August 7, 2006
Phonemakers are focusing on design as cell users make fashion statements
Long an afterthought, cell phone design is in the spotlight with a host of new phones sporting stylish and eye-popping looks. The San Francisco Chronicle reports.
"Usually function is what happens first, and then it moves to form. We're in that transition right now," said Paul Levinson, a professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University and an authority on cell phones. "The way people differentiate themselves these days is choosing cell phones that look unique and reflect their personality or what they want to project to the world."
The cell phone industry is turning to design also out of necessity as manufacturers work to sell more phones. With more than 200 million cell phone subscribers in the United States, the market is approaching saturation, placing companies under more pressure to get people to buy new devices.
Besides new features like MP3 players and cameras, design is becoming a critical differentiator for manufacturers, much like in the automobile industry. That is especially the case with younger, more style-conscious buyers, who typically replace phones more frequently and are sensitive to fashion trends. "
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