Japanese cellphone maker Softbank is attempting to knock off the iPhone and Androids from the top of the smartphone mountain with their new flip smartphone. The Softbank flip smartphone revives a dying design (the flip phone) and pairs it with more modern technology such as a touchscreen and 16.1 megapixel camera.
The Softbank flip smartphone will feature a 3.4-inch LCD touchscreen that should help it contend with the touch-happy offerings from the industry's top-dogs. The phone will also be water and dust-proof and will offer earthquake alerts and allow electronic payments. As of now, the Softbank flip smartphone is a Japan-only device, but I wouldn’t be surprised if American carriers adapted this design based on its performance. 2012 could very well be the year of the flip phone.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Revived Flip Phones
- There is a disruptive innovation opportunity for cellphone manufacturers to revitalize the dying flip phone design and integrate modern features such as touchscreens.
- Waterproof and Durable Smartphones
- With the Softbank flip smartphone's water and dust-proof features, a disruptive innovation opportunity exists for manufacturers to develop durable and rugged smartphones that are resilient in different weather conditions.
- Localized Features
- There is an opportunity for localized features like earthquake alerts and the ability to conduct electronic payments to be integrated in smartphones to cater to regional needs.
Where This Applies
- Cellphone Manufacturing
- Cellphone manufacturers have an opportunity to incorporate new designs and features for the evolving consumer preferences for their phones.
- Consumer Electronics
- There is a disruptive opportunity for manufacturers of consumer electronic devices to incorporate waterproof and durable features in their products.
- Mobile Payment Services
- Mobile payment service providers have an opportunity to incorporate their services into smartphones to facilitate convenient financial transactions.
