Came across this article
Leading mobile phone manufacturers are losing their touch, according to review website
More than 19,000 buyers of phones were asked by Reevoo.com to score and assess 226 phones against a range of criteria, including style and function. Reevoo.com's analysis of feedback from customers shows that 5 out of ten phones in the bottom ten are touchscreen models
The top ten phones by customer score:
1. Nokia 5220 XpressMusic
2. Nokia E71
3. Sony Ericsson W595
4. Nokia 2680
5. Nokia 3110 Classic
6. Samsung M150
7. Apple iPhone 3G 16GB - touchscreen
8. LG KC910 Renoir - touchscreen
9. Nokia 6600 Slide
10. Nokia 3600
The bottom ten phones by customer score:
1.. HTC Touch Diamond - touchscreen
2.. Sony Ericsson T303
3.. Samsung Armani - touchscreen
4.. Sony Ericsson C702
5.. Nokia 6124 Classic
6.. BlackBerry Storm 9500 - touchscreen
7.. Samsung i900 Omnia - touchscreen
8.. Nokia N96
9.. Samsung U600
10.. Samsung F490 - touchscreen
MG Siegler on Tech Crunch article talks about within a few years all phones will be touchscreen.
HTC Killed The Physical Keyboard. Smart Move.
This is a UK perspective. Across the pond and in Europe the Iphone fever is not as great and Nokia is very strong.
Uk pricing is markedly different with most phones even the touchscreen phones available for free soon after the launch. For example Omnia HD is free on £32.50pcm contracts a week after launch.
The point that was lost by some immediately is that the Uk and European market is markedly different than the US market when it comes to mobile phone tastes.
Therfore the relevance to Palm Pre - (I suppose next time I will make it more clear for those that didnt get the thrust of the article) is that the keyboard in the UK & Europe will be seen as an added bonus. Ie the Pre could sell better in Europe than the US.