A good piece by Christian Lindholm where he writes:
Will iPhone create a new dominant design in mobile user interfaces?
One of Christian's points is:
“In my view a phone is a one hand operated device which can be used while moving. While moving users seldom have both hands free.”
I agree with Christian, but I see it a bit different… Mobile phones must be able to be operated (its basic functions) with one hand, but the handset doesn't have to be one-hand-operated only… As a matter of fact, forcing phones to be only one-hand operated restricts the experience.
Let's see how the Apple phone, and their approach to UI, will do in the market, and if it proves well, see other handset manufacturers go beyond one-hand operations, and incorporate touchscreen. It is OK to break off the decades long premise of one-hand operation, and try something new (beyond concept phones).
On a separate note, I'm a fan of touchscreen and how it helps make navigation better… but not everyone likes touchscreen. That said, my main wish for Nokia handsets is to have some of the advanced handsets support touchscreen.
ceo