Dump your smartphone and holster. You're going to want a dumbphone.
Stick with me here, fellow geeks. This is the future competitor to the smartphone.
Primary detraction from the smartphone: Size.
The size we need/want for the screen makes us have to carry these things in holsters. Holsters! Really?!
Meanwhile, the netbook market is growing like gangbusters. We figure, "If I'm going to carry a huge appliance, it may as well be a true computer, and I'll put it in my bag." But when you have a netbook, you're probably going to want a cellular modem and you'll still need a phone.
Enter the dumbphone (probably not the best term for marketing purposes). And here's the concept:
A laptop, netbook, or even a big smartphone with an ejectable tiny modem that doubles as a simple, minscule phone. The computer gives you everything you want in a keyboard, large screen, multitasking, internet, games, videos, etc. The phone gives you everything you want in extreme smallness.
If you want to make a call:
1. leave dumbphone/modem in place, dial it from the computer (or voice dial?) and talk on your bluetooth headset. OR
2. eject the phone and put it practically anywhere since it's so small and can function independently of the computer. Dial calls from tiny dialer with minimal screen then hold it up to your ear/cheek or use bluetooth headset to talk.
Since this phone could work entirely without a computer, it would also attract a market for people who really just want an incredibly small phone.
Who's with me? Let's see some comments.
