POLL: Think Sharp will ever release high end phones in UK?

[New Beetle]

So do you think sharp will ever release high end phones in the UK again? The low-mid end phones they are currently giving us backward europeans are ok for what they are, but I for one miss the leading edge phones that Sharp were known for not so long ago.

So what do you reckon?

[mobo]

I thought somebody posted a little while ago that some new high end Sharp handsets were coming out later in the year on VF

[New Beetle]

Originally Posted by mobo

I thought somebody posted a little while ago that some new high end Sharp handsets were coming out later in the year on VF

Yeah someone who works for em keeps trying to drop subtle hints but its all gone quiet. I think it if it was anytime soon we would have had leaks/announcements by now. :?

[Nate]

I'm very much a Sharp fanboy but I am not sertain we will ever see the dizzy hights of the GX-20 / 30 again (i.e phones that are miles ahead of the european competition).

I get the general impression most phones are being built to a lower price point anyway.

I live in hope of some more high end Sharp phones over here though!

[satsuma]

There's more Sharp phones in Europe next year.
Look at Japan if you want to get some hints of what's coming.

[thedonut]

It is interesting, that the two manufacturers who gave us some of the first camera phones e.g. Sharp and Panasonic have either dropped out (Panasonic) or scaled back the hi tech stuff (Sharp). Perhaps Sharp will drop the UK/Europe eventually too.

[clonmult]

What was the first UK/European camera phone? I always thought it was Nokia, with the 7650?

I hope that Sharp don't drop out of this market though, the products have always looked a little sober, but have always been good/well specced phones.

[Ruvjet]

The way Sharp operate, that is to say they will only make a handset once it has been ordered in large quantities by an operator, makes it unlikely that we will see anything cutting edge from them again.

We are at a stage now where LG, Samsung and Sonyericsson can make handsets with a *insert number here* megapixel camera, aesthetically pleasing design and low-ish price, and the networks can pick and choose their quantities.

I don't see why Vodafone (or any other network) would choose to go down the Sharp route again. Its not as if they were a guarantee of high sales.. it was more a prestige thing for Vodafone, but other less demanding manufacturers have more or less caught up, in my opinion.

[SL33PYH34D]

Originally Posted by Ruvjet

The way Sharp operate, that is to say they will only make a handset once it has been ordered in large quantities by an operator, makes it unlikely that we will see anything cutting edge from them again.

We are at a stage now where LG, Samsung and Sonyericsson can make handsets with a *insert number here* megapixel camera, aesthetically pleasing design and low-ish price, and the networks can pick and choose their quantities.

I don't see why Vodafone (or any other network) would choose to go down the Sharp route again. Its not as if they were a guarantee of high sales.. it was more a prestige thing for Vodafone, but other less demanding manufacturers have more or less caught up, in my opinion.

Completely agree.
Historically all the Japanese big boys have struggled in Europe - mainly their own fault though for releasing decidedly average products over here. Take NEC - they have always produced quite high end stuff in Japan but only saw fit to produce some very average junk over here.

I think the problem is twofold:

1. Brand image - lets face it - the Sanyos and Sharps of this world don't exactly have the best reputation (based on past performance) for producing high quality higher end consumer electronics and they tend to be at the lower end of the market. In addition most people don't associate their names with mobile phones. Not an issue in Japan where handsets are so heavily branded you barely know who the manufacturer is, but over here where the manufacturer's brand is quite important to many consumers I think some of the Japanese outfits are a little out of their depth.

2. European tastes are very different from Japanese tastes - primarily flip phones in Japan and mainly candy bar or sliding form factors here in the UK and Europe. I really don't think the Japanese manufacturers know the what the European market really wants. In addition, most phones in Japan run pretty much the same GUI and OS so when it comes to producing their own OS and GUI for european phones I think the Japanese are a little lost.

IMO until the Japanese markers start producing and releasing some consistently high quality, top end phones over here they will always struggle - brand reputation and image is not something built overnight.

[New Beetle]

I agree with some of the points made, but until last year sharp in the UK were a country mile ahead of anything we had here. Its taken well over a year for SE and Samsung to catch up. The GX30 was the best camera for nearly a year, followed by 2 of the best phones the UK has seen EVER imho, the 902 and 903 were fantastic. The quality and design were great and they had that something special that the other manufacturers can't seem to muster.

I admit since my 903 my last 2 phones have been SE (w900 & K800) and although technicaly they have been ok I still know that will a few tweaks the 903 would have been miles better than both of them (namely better media player abilities and UI customisation).

I think if Voda had seen fit to offer more than one colour in the 902 & 903 then they would have sold a bucket load more phones. By the time (if ever) we get the 904 its gonna be outdated. The 905 would surely be a great release if they impliment real TV (freeview) into the phone. C'mon even virgin and the tacky new lobster can display propper TV.

It just really bugs me when I can see the market and the product and Sharp do nothing about it. They have the lower end sorted, and if I was in the market for a £130 PAYG phone the 770sh would be top of my list, but I ain't, I am in the market for some japanese gadgetry and they won't gimme any :( :( :(