Symbian Show - Samsung Stand visit

Shows can be quite refreshing sometimes. I had a good nosey round the Samsung stand and didn't get hassled at all. That's because the stand appears to be manned by Samsung 'trainers'. People who have the tough job of making sure that the hoardes of people who sell the kit at places like Carphone know what to say when customers ask questions like: 'Why should I bother - it's not a Nokia?'

Samsung was busy showing off its new phones which seem really well designed and slick - only slight problem is some were 'development phones' (so I was told) and not the final versions, and one of the i450 phones wasn't working properly.

The i450 has a very aesthetically pleasing 'dual-slider' which if you slide one way reveals the keyboard; the other way and you get a touch sensitive wheel edge to control the music system.

The i550 is Samsung's pitch for those wanting GPS. I was told that at present it comes with Navteq software that you get to try for a couple of weeks before being asked to cough up £49. I was also told that Samsung is in the process of developing its own GPS software (clearly not wanting to be putting money in Nokia's pocket now that it has acquired Navteq then?)

One of the trainers told me what its like to train Carphone staff: "We sometimes do 500 in one day, taking them in groups at 15 minute intervals. You have to give them enough information to be able to sell it on the phone."

Interestingly he told me that more and more phones are being sold off the internet and via telesales: "The big brands have to have shops to keep their names in the public eye but more sales are being done all the time through these other channels."

It makes you wonder. Could the high street be fast becoming a loss leader? After all we don't really believe in a brand unless we can see it in three dimensions do we? Furthermore if they offer better deals online why does anyone bother with shops these days anyway? So you have someone to go and kick if things go wrong, presumably.