vB Easy Archive - Bad news about Euro future

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Bad news about Euro future
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Posted by: dimension6

Just read the Nikkei, and it looks like Sharp is only planning to sell basic low-midrange phones in Europe. Direct from the Nihon Keizai Shinbun Friday morning edition:

In the past, Sharp had exported handsets with features identical to those of its domestic models. But with European cell phone users generally less demanding than their Japanese counterparts when it comes to features and functions, Sharp decided to develop more basic models and cut costs. Cameras on Sharp's Japanese handsets offer a 2-megapixel image resolution, for example, but the European models will come with 1.3-megapixel cameras, simpler designs and thinner bodies.

Oh well...

Posted by: scotttttttttt

Well if it's basically the same with variations in hardware, hopefully we will be able to take sections of the euro firmware and then the sections from the JP firmware which interface with the hardware, it might be possible to create a hybrid. I know it's going to be hard, but if there's enough demand, someone will probably do it.

Posted by: AL9999

Japanese version: http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/sangyo...2208062006.html

Unfortunately the English one is only available by paid subscription, so here's a Babelfished version of the Japanese one (can't be bothered to translate it, sorry):

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikkei

Sharp, with 3rd generation carrying overseas special-purpose terminal development Sharp for the overseas market develops the private 3rd generation portable telephone terminal, from this month begins sale in Europe. So far, the product of identical specification with the country was sold even in the foreign country, but in the future doing, reducing cost e.g., the number of pixels of the camera is decreased. In the overseas market where the 3rd generation portable telephone approaches to spread period, it opposes to worldwide most major Finnish Nokia and American Motorola etc.. As for sharp in the future as for the foreign country the policy of developing all private types. 1st as feature 2 types are sold in England and France and Spain etc. via the English border phone group. You define the spread type of 3rd generation portable terminal. Price has not made clear, but 150 - 200 Europe of the spread type in Europe (2 ten thousand - 3 ten thousand Yen) the prospect that it becomes. (07:00)

It looks like they've done an analysis between the 705SH and 770SH and figured out what we already knew...

You also might want to look at this post at MR Forums, pretty much confirms what the above says:

http://forum2.mobile-review.com/sho...8&postcount=272

Posted by: Desert_Fox

Booo~!!! Euro users are just as demanding as their Japanese counterparts....

Here's to the hybrid FW!

Posted by: lamplighter

Hey Fox, how you been matey ?
How's the W900 treating you ?
Do not mean to sidetrack the thread,
As you were saying......

LL-

Posted by: AL9999

That Babelfish translation was utterly hopeless, so I'll translate it properly for you all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikkei by AL

Sharp develops overseas-specific 3G handsets

Sharp has developed 3G mobile phones specifically for overseas markets and will beginning selling them in Europe from this month. Until now Sharp models sold overseas had the same specifications as domestic (Japanese) ones, but from now on Sharp will cut costs through methods such as dropping the amount of pixels in their cameras. As 3G handsets have become more mainstream in overseas markets, Sharp will be competing against big names such as Finland's Nokia and North America's Motorola.

In the future all handsets Sharp sells overseas will be specifically developed models. The first two handsets to be made under this strategy will be sold in England, France and Spain through England's Vodafone Group, and will be classified as mainstream handsets. Prices haven't been announced but will likely be in the mainstream range of 150-200 Euros (20,000-30,000 Yen).

Posted by: AL9999

It's a sad day for us Sharp high-end loving technofiles, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. The fact that Sharp was always selling handsets with technology better than the rest of the competition was a surprise, and Vodafone never really took advantage of it with their pathetic forms of marketing and PR. That Sharp was never aware of that is an even sadder fact.

Make no mistake that it's all Vodafone's fault. Vodafone Group left it all up to their network operator subsidiaries to advertise their phones, and I know for a fact in Australia they NEVER advertised that they sold a phone with the highest camera resolution or a music player (back when the GX30 was around with its MP3 player and SD card slot, no other phone had both of those together). When the 903 came around, again, no advertising. There could have been a great opportunity for marketing the camera phone to replace digital cameras. But no, they couldn't be bothered.

All we can hope for now is that the new joint-venture company with Softbank teaches Vodafone a few more things and makes it practical again for Sharp to sell the same or similar Japanese models outside Japan.

And guys, read the forum post I linked above and do what the guy says there. It's the only way Sharp is going to actually learn about us (seems like they didn't know we existed).

Posted by: Desert_Fox

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamplighter

Hey Fox, how you been matey ?
How's the W900 treating you ?
Do not mean to sidetrack the thread,
As you were saying......

LL-

Doble L,

Loving the w900i... but I'm still a Sharp man at heart.

T-Mobile in Southern California gets killer RF with this phone.... I"m pretty sure the 903 will get way better RF than the w900i once I get it.

Posted by: Kevbodian

oops i did it again to your heart.

Posted by: AL9999

lol Kevo I tried that, did you think I was born yesterday? Hehehe

Posted by: Timsta

wow.. crazy.. tahts brutal.