Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone?...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that...

Two Weeks and Nothing?

I’ve been away for a week (because I moved house); and it’s all been a bit hectic! Unfortunately I didn’t have the internet for about two weeks, and thus I’ve been cut out of the online world of MIR.

So when I got my connection back some time late last week, I was mildly hoping to see something massively interesting to inspire me to write about; some major piece of news – I mean it’s nearly Christmas after all – or just something that might catch my eye.

Now even on my trawl across the internet in search of mobile news, and the latest goings-on in this brilliant segment of society and business I was expecting something.

Did I?
No.

Am I happy?
No.

You see, even I, a relatively technological “young” person/student, who has a keen interest in the world around me, and with Christmas looming just around the corner, just something eh?

Well, apparently not.

Now maybe some good news, and/or surprises are waiting around the corner for the New Year; or maybe something spectacular will happen in the after-Christmas sales. Needless to say though, I was expecting some major news about something; a big price cut, or some other form of attempt to gain more consumer interest in this very dismal financial situation.

I know I’ve said numerous times now about the lack of real spark at the moment, and the generally poor attempts at gaining custom; and although nothing major, I’m quite amazed at how little I’ve read about anything enticing me – as a probable and likely customer – to go and spend money.

Maybe I’m wrong in my presumptions that the mobile market is avoiding the “Credit Crunch” and that when I walked down my high street the other day, Phones4U, CPW, O2, Three, and the numerous other shops which hoard the high street were meant to be relatively empty on a busy Thursday leading up to Christmas?

Hmm…

Well, I’ll try not to be so pessimistic, and I will believe that someone somewhere is planning something out to ensure that the mobile industry remains in-tact.

9 COMMENTS

  1. I felt that the other week Samantha. I looked across the market and thought 'hmm… is that it?'

    And alas, it is. We saw all the rather swift new announcements way back in October from most of the networks. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next… and I hope it's exciting. The next iPhone? We should be due some kind of hints in the new year. The next big Android handset is another…

  2. Far be it for me to scare-monger, but when I was asking about an upgrade in a T-Mobile shop recently, I was told to wait till the new year. When I asked why, expecting an enticing snippet, I was told it was because T-Mob have exceeded their budget for upgrades this year.

    That's the second time I've heard that story, so there must be some truth in it, but what a crazy industry if I can walk in and open up a new account and get a free phone, but can't arrange an advantageous upgrade to my existing contract! – In fact when I took out my current contract I took a new phone and number because they wouldn't upgrade my previous account. They then contacted me, advising me to return the new phone and cancel the contract and they'd send out an equivalent upgrade to me!

    Total madness, and they deserve all they get, IMO.

  3. I have to agree it does all seem rather stale out there at the moment….. 🙁

    One thing that never fails to astound me is how during these harder times large companies get into cost cutting mode which in real terms kills most innovation!! It would be nice if someone thought outside the box and didnt follow the “business for idiots” manual and rather than cut cost, either keep or increase spend in new products and services otherwise I think we are doomed to spend the next few years getting re-hash after re-hash of services and products…

    How glum 🙁

  4. I felt that the other week Samantha. I looked across the market and thought 'hmm… is that it?'

    And alas, it is. We saw all the rather swift new announcements way back in October from most of the networks. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next… and I hope it's exciting. The next iPhone? We should be due some kind of hints in the new year. The next big Android handset is another…

  5. Far be it for me to scare-monger, but when I was asking about an upgrade in a T-Mobile shop recently, I was told to wait till the new year. When I asked why, expecting an enticing snippet, I was told it was because T-Mob have exceeded their budget for upgrades this year.

    That's the second time I've heard that story, so there must be some truth in it, but what a crazy industry if I can walk in and open up a new account and get a free phone, but can't arrange an advantageous upgrade to my existing contract! – In fact when I took out my current contract I took a new phone and number because they wouldn't upgrade my previous account. They then contacted me, advising me to return the new phone and cancel the contract and they'd send out an equivalent upgrade to me!

    Total madness, and they deserve all they get, IMO.

  6. I have to agree it does all seem rather stale out there at the moment….. 🙁

    One thing that never fails to astound me is how during these harder times large companies get into cost cutting mode which in real terms kills most innovation!! It would be nice if someone thought outside the box and didnt follow the “business for idiots” manual and rather than cut cost, either keep or increase spend in new products and services otherwise I think we are doomed to spend the next few years getting re-hash after re-hash of services and products…

    How glum 🙁

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Recently Published

Is it time to subscribe to a printer service from HP?

Ever since my dad brought home an HP LaserJet printer (version 3, if memory serves), I have been printing with an HP. Over the...

What’s the best way of buying a phone today?

How did you buy your latest phone? I'm asking because I'm thinking about what I should be doing. When I was living in Oman, I...

MWC: What device highlights did you miss?

So, early last week I predicted that next to nothing from Mobile World Congress would break through into the mainstream media. I was right,...

How Wireless Will Pave the Path to Neobank Profitability

I'm delighted to bring you an opinion piece from Rafa Plantier at Gigs.com. I think it's particularly relevant given the recent eSIM news from...

An end of an era: Vodafone UK turns off 3G services

I thought it was worthwhile highlighting this one from the Vodafone UK team. For so long - for what feels like years, seeing the...

Mobile World Congress: Did the mainstream media notice?

I resolved this year to make sure I wrote something - anything - about Mobile World Congress, the huge mobile industry trade show taking...