Modu finally came through with
an actual product launch late last month, and already the company is preparing for the next best thing. According to a report over at
Pocket-lint, a so-called Modu 2 should make its debut in a few corners of the globe next year. The handset will boast full touchscreen functionality and 3.5G connectivity, but in an effort to remain true to form,
Modu will sell a QWERTY jacket that adds hard keys for those who just have to have 'em. To date, Modu has managed to move around 1,000 of its original handsets, but even the second one won't soon see shelves in America. Why? According to CEO Dov Moran, the handset "just isn't good enough for demanding Brits and Americans who like to surf the internet and stay connected." Hey, at least the man's honest.
Update: The CEO of Modu pinged us to say that some of the quotes in the source article were incorrect. Here's his comment: "Clearly, our next generation modu 2 which will be touch+ based and will incorporate 3.5G technology will fit the needs of these opertors and we plan and hope to sell these devices throughout the world."
posted August 17th 2009 6:46PM
that's odd. Most phones in the US are dumbphones. Smart phones are less the half.
He has a point.
Never heard of Modu. Good luck with selling!
I respect honesty. +respect
Nothing is good enough for Americans.
How about: Average American consumer not smart enough to buy product which fits actual needs, opt for new hotness instead.
Disclosure: I'm an American, born and raised.
Too bad for you.
Really? does this phone even deserve a story? I could understand if it were like 2001 and the idea of touchscreen phone was super futuristic but this thing looks like a centro screwed an atari jaguar controller. crap tech.. we need more crap tech. maybe this phone will start screwing the lg lotus and we can have an even more inbred piece of junk looking phone.
disclosure: american iphone owner..(and yes, as far as i'm concerned there's only one phone that's even remotely useable)
the phone in the picture is an existing jacket from Mudo 1 and not the touch-screen phone the article mentioned.
I'm afraid there's little room for yet another mobile platform. Just like on desktops, the market will converge to 2-3 leading OSes. The hardware is doomed to become a commodity and the differentiation will have to come from the offerings on the Market/App Store.
In order to succeed, Modu has to join on of the existing initiatives and Android, being open source, currently seems the most viable.
That last post wasn't funny but was, at least factually correct, well done.
Engadget, you're disappointing me: the first line in the article you link to explicitly says: "Modu has confirmed to Pocket-lint that it is working on a new touchscreen device which it plans to launch in the UK, *****US*****, Japan and Western Europe in 2010." so what's all these rants about the 2nd version not good enough for Americans?
Personally, I think that phone is too less too late. It could have been a hit earlier this decade but certainly not anymore.