RIM CEO calls the Storm a small netbook (Phone Arena News)

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RIM CEO calls the Storm a small netbook

RIM CEO calls the Storm a small netbook

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Published on: 30 December, 2008 by PhoneArena Team

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High-end smartphones have advanced so much in the last two years that the line between phone and computer has blurred. Still, it almost seems surprising that Mike Lazaridis, co-CEO of BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion, told CNET Asia that he considers his company's first touch screen device to be a small netbook computer. After all, we are taught that the number one function of a cellphone is to make phone calls on the fly. But times have changed. The current smartphone can browse the web, call up videos from YouTube, act as an MP3 player, and allow you to read and compose e-mail among other things. Lazaridis noted that cell phone sales have declined at a rate of 5% per year compounded over the last 5 years. Smartphone purchases rose at a 58% pace over the same time.

So what does RIM's co-leader see for 2009? One thing he is looking forward to is the opening of the BlackBerry alternative to the App Store in March. On a broader scale, next year Lazaridis sees an emphasis on network speed with more web applications.

Tomato or tom-at-toe. Potato or po-tat-toe. Smartphone or netbook computer. What do you think? What do you want your phone to do in 2009?

source: CNET

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iff2mastamatt @ 30 December, 2008 05:09:57 PM

I want to view flash content on websites, just as you would on a real netbook or internet tablet. A real netbook would let you choose your own browser (like google chrome or firefox) to use, opposed to the one installed on your device. Cell phones still have a long way to truly become netbooks, but they are getting closer.

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T-Money3000 @ 30 December, 2008 06:24:33 PM

I agree. Maybe Firefox Mobile will have that capability.

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remixfa @ 04 January, 2009 12:06:10 PM

umm.. dude.. you can install different browsers to the device, tis not hard. and btw, all windows computers come PREINSTALLED with internet explorer.. you have to DL the other browsers yourself, so its the same. of course, im not abuot to call a cell phone a netbook, but still.

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jskrenes @ 30 December, 2008 06:53:45 PM

The Omnia has remote desktop access. The Touch Pro has a cool MP3 editor preinstalled. There are a lot of things like that plus others that need to be installed on a smartphone from day 1 before you can call it a netbook.

Plus, Texas Instruments has been working on a projector that could be installed on cell phones. That would also go a long way to making a netbook out of a phone.

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Legion @ 30 December, 2008 07:08:51 PM

Yeah, WinMo would be the closest you could get to a netbook. As akward as it sounds, I had a customer who bought an omnia use the tv out with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to mimic a desktop setup. Eh, whatever works I guess.

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SellPhones82 @ 31 December, 2008 08:39:33 AM

WinMo is pretty close...I still can't burn/rip cds and dvds which is the main thing I can do on my laptop but can't do on a smartphone. Maybe in time we will see external burners that you just plug into your mini usbs. The projectors are getting close as well and you can purchase phones that have them built in but they are for Asain markets so maybe we will see them here in 09.

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