I disagree. It hasn't taken data applications long to catch on in Korea, or Japan, given a compelling set of applications. New applications using BREW is nothing like digital vs. film cameras. BREW isn't proclaiming to be the death of 2 G cell phones, but a new way to use cell phones to give people what they want. BREW also makes the process transparent to the user, so that you don't have to be a techie to get it to work.
If you want to grow a long beard, wear dark clothes/wide brimmed hats, and move to Pennsylvania to drive a horse cart, be my guest... but I think data applications will catch on rapidly given their additional utility for people. Digital cameras are great, but the additional benefit isn't necessarily obvious to those who live below the digital Mendoza line. Being able to locate yourself when you are lost (or better yet, find your kids), or pay your bill at a restaurant by using your phone (one less thing to carry), or to burn some time while waiting for your tires to get changed (no more soap operas on TV), or in a doctor's office (bad/outdated magazines), or while riding a bus in to work (any email?) are benefits above and beyond what is currently available that people will be willing to pay for.
DWB |
