Comment: Stop copying the iPhone already

Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson all developing iClones? Puhlease

4 September 2007 18:42 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

"If there is something good in the world then we copy with pride." So said Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's multimedia top bod, at the recent launch of Nokia's new music mobiles.

This was in reference to the fact that they appear to be developing a "Nokia iPhone" that was briefly pictured as part of the video presentation at the event.

Nokia has not been big in the touchscreen arena before now – the N800 internet tablet (and previous incarnation) is their only touch offering.

It seems sad that Nokia, who have many great qualities as a mobile phone brand, are quick to jump on the Apple design band wagon.

There is no doubt at all that Apple's iPhone is a great design, Jonathan Ive should be rightly celebrated as borderline genius in terms of consumer electronics styling, but what's with all the copying?

It was the same with the iPod, Apple bashed out an iconic product and for yonks all you had was rectangular, scroll-wheeled devices hitting the market.

Nokia clearly have a strong design department – the bonkers fashion mobiles they chuck out on an annual basis, although usually fairly impractical - show some wicked aesthetics.

If recent news reports are to be believed then Samsung and Sony Ericsson are also going down the iPhone-clone route too with virtually identical black, wide, touchscreen offerings rumoured.

I accept that if you want to make a handset that offers a 3.5-inch touchscreen then it's going to be hard not to get it to look like the iPhone, but try for goodness sake.

If people want an iPhone then they can go and buy one. Otherwise it would be nice to think that there are some manufacturers out there doing their own thing design-wise and working on the next iPhone, not just a phone with iPhone specs.

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Phones, Mobile phone industry, iPhone, Apple, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Comment, Rumours