Now The Oompa-Loompas Will Be Really Small

Are full-length movies coming to your cell phone? Looks like:

Mobile phone giant Sprint Nextel is reportedly set to offer movies for its cell phone subscribers through a subscription service, a strategy analysts said will likely struggle against limited demand for small-screen content. The company's mobile devices will accommodate downloads of full-length feature films.

The move is viewed as yet another experiment with video for the smaller screen. Analysts said that while the idea is appealing as a way to inspire customer demand for more bandwidth, mobile phone users will only watch as much as they talk, and only if the content is compelling -- and brief.

"I don't think full-length films on a regular handset will find a lot of acceptance," Ovum vice president of wireless Business Communication Tools from Sprint telecoms Roger Entner told TechNewsWorld. He noted technical restraints on battery life and experience restraints on the small screen as potential hurdles.

On the other hand, the new iPods with their dinky video screens seem to be doing just fine. So who knows?

Personally, I wouldn't be in a huge rush to watch The Lord of the Rings on my cell phone (Lord of the Ringtones! Ha! I kill myself). But I also admit that I'm not of the generation giving themselves tendonitis of the thumbs with text messaging and the like and also that I don't even own a cell phone, so I'm not sure I'm qualified to have a vote here.

There's the other thing, too: When I'm stranded somewhere with nothing to do, my first inclination is not to whip out the phone and watch some movie until my battery goes dead; my first inclination is to read a book. Yeah, I'm just old school that way.

Would you watch a movie on a cell phone?

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 6 comments: (Add your own)

#6 Comment from glendar0812
12/13/05 7:42 PM | Permalink

anything to outdo the other guy is all this is. I hope they lose their shirts on this nonsense. I agree that the great outdoors is a much better option, but i have it on good authority that my beautiful young grandson is getting a traveling DVD player from his Uncle (yes, my son) for Christmas. I can see his reasoning ... the child does spend a good deal of time in the car and I'm not opposed to having this some of the time like when it's night and he's wide awake but on the other hand I LOVE that he falls asleep on the ride home ... we have to travel 3 hours to visit relatives (estranged father for one - insert rasperry to his biological sperm donor here - yes I know that was off the subject and not nice. My grandson lives with me (as does his mother) and MOM likes the portable DVD player idea real well ...it's her idea of a babysitter ... I however am with the rest of you's who think using our own imagination is a much better idea.
#5 Comment from coelha
12/13/05 12:33 PM | Permalink

The Oompa-Loompas scare me enough already. Why would I want them on a phone?! Eeek!!... Julie :)
#4 Comment from aurielalata
12/13/05 9:39 AM | Permalink

This is part of the ongoing conspiracy to take the younger generation's imagination away. I am opposed to this for the very same reasons I'm opposed to having a DVD player in my minivan. While our kids are being sedated by the ongoing entertainment, they are missing opportunities to learn how to get along with each other in an enclosed space (this is a vital skill, especially if you work in an office setting), as well as chances to learn how to observe the world around them. Some of my favorite memories from my childhood come from moments I saw something interesting or weird out of the passenger window of my mom's station wagon.

I'm also with you John. I'd rather whip out my handy-dandy paperback and read. My mental movies are so much better than any movie anyone can put on my cell phone.

Jess
http://journals.aol.com/aurielalata/CIWTheOtherInvisible
#3 Comment from visionarydiva1
12/13/05 9:23 AM | Permalink

I just don't see the point on one hand but on the other if you are riding the train why not something constructive with your time like watch a movie on your cell who needs books and newspapers anymore let's make this new generation special in the short bus kind of way.

AMy
http://journals.aol.com/visionarydiva1/ABookClubforJLanders/
http://journals.aol.com/visionarydiva1/AVisionaryDiva/
#2 Comment from monponsett
12/13/05 8:48 AM | Permalink

I'm working night and day to make a remote control clicker for my cellphone/TV.

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Now The Oompa-Loompas Will Be Really Small