Retailers find fault with hero handsets

[JK8]

11:17AM Thu 10 May 2007

The Nokia N95 and the LG Prada handsets were released around a month ago, with massive expectations for both. After a lull in hero-handset releases, the market was set for two winners to pick up sales in a slowing market.

But one month on and many retailers say they are disappointed with the handsets' performance. A senior operator retailer told Mobile: 'People have very high expectations of these devices – that can lead to returns.'

Several retailers commented that the Prada's fashion appeal was likely to be short-lived: 'When it was first released, everyone was buying it for two reasons. One, it's Prada. Two, it's touch-screen. I think people are realising it's a lot of money for a phone.'

Others have complained that customers find it difficult to access the keypad on the Prada handset when on a call, particularly when trying to use voicemail. 'When you use an auto pre-select service such as needing to press one, two or three as an option, as it is all touch-screen, the selections are not recognised,' one dealer said. However, LG's Steve Fraser said: 'There are no technical glitches with the Prada. People just don't seem to know there is a button to press to access the keypad.'

'The Prada has started to die down a bit, but the N95 is still going well,' a Phones 4u salesperson said. The N95 continues to attract interest, but customers have started complaining about software issues, battery life and the GPS system. One dealer who uses the handset said: 'It crashes a lot and the GPS takes ages to lock on. It turns off when I am using a Bluetooth headset.'

Despite complaints, both the handsets have been holding top positions on the Mobile Tracker chart. The N95 has been the bestselling handset for the past three weeks, while the Prada has been holding on to second place for the last two weeks.

 

[Digilus]

The N95 has been the bestselling handset for the past three weeks, while the Prada has been holding on to second place for the last two weeks.

Obviously not a South African based report. If the N95 was readily available I am sure it would be in the SA charts. It is probably at or near the top of the "most requested" phone in SA at the moment though

Excuse me while I resist the urge to make my daily "Have you got it yet" phone calls.

 

[JK8]

Obviously not a South African based report. If the N95 was readily available I am sure it would be in the SA charts. It is probably at or near the top of the "most requested" phone in SA at the moment though

Excuse me while I resist the urge to make my daily "Have you got it yet" phone calls.

Nope not a SA report, but it is readily available on the 2 main networks and is the most requested phone in the country.

 

[Digilus]

"Readily" is a bit of a stretch But I am a patient person - so patient I am only on about 4 waiting lists.

It is a good article nevertheless. I guess the Prada phone will be a flash in the pan type of phone (much like those bling'ed out Dolce & Gabban Motorolas)

 

[diabolus]

The N95 continues to attract interest, but customers have started complaining about software issues, battery life and the GPS system.

I know a few people who complained about the exact same issues but there's some irony here, people buy it because it can GPS+play media+have huge camera NOT because it's useful to communicate [voice,sms,email] with 24-7.

Meantime they don't realise that if you walk around and play MP3s AND fool with your GPS everytime you drive...guess what! Your battery life is going to suck!!

That's why i am moving away from buying phones that tries to be an iPod+GPS+Laptop+Modem all in one. It's amusing to see these people walk around and then when they actually get a PHONECALL, their battery is always dead...


At the end of the day, if you want to listen MP3s, get a player with 15+ hours battery life and 30GB space . If you want to GPS get a garmin and stick it to your dashboard....if you want to "fool around" with those things without actually buying them seperately by getting a cellphone, don't complain about battery life and lack of functionality of those 'integrated gadgets' .

Sure there's a market for having 1 device, but i don't think current 'gadgets' are there. You always end up paying a price, with battery life,size,form factor or the actual cost etc. You will 99% of the time end up with a "jack of all trades, master of none" device, and i'm certain the N95 will be no exception to this.

 

[Piesang]

Hey, what can I say?

I don't have any problems with my N95.

 

[Cube]

I know a few people who complained about the exact same issues but there's some irony here, people buy it because it can GPS+play media+have huge camera NOT because it's useful to communicate [voice,sms,email] with 24-7.

Meantime they don't realise that if you walk around and play MP3s AND fool with your GPS everytime you drive...guess what! Your battery life is going to suck!!

That's why i am moving away from buying phones that tries to be an iPod+GPS+Laptop+Modem all in one. It's amusing to see these people walk around and then when they actually get a PHONECALL, their battery is always dead...


At the end of the day, if you want to listen MP3s, get a player with 15+ hours battery life and 30GB space . If you want to GPS get a garmin and stick it to your dashboard....if you want to "fool around" with those things without actually buying them seperately by getting a cellphone, don't complain about battery life and lack of functionality of those 'integrated gadgets' .

Sure there's a market for having 1 device, but i don't think current 'gadgets' are there. You always end up paying a price, with battery life,size,form factor or the actual cost etc. You will 99% of the time end up with a "jack of all trades, master of none" device, and i'm certain the N95 will be no exception to this.

I agree. But perhaps because I don't have an N95

Piesang, put a sock in it.

 

[Skeptik]

Hey, what can I say?

I don't have any problems with my N95.

You wouldn't notice if it came alive and bit you LOL

This phone has been found not to multitask very well - processor weak. It's a known issue in Europe.

 

[AirWolf]

The price is a really outrageous, but if you have the money go for it

I'm definitely not in that category

 

[GTi]

11:17AM Thu 10 May 2007

The Nokia N95 and the LG Prada handsets were released around a month ago, with massive expectations for both. After a lull in hero-handset releases, the market was set for two winners to pick up sales in a slowing market.

But one month on and many retailers say they are disappointed with the handsets' performance. A senior operator retailer told Mobile: 'People have very high expectations of these devices – that can lead to returns.'

Several retailers commented that the Prada's fashion appeal was likely to be short-lived: 'When it was first released, everyone was buying it for two reasons. One, it's Prada. Two, it's touch-screen. I think people are realising it's a lot of money for a phone.'

Others have complained that customers find it difficult to access the keypad on the Prada handset when on a call, particularly when trying to use voicemail. 'When you use an auto pre-select service such as needing to press one, two or three as an option, as it is all touch-screen, the selections are not recognised,' one dealer said. However, LG's Steve Fraser said: 'There are no technical glitches with the Prada. People just don't seem to know there is a button to press to access the keypad.'

'The Prada has started to die down a bit, but the N95 is still going well,' a Phones 4u salesperson said. The N95 continues to attract interest, but customers have started complaining about software issues, battery life and the GPS system. One dealer who uses the handset said: 'It crashes a lot and the GPS takes ages to lock on. It turns off when I am using a Bluetooth headset.'

Despite complaints, both the handsets have been holding top positions on the Mobile Tracker chart. The N95 has been the bestselling handset for the past three weeks, while the Prada has been holding on to second place for the last two weeks.

Nice coming from you JK8, considering the phones and where your loyality lies.
Sweet.

 

[Piesang]

I have a iPod Video 30GB. I have a decent 10MP camera. When I go somewhere and I know I'm going to need them, I take them with. If I know I dont need them then I have my N95 with me for a backup and I know that it will do the job well enough for me not to be dissappointed.

 

[GTi]

I have a iPod Video 30GB. I have a decent 10MP camera. When I go somewhere and I know I'm going to need them, I take them with. If I know I dont need them then I have my N95 with me for a backup and I know that it will do the job well enough for me not to be dissappointed.

If I remember correctly, you said the same thing when you got the N80. Right