Airwide Solutions offers tips on how to be “smart” when shopping for a Smartphone this holiday season

What to look for when evaluating the right device to meet your text messaging needs AND your budget

BURLINGTON, Mass. – December 8, 2008 – This holiday season consumers are expected to tighten their purse strings and pay extra attention to their spending across the board. High ticket consumer electronics items such as Smartphones that were once a sure bet to sell, will now be subject to extra scrutiny from the informed consumer looking to purchase handsets that are designed to last and service plans that are more economical. One of the factors sure to impact Smartphone and mid-tier mobile phone sales during the holidays is the increasing use of text messaging and messaging-based applications. For many consumers, text plans not only are more convenient but also more cost effective than voice plans. But not all smartphones are created equal; from flat rate texting plans, to device support for free messaging applications, there are many considerations for budget conscious consumers this season. In order to help text-savvy consumers get the most bang for their buck, buyers should be considering a number of issues before making any Smartphone or mobile phone purchase.

Airwide Solutions Vice President of Product Marketing, Chris Lennartz, offers his top considerations for making a smarter Smartphone purchase this holiday season.

Pay extra attention to text messaging plans, data plans and overage charges: Whether you are purchasing a new phone as a gift or upgrading a handset when your contract is up, read the fine print and make sure you choose a text plan that fits your usage patterns and the capabilities of the device. According to Nielsen Mobile, during the second quarter of 2008 the typical cell-phone user sent or received over 350 text messages per month as opposed to placing or receiving just over 204 voice calls- a 450 percent increase over the same period in 2006. If you or (the recipient of the gift) makes purchases, receives marketing promotions or send pictures, be sure that purchase have an “all-you-can-eat” plan to avoid getting hit with a big bill in January!
Make sure your new device is protected: This year alone, it’s estimated that Americans will receive over 1.5 billion unsolicited (or spam) text messages. Not only do those messages tack on an extra $.10 - $.15 cents every time they are received, they can also bring unwanted spyware, or viruses with them. When choosing a phone, buyers should insist on safeguards (both built into the device and into the service plan) such as data wipe features and enhanced spam filters that can detect malicious malware quickly. In the end, tighter security features can prevent you from having to pay overage charges for unsolicited mobile spam, replace content you’ve purchased and saved on your phone (i.e. ringtones and music) and even from having to purchase a new phone before you are ready.
DON’T pay for what you won’t use- evaluate all the bells and whistles: While high-end Smartphones are flashier, slicker and more feature rich than ever before, consumers should evaluate all types of devices and choose the phone with features that will enhance their individual experience. Sometimes you don’t need all the bells and whistles to have a great mobile experience. Frequent text message users may want to consider a few specs above others: ample memory to store messages (particularly if texting for personal and business use); a QWERTY keyboard; and larger screens particularly for the texter who plans on accessing multimedia content via MMS.
Applications sweeten the deal: According to a study by Mformation, people are increasingly making Smartphone and mobile phone decisions based on the applications and level of customization the handset offers- one of the reasons the iPhone and Google phone have drawn such consumer attention. 68 percent of mobile users don’t want to be locked into the apps that are preinstalled on devices, so when making a purchase consider what ability the user will have to personalize their device and whether or not access to those applications are covered under your text or data plan. The number of free applications is growing and so customization doesn’t have to be high-priced.

For more information, or to speak with Chris Lennartz for comment, please contact:

Brenda Suarez
Airwide Solutions
Email: brenda.suarez@airwidesolutions.com
Tel: 781-229-2406 ext. 2731

Kristin Conforti
PAN Communications
Email: airwide@pancomm.com
Tel: 978-474-1900

Gemma Yates
MiLiberty
Email: airwidepr@miliberty.com
Tel: +44 (0) 207-751-4444

About Airwide Solutions

Airwide Solutions is the leading provider of next-generation mobile messaging and wireless internet infrastructure, applications and solutions. Its products help more than 140 wireless operators worldwide drive mobile messaging usage and revenues and enable them to leverage multiple delivery channels and next-generation infrastructure in new and more powerful ways. With a history of industry firsts – including the first text message ever sent, the introduction of the first SMS router, the first A2P MMS push gateway and mobile service control which enables mobile context, personalization and profiling – the company continues to pioneer new technologies. Airwide’s open, tiered Fusion architecture offers mobile operators advanced revenue options, a practical pathway to Mobile Messaging 2.0 and a foundation to bridge mobile messaging and the mobile internet.

Airwide Solutions operates globally with offices in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, India, the Middle East and Africa. For more information about Airwide Solutions, please visit www.airwidesolutions.com.