LogicaCMG, which supplies and manages a wide range of customer service and delivery platforms for mobile operators, has published some interesting research claiming 58 percent of users don’t know the make and model of their handset. This, presumably, makes the case for Logica’s platforms which are capable of automatically identifying the handset so that it can be accurately supported by customer service staff and targeted with new applications.

The MORI poll found 9 percent knew neither the make or model of their handset. 49 percent knew the make but not the model.

Paul Gleeson, chief operating officer, LogicaCMG telecoms, said: “This research demonstrates that many operators could well be trying to sell advanced data services based on the incorrect assumption that the users they are communicating with have basic knowledge of their own handsets. Often this is not the case; the language used by the customer service advisor can be inappropriately technical and, as a result, they could actually be putting a number of people off using their handsets.�

He added: “Mobile data services are much more complex to deliver to consumers than voice services – just sending through the right service book to enable MMS depends on knowing to which handset it is going. Operators and manufacturers can help in the roll out of new mobile data services by ensuring that they control this kind of basic information, rather than depending on their customers often limited knowledge.�

Setting aside Logica’s obvious vested interest in this, the company is uniquely positioned to understand user experience because it supplies everything from client applications to server architecture and support services. I recall an insightful presentation from the company where an executive explained how they are working with Dutch operator KPN Mobile to enhance customer support by trying to better understand the context of the user.

One part of this is their device make and model, but LogicaCMG’s system also allows support staff to record information such as the mood and tone of the last conversation they had with the customer. If there had been a negative incident in the past, the staff were encouraged to make special efforts to please the subscriber.

Marek Pawlowski

Marek Pawlowski is the founder of MEX. Since 1995, he has focused the MEX business on helping digital industries to develop better, more profitable products through improved understanding of user behaviour with mobile devices and wireless networks. MEX is best known for its events, research and consulting, which balance commercial, technical and user insights to define the future of mobile user experience.

View Comments

  • I would be interested in findung out, how LogicaCMG is reading out make and model. To my knowledge no standardised commands exist, and each mobile phone manufacturer has its own approach to reading out make, model and for instance software version. Also I would like to know, which interface LogicCMG is using to read make and model data from the phones. Our experience at BMW shows, that reading such data e.g. over Bluetooth is not only make but also model dependent.
    Best regards,
    Thomas

Recent Posts

Design Talk 80. Digitally sustainable; Mirren Fischer, Founder, Brilliant Product Design

Mirren Fischer is someone who finds herself at the confluence of some really big challenges:…

5 years ago

Design Talk 79. Our future towns; Dan Phillips, Royal College of Art

Poetry and place...listening and lockdowns... Dan Phillips, who led the Royal College of Art's (RCA)…

5 years ago

Design Talk 78. Mark Baldino, co-founder, Fuzzy Math

Mark Baldino's path to co-founding a Chicago-based design agency wends its way from a degree…

5 years ago

Design Talk 77. Paul Campbell, Chief Product Officer, Centaur Robotics

Paul Campbell, a former chief designer at Ford, is now re-imagining the wheelchair at Centaur…

6 years ago

Interaction unintended

Opening the oven released a cloud of steam. I should have been expecting it. It's…

6 years ago

Design Talk 76. Placeful computing; Jared Ficklin, Chief Creative Technologist & founding partner, argodesign

Jared Ficklin's approach of 'think by making' has led him to produce remarkable digital design…

6 years ago