There are many ways to skin a cat.
In the smartphone market, we're used to watching handset makers go for the biggest, the fastest, the best with every new handset. The Apple
Processors get faster, screens get bigger with denser resolutions, and bigger is always better. Right?
Into this environment, Motorola sends a decidedly low-end new phone called the Charm. Destined for T-Mobile stores this summer, the Charm has a measly 2.8-inch screen and a mere 3-megapixel camera. It's small and light and looks a lot like a boxy cousin to the BlackBerry Curve. The few high-end features on board seem designed to fit the business user: noise-canceling speakers for a better speakerphone experience, and fortified support for corporate email collection.
This time, Motorola isn't shooting for the moon or the iPhone. The obvious target here is the BlackBerry. If Motorola is hitting the right notes here -- and that's what it looks like to me -- this thing could be a big seller: The rather comparable BlackBerry Curve 8520 currently sells at T-Mobile for an affordable $50 with a two-year contract, while Motorola itself should collect something closer to the full $280 sticker price per unit. That's well below the top-line Android phones, but its targeting an attractive niche that's underserved by current Android offerings.
One size doesn't fit all, no matter what Steve Jobs tells you. This charming little gadget will prove that point -- and cut a decent slice of BlackBerry pie for itself.
