I read elsewhere an interesting article about how Apple are about to really shake up the mobile phone industry because they can sell hardware directly, even at horrible prices. However, all through that, I was thinking of Sony Ericsson.

I know what you mean about Nokia and Motorola. I got to fiddle a bit with one of Motorola's RAZR-alikes the other month. Menus were wierd and wrong and compared to my Sony Ericsson phone there was a lot of functionality just missing. I also had to borrow a low-to-middle range Nokia; same problem. Both of them felt like they needed a serious look at what Sony Ericsson were doing.

Sony's two problems are patchy marketing and lack-of-vision. Oh, and that they own a record label (I think that's the real source of their DRM missteps). Sort those out and Apple would be wondering what hit it.

Wade.