Why don't manufacturers focus on the PHONE abilities?

Didn't see a general phone chat forum so I put this here,
but why don't phone companies focus more on improving phone (actual phone call) capabilities and features?

Color, ringtones, cameras, video cameras, MP3s, thinness, games, web browser, text messaging, "bluetooth", probably forgetting somethings..

but why isn't there much advancement in actual phone quality issues?
Better reception capabilities? Better sound quality. Better battery life. A louder speaker for the ringer. A really strong vibrate + regular vibrate options. Here's one I'd really like, MULTIPLE PHONEBOOKS. Man it sucks having to stick everything into one single phonebook. I'd like to make separate ones for things like stores like walmart, target, pizza hut etc. Actually I wouldn't mind if there was also sometype of portable local area phonebook instead of having to call 411.

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Good Point.

I think the fundamental reason is that to the average consumer, the actual "phone" part of a cell phone are all the same. I have to say, I was a very average phone consumer until I started looking at sites like this and phonescoop, and I thought all phones were the same except for things like cameras and mp3 players.

I would say that the wave of the future is going to be units that combine all of these different things. A good phone/PDA/10gig mp3 player with a 2 megapixel camera and bluetooth for under 400 bucks is going to be a good seller.

I currently have a very basic razr, but I think my next phone will include a lot of these "other" features.

Howdy blueoakleyz,

I think the main reason is the majority of the people out there buying phones, want all the other features packed into a small package. If the buying public stops buying all the extras, "They" will stop cramming them into phones. Oh wait that's ain't gonna be happening any time soon... sigh..

Look at how cell phones are marketed.. their fun, exciting and a way to stay in contact with the people you know and share your adventures 24/7. Why just call them when you can text with plain old fashion, or text them with spanking new upto the second photo of you at the food court at the mall? Hell send them a video of you eating at the food court, complete with sound!

And if you don't have "THE ONE" with all the greatest storage and features, you may as well forget about competing, dating or having a life. LOL (well that's how I see a lot of the commercials).

Cell phones are no longer sold as your mom and dad's handy, but used only in emergencies portable phone. So run do not walk to your nearest cell phne dealer today and you too can own the lastest and greatest and all for only $XX After rebate... tiny print, when you sign up for a 2 year contract and sell the rights to your first born on this contract please!!

I think the biggest wall between us and crystal clear sound quality with no dead spots and us is simple. Blame the network. Take a look at the rest of the world: They all (90%-ish) run off of that oh-so-beautiful GSM network...Really, you ask. That's odd that the rest of the world hasn't caught up to us and our CDMA network. Why is that?

Well the answer to this most likely won't suprise you. Because we're not ahead. We're very, very, very far behind. Look at this ad for the CDMA network:

Bell Mobility operates on a network protocol called CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access. This is one of the oldest digital network types in use in North America. Though many providers have switched or are switching to GSM (Global System for Mobile), Bell Mobility is improving their network while maintaining their coverage areas which are superior at this point to GSM.

Wow, sounds space-age.

Now here is one from the GSM network:

Rogers Wireless has the largest, integrated wireless voice and data network in Canada. Our GSM/GPRS network reaches 93% of the Canadian population offering extensive coverage in both urban centres and local areas. GSM is the world standard for wireless communications that is relied upon by more than 73% of the world's digital markets. Our customers benefit from using GSM/GPRS technology - the world standard for wireless communications.

Woah, lil contradiction there if I do say so, but the "We've been here a long time" way of advertising doesn't work in the cell industry.

Oh yeah, one last thing. Being able to switch out the SIM card from an unlocked phone and become a local in almost any country in the world is kick-ass.

So, in summation:
A service provider is like a kid with a bowl of corn flakes. He's eating his corn flakes when what he really wants is frosted flakes. He knows that all he would have to do is go to the cupboard and get some sugar to throw on and it would be good enough, much better than the unsweetened flakes that sat before him. But he refuses to do this one simple task to improve his life and possibly the lives of the people around him. But, why? Cause he was ****in lazy, that's why.

I'm with you on blaming the networks WWB, I live in a rural area which happens to be hilly.... so local signal pops in and out as you drive down any street. The nearest GSM signal is 13 miles North of here, CDMA is a few bocks away (stupid hill)... But for the contradiction in terms (I wish I could cite my source but its been a while).... Think of GSM and CDMA as VHS and Beta.... enthusiasts of the time will tell you that Beta (CDMA) was the superior technology, but that didn't stop VHS (GSM) from becoming the standard....

We live in a world of diversity and our cellphones simply reflect that. I LIKE my feature packed phone... I like that I can hold a button and record music I hear when I'm out and about and then play it for my students, I like that i can take pictures and video of my babyboy whenEVer... I love sending photos to the friends and relatives and I adore that I can text an email address and keep in touch with folks even when I'm out of town. I HAD a cellphone of the no feature variety and I can tell you that it rarely got used. Now my phone is on every time I hop into the car (much, perhaps, to the accountant's (hubby) chagrin!).

Jeanie!! you should be in a commercial! Cell phone companys would LOVE to have you advertising for them. You just made me actually think about getting a motorola e815 the way you said that. LOL.

I must say, all these phones do have alot of features and SOME ( not all ) phones do lack the main feature, which is speaking. For example, my Sanyo 8200 was horrible in that aspect. I got used to it after a while and grew to LOVE that phone but at first it was like talking through a cardboard box, i would have to keep my volume ALL the way down to a level 4 out of 10, in order for the other person to sound normal. If it was any higher, the other person sounded like they were speaking through a cardboard box. The phone had all these great features and lacked the most important and main feature..

Eventually, there will be the perfect phone. Actually, everyone has "their" own perfect phone, i guess it just depends on your liking..