Essay Database

So-called data phones have not sold well so far. I do believe in the integration of telephony and computing, but data phones will not take off as long as they are designed from the wrong conceptual model. So far, all these devices have been designed as telephones with a data add-on. They'd probably be more usable, and more successful, if they were designed as as computers with voice communications capability added on. The difference lies …

…could screen both voice calls and email and faxes, though you might be willing to accept unsolicited email for a lower fee (say, $1) because it is less intrusive than a telephone call. Much more can be done once you start thinking of all communications media in an integrated manner. It is all a matter of fundamental perspective in design, and so far, the telephone industry is still not getting it: voice is just another datatype.