An important point and good thoughts expressed here about the transcoding challenges. ( specially Criag and Nick's comments ). This is what exactly we at Global Mobile Technologies solving. Our Push-IT mobile content delivery system solves the content formatting, delivery, content adaption to device specific attributes and features, linking the consumer in a personalised way to the eco-system. All this without using SMS, MMS or browser but our own light weight client. We are currently in alpha testing mode, please try our service for free at www.push-it.com/cynamon. Your feedback/comments highly appreciated. We are launching our beta product soon to support any blog, social networks, public email system, any web content to push to the phone, highly formatted and packaged for specific handset. Thanks.

Bringing the sales and market strategies of RIM into this makes me think of some related thoughts I posted here, regarding the ability of "walled gardens" such as Apple's iPhone to provide a much better user experience with their obviously form-focused devices. Combining user experience and attractive form can overcome sales issues caused by having less functionality than power users and techies prefer. Gimmicks are all well and good, but if they are obviously just gimmicks and your Average-Joe can tell that, your device will not sell well for long.

In answer to your signature... when someone uses "A penny for your thoughts" they are offering a penny to hear your thoughts. If you then provide your two cents, you are doubling their return. Thus, listening is a rare 100% profit business. (And that is going in my signature... thanks!)