History and geography
The idea to offer this device lovers SMS-correspondence is not very new: in September 2004, AT & T Wireless to offer its subscribers an operator's version of Communicator «Ogo». And costs about $ 100 and bundled with unlimited SMS for $ 18 a month. «AT & T Ogo» was built on a platform of Personal Mobile Gateway (PMG), developed by IXI, the communications capabilities - clients for instant messaging networks AOL, Yahoo! and MSN, WAP-browser and an application for SMS-correspondence. Voice communication was not foreseen at all, which seemed quite reasonable: students in the classroom is still not allowed to talk on the phone. In the U.S., "communicator" continued a proud tradition of bilateral pagers, and quite possibly even fell in love not just bored teenagers in the classroom. The word "communicator" we write in quotes only to avoid misunderstanding: we familiar notions of "communicator" and "smartphone" are very different from a very meager opportunities «Ogo». Although one undeniable dignity device can not refuse: a relatively large buttons really easy to type text messages.Over time, the device has been seriously improved and modified: changed the shape of buttons and the body color. More importantly, seems to be even an opportunity to make and receive calls. However, only using the headset, but still, this global technological breakthrough allows us to no longer be considered «Ogo» advanced pagers and just makes raskavychit word "Communicator". You never know what operating system PMG is only compatible with itself and does not indulge us a variety of applications that can target the audience all this wealth of Windows Mobile or Symbian totally useless? An example of successful use of the updated device in Europe - one of the German operators to offer subscribers «Ogo CT17» costs $ 60 bundled with a special rate for non-voice communication. According to news reports, the monthly fee for this "spetstarife in September last year was $ 12 per month.
Now in Russia
The next Communicator will be a benefit in the near future, this time as a carrier device Beeline.To put it bluntly: the technical possibilities «Ogo CT52» not very different from its predecessor, the sample of 2004, but the software has been refined and - do not forget the most important thing! - Now there is an opportunity to make and receive calls needed for this headset is supplied with your device. With the technical details before the end is unclear, as early as February ST52 model on the company website IXI Mobile was not. In March, the device appeared on the site, but apart from the header (ST52) and the names of references (technology_ct52) any mention of the new model could not be found: in the description anywhere appears well and has long been known device ST17. Most likely, the "new" ST52 especially anything from the ST17 is the same, and then copy / paste the finished page forgot to change the model number in the description. Specifications are not going to investigate in detail, but the old CSTN-display non-standard resolution, the lack of memory and lack of EDGE support speak for themselves. It is clear that expose a product to market in 2007 (and even 2006), it would be ridiculous. Here are his and do not sell, and offer as a free supplement to the relevant contracts Beeline.But let's not rush to blame the company in depressing the technical backwardness. We look at the more modern «Ogo CT25» and understand that the manufacturer is able to offer more or less competitive product. Also rather weak by modern standards, but at least not hopelessly antique. The question is, who it a more modern CT25 offer? For sure it is not known, but in any case not the Beeline. Or Beeline for financial reasons he preferred to procure ancient ST52. Unfortunately, information on the site is small, but comparable at least on the basic parameters.
- Unlimited voice traffic in the "home" network, 300 SMS-messages and 70 MB of GPRS-traffic for a subscription fee of 5,250 rubles. incl.
- Unlimited GPRS, plus 300 SMS-messages for the subscription fee of 2,540 rubles. incl.
Do not look a gift horse in the mouth?
Yet look at the mouth of this old klya ... forgive forgiveness, in the technical parameters of "modern device for the business person." Without unnecessary hindrances, only for reasons of assessing needs and opportunities.- Working with e-mail does not please, if at all possible: trace amounts of onboard memory is hardly enough for a week-long portion of the usual spam, not to mention the business documents. Which, incidentally, in «Ogo» can not be edited, and nothing to watch. Bandy electronic notes and pictures with their business partners?
- How many Russians are using ICQ and many of us fans of MSN? Now guess which of the two clients is installed on your device. Comments, as they say, are unnecessary.
- Eight-position joystick - a brilliant invention, but requires a fairly long workouts - not so easy to master the two independent rings each friend.
- Ability to speak only through the headset (it's for the businessman on the unlimited tariff!) Depressing. Although it can for the better: at least will not have to get the device from the portfolio (in the pocket will not fit) and cause offensive laughter of others.
Who benefits?
The practice offers telephone operator in Russia somehow not caught on. Perhaps because of half-suggested solutions. You can recall a slightly modified "feminine" Samsung phone bundled with the tariff plan "Intuition», PCMCI-cards (modems, GPRS / EDGE) «Megafon and Beeline. In these cases the equipment was given with some discount, but the client did not get in a year-long bondage to a particular tariff plan or operator. A separate "song" - a project i-mode, MTS, which for all its faults and alien to the Russian market technology still could earn. Summed up the desire to obtain not only additional income from the i-mode content and traffic, but also a full and profits from the sale of phones. Recall: After falling prices below procurement cute apparatus NEC 412i people began to willingly dismantle. So glad that the MTS found it possible to raise the rates for traffic i-mode for more than 30% as partial compensation for losses. What this time get three members of the joint project "Beeline" and the company «IXIS Mobile»?Consumer - with just the client gets a year is not the most attractive in the world of expensive data plan without the right to terminate the contract. Plus not much (to put it mildly) suitable for the business person unit with a proud name "Communicator".
The operator has a loyal and friendly customer base of "heavy" clients. Very loyal ($ 320 for the loss of loyalty) and very friendly (once sorted out the essence of a gift). But it will be then, the key word - "gets", and the whole year.
Manufactured communicators gets very good publicity, gets more weight on the international market and successfully sells n thousands of hopelessly outdated messengers. We note in brackets: dated February 7 (!) Press release about a joint project with VimpelCom appeared on the site www.ixi.com just a few days ago - released to coincide with the launch news program in Russia? With regard to advertising and reputation, once a majority of Russian news about products IXI Mobile will look something like this (live example): "The possible supplier of Communicators for VimpelCom, the company Ogo, the second-generation devices. As an example deyvas CT-25E. It is not clear, there will be a novelty in Russia .... "