Who killed Mobile Internet Devices? iPhone and netbooks blush

It was not that long ago when an announcement of a new mobile internet device, such as this one from Samsung would get us all aflutter. These devices seemed to have missed their window, an unfortunate mistiming of faster network speeds and competition from two sources kept these devices in the rarely seen category. The party responsible for finally slamming the door shut? The mighty iPhone.

A MID is a compact device made for surfing the web and performing typically less demanding tasks than a laptop or desktop computer. Their form factor was never agreed upon, so often they have a slide out keyboard or an odd left hand and right hand keypads at either side of the screen. Typically size was about 1/2 a 8×10 sheet of paper and an inch thick. The UMPC was similar only it had a more powerful engine and was capable of demanding tasks.

Last week, word came that OQO would not be making more of the Model 2+, their MID. While there are expected to still be units in the supply chain, the company announcing no more will be made is either trying to justify a price hike or lack of customers. My money is on the latter. The reasons are easy.

Our smartphones have become our mobile PCs. We can surf from anywhere, rather comfortably, get email, even get applications OTA. For many, an iPhone and desktop/laptop completes the picture, no more is needed. For those that feel the screen is too small, a cheap netbook fits the bill to solve the issue. A $1000+ device, like the MID and UMPCs demanded never figure in to the picture.

Smartphone demand continues to rise while telecoms are starting to flood the market with $99 or less netbooks with service contracts to try to keep the netbook market moving. There is no going back. The odd devices that were UMPCs and MIDs time has passed. We’ll miss them, not for their accomplishments, but mostly for how odd they look.