I am simply amazed how you think your own personal distaste for non-smartphone QWERTY phones is somehow more relevant than the MASSIVE market that exists for these phones.
Ever hear of the sidekick? I hate that POS phone but not doubt that phone was quite popular over at T-Mob.
The enV has been one of VZW's best selling phones almost every month since it has been released (which was black friday of 06).
The Voyager STILL sells like hotcakes too.
So just because YOU think wanting QWERTY just for texting is silly doesn't mean these phones won't sell or aren't any good. If you send literally thousands of texts a month (and A LOT of people do) but you could give a rats ass about syncing with outlook why the hell WOULDN'T you want a QWERTY non-smartphone? That's what is ridiculous.
The sidekick is popular for other reasons. Yes, QWERTY might be popular among the tweens and that's probably why a low cost phone (like the EnV) sells a lot. But for mass market, most people still don't know what LOL stands for. Like how I LOL at you for defending 12 year olds.
Anybody who's buying a phone for someone above the age of 16, isn't gonna care about QWERTY unless they can E-Mail (and other things). The Voyager probably sells well because of the touchscreen and TV.
"Anybody who's buying a phone for someone above the age of 16, isn't gonna care about QWERTY unless they can E-Mail (and other things)."
No... that is also incorrect. My step-dad bought my enV off of me when I upgraded my phone. He is in his mid 50's. He maybe only texts 200 times a month (small compared to teen standards) but he LOVES having a QWERTY. I was 22 when I bought then enV (black friday of 06). I have sold literally hundreds of enVs to people already out of high school. I have even sold enVs to senior citizens. QWERTY phones are a HUGE market, and it is NOT just for email but by far texting. This phone I predict will also sell like hotcakes despite the fact it is not (and thank goodness) a smartphone.
CB17, you seem like a pretty knowledgeable guy but here you are dead dead dead wrong. The market for non-smartphone QWERTY phones is massive and it aint just kids 16 and under.
While I'm sure there IS a market for people who like QWERTY phones for the sole purpose of texting. Neither you nor I can, with any authority, make any claims on the global popularity of such phones.
Even so, you CAN'T deny that, speaking strictly from a DESIGN point of view, having a big ass keyboard on a phone ISN'T a waste of space, when 10 key + T9 works GREAT for texting. Just look at all those die hard texters that can text with 1 hand, without looking (and some even with their phone in their pockets).
Bottom line: Texting is informal. And keeping that in mind, it's just as easy to text with 10 key as it is with a full keyboard (and easier with 10 key when 1 handed). My only opinion is that, because of that, Samsung (and LG) could have ripped the keyboards off and put the space on the phone to better use.
I mean, be honest, you know people make fun of the Voyager for being big and bulky. And the same can be said for any other phone with a slide out or flip open keyboard. It's just that with a QWERTY smartphone, you actually have a lot of uses for the QWERTY.
+1 points for being funny, but unfortunately I had deduct a couple thousand for over-exaggeration and not sticking the landing (making the wrong joke).
Your reference was for texting BEFORE T9 (triple tap).
Don't worry though, here on Engadget Mobile we're on a double elimination system. Better luck next round.
Despite the fact that T9 exists (whether or not it works is debatable) people still text like that whether it's out of idiocy, dislike of T9, or just laziness. Even my own mother texts like that.
Busy mothers need a phone, calendar, texting and a camera, but can't be accountable to the web and email or they'd completely ignore their children. This phone is perfect for us.
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Wow, another non-smartphone Verizon QWERTY phone, what a complete waste of plastic.
Once again, what's the point of QWERTY if all you can use it for is texting...ridiculous.
DUDE!!! You posted the same exact thing on the normal Engadget site like 1 minute ago... WTF?
Wow.... just wow.
I am simply amazed how you think your own personal distaste for non-smartphone QWERTY phones is somehow more relevant than the MASSIVE market that exists for these phones.
Ever hear of the sidekick? I hate that POS phone but not doubt that phone was quite popular over at T-Mob.
The enV has been one of VZW's best selling phones almost every month since it has been released (which was black friday of 06).
The Voyager STILL sells like hotcakes too.
So just because YOU think wanting QWERTY just for texting is silly doesn't mean these phones won't sell or aren't any good. If you send literally thousands of texts a month (and A LOT of people do) but you could give a rats ass about syncing with outlook why the hell WOULDN'T you want a QWERTY non-smartphone? That's what is ridiculous.
This phone does Sync with Outlook via Wireless Sync.
@Elgee02
The sidekick is popular for other reasons. Yes, QWERTY might be popular among the tweens and that's probably why a low cost phone (like the EnV) sells a lot. But for mass market, most people still don't know what LOL stands for.
Like how I LOL at you for defending 12 year olds.
Anybody who's buying a phone for someone above the age of 16, isn't gonna care about QWERTY unless they can E-Mail (and other things). The Voyager probably sells well because of the touchscreen and TV.
"Anybody who's buying a phone for someone above the age of 16, isn't gonna care about QWERTY unless they can E-Mail (and other things)."
No... that is also incorrect. My step-dad bought my enV off of me when I upgraded my phone. He is in his mid 50's. He maybe only texts 200 times a month (small compared to teen standards) but he LOVES having a QWERTY. I was 22 when I bought then enV (black friday of 06). I have sold literally hundreds of enVs to people already out of high school. I have even sold enVs to senior citizens. QWERTY phones are a HUGE market, and it is NOT just for email but by far texting. This phone I predict will also sell like hotcakes despite the fact it is not (and thank goodness) a smartphone.
CB17, you seem like a pretty knowledgeable guy but here you are dead dead dead wrong. The market for non-smartphone QWERTY phones is massive and it aint just kids 16 and under.
@Elgee02
While I'm sure there IS a market for people who like QWERTY phones for the sole purpose of texting. Neither you nor I can, with any authority, make any claims on the global popularity of such phones.
Even so, you CAN'T deny that, speaking strictly from a DESIGN point of view, having a big ass keyboard on a phone ISN'T a waste of space, when 10 key + T9 works GREAT for texting. Just look at all those die hard texters that can text with 1 hand, without looking (and some even with their phone in their pockets).
Bottom line: Texting is informal. And keeping that in mind, it's just as easy to text with 10 key as it is with a full keyboard (and easier with 10 key when 1 handed). My only opinion is that, because of that, Samsung (and LG) could have ripped the keyboards off and put the space on the phone to better use.
I mean, be honest, you know people make fun of the Voyager for being big and bulky. And the same can be said for any other phone with a slide out or flip open keyboard. It's just that with a QWERTY smartphone, you actually have a lot of uses for the QWERTY.
i sry, jst bcuz u thk tht txtn lk ths s k dsnt mn rest f wrld s rtrd lk u
@Broken Monkey
+1 points for being funny, but unfortunately I had deduct a couple thousand for over-exaggeration and not sticking the landing (making the wrong joke).
Your reference was for texting BEFORE T9 (triple tap).
Don't worry though, here on Engadget Mobile we're on a double elimination system. Better luck next round.
Despite the fact that T9 exists (whether or not it works is debatable) people still text like that whether it's out of idiocy, dislike of T9, or just laziness. Even my own mother texts like that.
Busy mothers need a phone, calendar, texting and a camera, but can't be accountable to the web and email or they'd completely ignore their children. This phone is perfect for us.