The development of mobile phones has come a long way, from the earliest nine-square grid keyboard to the full keyboard mobile phone. And 20 years ago, my first encounter with a full-keyboard phone was a BlackBerry. At that time, BlackBerry's full-keyboard phone became a presence with a unique meaning due to its unique design and features. However, despite its unique advantages in some aspects, full-keyboard phones have not been very successful in the Chinese mobile phone market. This article will retell this history and ** the characteristics and applicability of full-keyboard phones.
While BlackBerry once had a place in the all-keyboard phone market, the phone wasn't as common in China. During the 911 attacks of September 2001, BlackBerry became the only communication tool that could send messages at the time. However, due to the small demand for BlackBerry phones in the Chinese market, its sales in the country are not widespread.
1. The appearance and function of the BlackBerry phone
BlackBerry phones are known for their unique full keyboard design, which makes it more convenient for users to type and operate. The BlackBerry 9000 model is a very attractive phone that looks and is quite good in terms of its workmanship. However, compared to the traditional nine-square grid keyboard, the full-keyboard phone is not very accustomed to Chinese users, which is one reason why it does not sell well in the Chinese market.
2. BlackBerry's third-party software support is limited
Although BlackBerry excels in terms of hardware, it has relatively little third-party software support. This makes the user experience of BlackBerry not at the level of other phones, limiting its competitiveness in the market.
As a Chinese user who is accustomed to the nine-square grid input method, I am naturally not very comfortable with a full-keyboard mobile phone. Before I started exploring full-keyboard phones, I bought the Siemens 3568i and Nokia E62.
1. Experience of using Siemens 3568i
The Siemens 3568i is the first phone I bought, and it uses the common nine-square grid keyboard design and is equipped with Lenovo input method. When I first started using my phone, the keyboard was very convenient for me and I was able to type very quickly. However, it wasn't long before I realized the existence of full-keyboard phones, and I became interested in them.
2. The experience and transformation of the Nokia E62
Subsequently, I bought the Nokia E62, which was my first full-keyboard phone. The Nokia E62 has a refined keyboard workmanship and a compact body, while Nokia's brand image also gives people a sense of trust. However, I couldn't adapt to the full-keyboard typing style, and my typing speed dropped due to the long time I used the nine-square grid input method. This forced me to go back to my traditional nine-square phone.
3. For other full-keyboard mobile phones
In addition to the Nokia E62, I also tried the Palm650 as a PDA phone. Although the Palm 650 was very advanced at the time, with many functions such as sending and receiving mail, it was too heavy to carry on a daily basis. So, despite the good user experience, I didn't choose to buy on the bandwagon.
The full-keyboard phone has achieved some success thanks to BlackBerry's efforts, however, it has not been widely recognized in the Chinese market. This is mainly due to the following two reasons.
1. Habit problems
Chinese users have long been accustomed to using the nine-square grid input method, and this typing method has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Therefore, a full-keyboard mobile phone is not the most suitable choice for Chinese users. The convenience and speed of the nine-square grid input method make it dominant in the Chinese market.
2. Software support issues
Compared to other phones, BlackBerry phones have less third-party software support, which reduces the user's experience. Despite the excellent hardware and keyboard design, the lack of software support prevents users from taking full advantage of the phone's capabilities, limiting its competitiveness in the market.
Looking back on this experience of using the phone, my experience with the full keyboard phone was not satisfactory. Although the full-keyboard phone has advantages in some aspects, it is not the best choice for Chinese users who are accustomed to the nine-square grid input method. In just 20 years, the mobile phone industry has undergone earth-shaking changes, and full-keyboard mobile phones have gradually withdrawn from the mainstream of the market. However, this does not prevent us from looking back and thinking about these phones, after all, they were once part of the times, demonstrating the power of technological advancement and innovation. For me, I'm glad to have been able to experience these phones first-hand and learn from them, and appreciate the charm of technology and the drive to keep improving. With the continuous development of technology, mobile phones will continue to innovate and bring more convenience and fun to people's lives.