We are all familiar with the stereotypes that revolve around which smartphone you choose — how your choice can be linked to your personality, the environment you're in and past experiences. Has the BlackBerry become synonymous with business? Or is the iPhone 4S better in terms of functionality? We ask a few of Dubai's top business big wigs what helps them stay connected to their businesses and takes care of their telecommunication needs when they're on the move.
To make it more interesting, these business heads are the decision makers of Emax, Jacky's and Al-Futtaim Technologies, local-based electronic retailers and household names in the UAE when it comes to smartphones. Ashish Panjabi, COO of Jacky's Electronics, Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax and Venkat Raghavan, General Manager of Al-Futtaim Technologies, share their views on their personal smartphones and their competitors.
Ashish Panjabi, COO of Jacky's Electronics
What smartphone do you currently use and what do you think of it?
Samsung Galaxy SII. I've been a fan of the SII because it's super quick, has a brilliant camera and runs Android Gingerbread, which at the time of launch was the best mobile OS that had been released.
What do you think of the other smartphones available besides your own?
I may switch to the Apple iPhone 4S because with iOS5, Apple finally caught up with Android in terms of functionality and given the fact that Apple probably has better multimedia capabilities than the Galaxy SII, I'd be willing to make the transition back to Apple.
Neelesh Bhatnagar, CEO of Emax
What smartphone do you currently use and what do you think of it?
I primarily use the BlackBerry Torch 9980, even though I'm a huge fan of several other devices. The BlackBerry checks all the boxes. It has become one of my essentials and is ideal for business and leisure.
What do you think of the other smartphones available besides your own?
I do use the iPhone as well and it is indeed quite revolutionary. The iPhone is a great device to own and is trendy. There are limitless possibilities on what the phone and the software can evolve into in the near future. The Androids, in this region, have a long way to go, in my opinion.
Venkat Raghavan, General Manager of Al-Futtaim Technologies
What smartphone do you currently use and what do you think of it?
Today's business is about transcending space and time and yet staying close to people and data. My BlackBerry has made it possible. It is about incessant communication and non-stop business.
What do you think of the other smartphones available besides your own?
I think the smartphones on offer across the multiple platforms will continue to evolve. But those that will leave the rest behind would be the ones that offer complete collaboration for users, unhindered functionality without a heavy price. My vote is for those on an open platform.
