Mass market must wait for hard disk-enabled mobile phones

While we are seeing the metamorphosis of mobile phones into multi-function devices, with the latest models incorporating extras such as digital cameras, radios and electronic address books, some evolution still needs to occur before hard disk drive (HDD)-enabled mobile phones are introduced to the mass market.

That is according to new research by IDC, which found that a number of steps need to take place before HDD-enabled mobile phones will represent a beneficial investment for enterprises and consumers.

"The addition of HDD storage will eventually address many of the limitations that have kept converged devices from reaching their full potential," said Alex Slawsby, senior research analyst in IDC's Mobile Devices service. "Handsets already have the killer application of wireless telephony, and adding increased storage will make them a viable option for extensive music, imaging, reference, and business applications."

Today's MP3-enabled phones, for example, can only store about 8-12 4MB songs. In contrast, a new breed of HDD-based phones, similar to HDD-based MP3 jukebox players, could easily hold several thousand songs, images, or hours of video.

Although ultimately promising, HDDs have not yet achieved the economies of scale necessary to attract the masses. "Cost, size, and power consumption are prohibitive factors," said Dave Reinsel, IDC research manager, Hard Disk Drives and Components.

"Flash memory is still the best near-term option with rotating storage solutions too costly, too large, and too power hungry for all but the highest-end, business-class mobile phones."

IDC believes that this will not change until HDD technology improves and the price of such drives drops significantly.

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