Are the Carriers Missing a Market?

So, I've been wondering – Is Cingular missing a market?

I've been using the Cingular 2125 Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone for about 3 months now and until something better comes along, you're not going to pry it from my fingers.  I rely on it heavily as my calendar and phone book, alarm clock and MP3 player and much more.  No question, I'm a power user.  And a business user, which is the market that all carriers have set their sites on for these types of products.

But I have to wonder.  If the right combination of software and services were offered, would a Smartphone be good for my wife (a project manager – corporate America)? My mom (a housewife)?  My sister (a teacher)?

Most PDA users don't stretch the capabilities of the unit that much.  Actually, few I've encountered install more than maybe one or two apps.  They use it for the Personal Information Manager (PIM) functionality.  They don't even do much entry on it, if any.  They use it for reference.

And how many people do you know who have an up-to-date phone book on their cell phone?  These things are a pain to program!

So, imagine a smartphone, bundled with: a 1 or 2GB memory card for music, etc. and a free service like web2mail.com which will offer over the air sync of information, along with maybe some applications like Audible, etc. As ONE package.  Would the average consumer benefit from such a device?  I think the answer is YES.  Put that with a easy to read how-to or maybe even a video, and you have something.

While I don't believe that most people would be interested in carrying a Phone Edition device, which is much larger, I do think that a 2125 and the upcoming HTC StarTrek and others would make ideal devices for the mass market.

I think that carriers should look at ways to market to a more mainstream audience for these types of devices. While I realize there might be a cost concern, many people pay a premium for the latest bling phone, like they did when the RAZR came out.  They would pay up for a Smartphone, IF THEY KNEW WHAT THEY COULD DO FOR THEM.  Its about MARKETING and Microsoft and the carriers are missing an opportunity.