Shortage of cell phones in the future?
We admit it. We go through cell phones like water. But according to Matthew Hoffman, an analyst from Cowen Research Company, this is a growing trend among cell phone owners. Based on current demand for cell phones around the world, and the fact that Americans are replacing them far too often, we could experience a shortage in in the millions of units. The shortage could be on account of a dropping LCD supply. Who knows, in a couple of years instead of a new cell phone every three months, we might go six months between cell phones. Actually, no, it will probably only get worse…
boring…
anyone else thinks it’s kinda hot that a chic admins on this site?
This doesnt seem right, what ever happened to recycling?
Article = pointless
this isn’t really boring, it is a good thing to know and this just shows how materialistic this country has come to be. I’m not one who keeps their phones for the full two year contract (yes I go by the contract, wanna fight about it?) but at least I try to keep my phones as long as I can.
Really now shouldn’t they be recycling this stuff?
There’s always things like glass screens or oleds.
yeah…
I want a new cell phone EVERY WEEK…
But I get one every YEAR..
let me know when you run out…
-db
Better start stocking up now.
I have 5 in my house guess im ahead of the game.
I have 8 including old ones that could be functional but are lying around. Didn’t think I was materialistic, but guess I am.
Well the lcd shortage is not only afects the cell phone manufactures but also laptop computers th same issue.
The lcd shortage will also Effect Galv’s brain…
We’re replacing them often because they are made to be replaced often. I’m tired of hearing companies and the government complaining about consumers “addiction” to this and that, and how we should be more frugal. Maybe if they made products that lasted (design-wise and durability-wise) we wouldn’t want to trade up every 3 months. New features and designs are purposely held back and trickled in quarter-over-quarter to appease shareholders. This is the current nature of the consumer-tech industry. If they focused more on software upgrades, content, accessories, and scalability, we wouldn’t have to dump an entire $600 device for a newer one every 3-6 months. I have no problem doing it, though, and having the newest products and consuming to my heart’s content… but don’t complain to me and blame me for waste. Go to the companies and shareholders and ask them to take steps to find other ways to create revenue other than wasting away older products faster and faster each day.
Ugh, sorry for the rant, just tired of hearing about how “American’s are wasteful and don’t care about the environment”. The companies have the resources to come up with new ideas and put less-wasteful products out there, so why aren’t they?
Please Johnny tell us how you really feel about the issue….lol
LOL Amen to that Johnny…
I don`t think thats gonna happen.
I would love to take a “swim” in that sea of cell phones.
I’ve got 500 in the back of my shop including some bag phones and some original Nextel Lingos… worthless they are.
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that this info is really part of an intentional PR leak from one or more of the handset manufacturers, setting us up for price increases. Low supply = high price.
Years ago carriers began to subsidize their handsets so as to drop prices to the consumer and be more competitive. The carriers hate it but they are stuck and don’t know how to break out.
In recent months handset manufacturers like Motorola, Nokia and now Apple have been selling handsets, directly, albeit at a higher price. This will increase and carriers will pretty much get out of the hardware business.
The market is pushing the carriers to get rid of contracts and of course handset subsidies are a big piece of that.
Eventually all handsets will be sold at Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Target, just like cordless phones – at much better pricing than we see now.
As the contracts go away, low-cost hybrid prepaid and/or unlimited plans will become much more prevalent.
It will be a wonderful new day for cellular consumer. We will buy minutes from the low price carrier (like gas) and buy handsets with the features we need (like cars).
We really should try to recycle the old handsets or sell them to a company for refurbishing.
What would be even better is if the handsets had the ability to get various components upgraded without tossing the whole device, like a desktop/laptop.
iNTERESTING!
And the phone components recycling!!
And the money!
Regards