Seybold's take: Are two types of smartphones necessary?

Are there really two different types of smartphones--one aimed at the consumer market and one for business users? Google seems to think so, Apple thought so when it first put the iPhone on the market, and, of course, the BlackBerry was originally a business device. But in today's world, smartphones have to be ambidextrous, which means they have to be able to be used by both consumers and business users, and they need to have access to applications that will accommodate both groups.

BlackBerrys are being carried by an increasing number of consumers, even in the 14-year-old to 25-year-old group because of the ease of texting with the keyboard and because they support multiple email, SMS, MMS and IM sessions. The iPhone has been upgraded to be able to work with Microsoft Outlook, and it can now be wiped by the IT department if it is lost or stolen, which is a business device requirement.

Some people carry two devices--one for work and one for personal use--especially if the company does not permit personal use of its devices. But today many consumers are also involved in business and most business customers have a life outside of the office. The Droid, as nice a phone as it is, was designed first and foremost as a consumer device and it lacks a number of features and functions required by the business community. The new Google Nexus One also appears to have been developed for consumers, especially the younger crowd. But then again, Android (or the Java that sits behind it) is too slow to handle 3D games well, so you might say it is a consumer device for people who are not into gaming.

It makes sense to me that a smartphone will be used for many different things: consumer applications, consumer and business Web access, business and personal email access (how many of you have only one email address?), IMing, consumer and business social networking, and the list goes on. The difference between small business and large business types of devices has to do with IT departments and their need to be able to remotely configure, update, and otherwise manage a fleet of devices. Small business customers either do it themselves or have a part time or external IT person who sets up the services and is not too concerned about remote access.

Smartphones are a growing percentage of all wireless devices sold, and there are application stores that cater to these devices. We also know that many consumer/business customers are using their smartphones for both work and leisure, and that they want the flexibility to use the same device for multiple tasks. One reason the iPhone has been so popular is that in a single device there is an iPod, a consumer phone, a business phone, and world class access to the Web either by using the browser or clicking on applets that direct users to the information they want. The iPhone started out as a consumer device and Apple quickly learned about multi-use devices. The RIM folks have done the same thing coming from the business world into the consumer world.

My new Bold 9700 is a very capable business device and it has just about every type of consumer application I want or need either already on it or available. I can put app icons on the home screen or inside folders, so I can have one folder for work and one for fun or however else I want to organize them. In addition to the flexibility built into the Bold 9700, various themes are offered, some of which combine some features and functions. For example, in one theme your SMS and email arrive in the same email folder while in another theme there are two separate folders. Since you can move the app icons around, you can truly customize the device for your own lifestyle.

There aren't many "just consumers" around and there aren't many "just business" customers. Mobility and wireless have blurred the lines between our work and personal lives. They have extended our business hours with availability and we can stay in touch and attend to business matters no matter where we are. They have also enabled us to take care of personal matters during our business or school day. The concept of a consumer device or a business device should be ancient history. Today, our smart devices can be smart enough to assist us in every aspect of our lives.

Andrew M. Seybold is an authority on technology and trends shaping the world of wireless mobility. A respected analyst, consultant, commentator, author and active participant in industry trade organizations, his views have influenced strategies and shaped initiatives for telecom, mobile computing and wireless industry leaders worldwide. www.andrewseybold.com. Don't miss the Andrew Seybold Wireless University on Monday, March 22, 2010, at CTIA Wireless 2010, Las Vegas, Nev.