.
All that is the main reason that operators want to make their own firmware and 'burn' the settings into the phone so that it is all ready for use.
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Posted: 2004-11-18 11:22:25
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@ axxxr
Q. Are mobile phones too complicated?
A. No, individual user finds ease in locating functions relevant to him/her. Rest may or may not interest their inquisition.
Q. Can you use all or most of the functuons available on your mobile phone?
A. Yes, but most features are not relevant or superfluous.
Q. Which service providers and phone makers are worst at providing simplicity in their products and services?
A. All or none, depends on your point of view.
Q. What can be done to improve phone user interfaces and simplify the use of services offered by providers?
A. Remove unnecessary features, uniform interface, customization for advanced users...........and the list goes on
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Posted: 2004-11-18 11:41:42
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I think its pretty obvious that the community here is very tech friendly and easily figures out how to use the majority of features on any phone, no matter how complicated the interface.
I think that most manufacturers have made it almost amazingly simple to do all the basic tasks on phones like making calls, browsing contacts and viewing received messages. Many manufacturers fall behind in making the advanced features easy to use. I had a very difficult time enabling bluetooth on several phones recently. Still I am patient and savvy enough to figure it out.
Mainly I agree that any inability to use advanced features on phones is due to some block on the users part. They just aren't willing to put in the time to read the manual, search for the feature, or perhaps fiddle with it until it works. Some people may find these features very compelling once they figure out how to use them, but they don't want to bother trying. I really don't think that they are too complex to use, every person is capable of remembering which menus lead to which features.
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Posted: 2004-11-18 11:57:14
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For the question raised, are people too dumb, u have to agree that it depends. But complexity dont always make phones irritating. It depends on the structure of menus, graphical interface, etc. Take a nokia with square screen and plain colors, it makes doing complex tasks sometimes boring. Do the same thing in advanced se or windows mobile phone, things get much more interesting! Quickness is the other thing. If you have to go to java menu, select app, then go to another menu and select open app, it cant be much helpful. But if u can assign a button to launch app, its really usable!
This message was posted from a WAP device
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Posted: 2004-11-18 14:41:39
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I wouldn't use the word "dumb". I think most consumers are "lazy". And by lazy I mean that most of us (maybe not here at esato but in general) don't spend their life reading instructions for everything they buy. Some people are "gifted", or more experienced, and learn by using. Other are not...
I recently met someone who didn't know t610 had profiles... I took myself five minutes to explain and the person is now using them daily. There are many functions, instruction resemble more and more Tolkien books...............
I think a shop would make a fortune (and also the service providers would) if they would explain "live one to one" the functions of a phone. Countless people complain about their phone, and most of them do so because they cannot use it at its full potential.
So, rather than "dumb", I would label most consumers as "lazy" (not in a bad way of course!!)
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Posted: 2004-11-18 14:57:49
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It often strikes me that a lot of users refuse to work with the T9 function.
That says enough about how much time they want to invest in learning how to use advanced features.
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Posted: 2004-11-19 09:51:00
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@pinolo77
Quote:I think a shop would make a fortune (and also the service providers would) if they would explain "live one to one" the functions of a phone. Countless people complain about their phone, and most of them do so because they cannot use it at its full potential.
The problem about this 'live explanation' is the variety of the phones and the enormous renewal rate of the phones. I think one clerk can only care for, say, 8 to 12 different mobiles at one time; but as they normally get their cash for the amount of contracts placed thatīs their primary interest. I learned having read the instructions at least once gives you an advantage to the clerk he never can catch up..
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Posted: 2004-11-19 10:35:54
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Well not everyone is occupied with all the possibilities of their phones, but I doubt that kind of people visit this forum.
The only category which I can't understand are those who buy the most expensive model, just to show of. Such should buy Jaguar XJ, that's the real way.
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Posted: 2004-11-20 21:29:33
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I use all the features on my phones and prefer them unbranded/unlocked due to travelling and can do more with them that way.. Though they could do a better job of writing the user manuals for the more advanced models.
This message was posted from a T610
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Posted: 2004-11-20 21:58:43
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@axxxr guess u know my answer and the facts for that are to find in the thread i host ps: the fear leads to... text was told by master yoda, do like the original version of it. Wise words.
This message was posted from a T68i
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Posted: 2004-11-20 22:57:42
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