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The Death of Wrist Watches and Voice Messages

By Tac Anderson ⋅ August 13, 2007 ⋅ Post a comment
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This post is for all you trend spotters out there.

Wrist Watches: Why bother?

I was at my brothers bachelor party a few months back when I asked everyone that was around the poker table what time it was. Not a single person knew. Now my brother is 10 years younger than I am and I’m pretty sure this is a generational thing. No one was wearing a watch. When I asked everyone about it, the answer was all the same: “I have a cell phone.”

I did some research recently and found out that wrist watch sales have been suffering since 2001. (Haven’t cell phone sales been skyrocketing that whole time?) I know people who have 2 cell phones and don’t wear a watch. High end watch sales still do well but the youth market is dragging the rest of the industry down. Watch makers are trying to stay relevant, but like all things of late, they are forced to focus on the niches like, scuba watches, athletic watches, etc.

Voice Mail: Don’t Bother!

I was in a meeting the other day with Chris and Wyatt of Pronetos, when Chris got a call on his cell that he ignored. When the caller left a message Chris was annoyed. “Don’t leave me a voice message, text me or IM me.”

At first this struck me as odd, then I realized I had the same preferences. Chris went on to explain that if they texted him he could respond back a lot easier than taking the time to listen to the message then call back. We probably all know those people that don’t bother listening to that well thought out message you left and instead just call you when they realize they missed your call.

With so many communication channels available to us I think voice mail is loosing favor. Most people I know are so busy they hate taking the time to wade through multiple voice messages. Of course voice mail will never go away. Most people seem to use it when it’s really important the recipient call them back.

I think we’re finally getting to a point where the channel used will depend on the nature of the message and the relationship between the sender and receiver.

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About Tac

Social media anthropologist. Communications strategist. Business model junkie. Chief blogger here at New Comm Biz.

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  • http://www.alimadzi.com Patrick Lee

    I’ve worn a watch since I was about ten years old and I have the not-so-cool tan lines to prove it. I used to have digital watches with calculators, phone directories, and other stuff. About ten years ago, I switched to analog watches and haven’t looked back. Since I’m up to my eyeballs in high tech every day, it’s nice to have something that still uses little hands and gears to tell me what time it is. I don’t even have numbers on the face.

    I do agree about the inconvenience of voice mail though. E-mail or IM work best for me.

  • http://www.alimadzi.com Patrick Lee

    I’ve worn a watch since I was about ten years old and I have the not-so-cool tan lines to prove it. I used to have digital watches with calculators, phone directories, and other stuff. About ten years ago, I switched to analog watches and haven’t looked back. Since I’m up to my eyeballs in high tech every day, it’s nice to have something that still uses little hands and gears to tell me what time it is. I don’t even have numbers on the face.

    I do agree about the inconvenience of voice mail though. E-mail or IM work best for me.

  • Dave Redford

    I’ve gotta say, this is a fun little blog. I too have the not so cool tan lines. But you most likely won’t see that unless you go swimming with me. Instead you’ll find a nice simple classy watch, with again, no numbers. I just think it’s one of those nice things that men can do to “accessorize” without looking like Boy George or Mr. T.

    As for voice mail…. gotta agree here as well, I can’t stand it.

  • Dave Redford

    I’ve gotta say, this is a fun little blog. I too have the not so cool tan lines. But you most likely won’t see that unless you go swimming with me. Instead you’ll find a nice simple classy watch, with again, no numbers. I just think it’s one of those nice things that men can do to “accessorize” without looking like Boy George or Mr. T.

    As for voice mail…. gotta agree here as well, I can’t stand it.

  • Josh

    I used to hate voicemail, but with my iPhone’s visual voice mail, it is much more convenient. I can delete without listenisng, or listen when I have the time - if ever. So maybe voice mail just needs some new wide-spread technology to win us all back.

  • Josh

    I used to hate voicemail, but with my iPhone’s visual voice mail, it is much more convenient. I can delete without listenisng, or listen when I have the time - if ever. So maybe voice mail just needs some new wide-spread technology to win us all back.

  • http://www.excusetogolf.com Brian Packer

    I have actually asked people who tend to leave the “Hey its ______ call me back when you get a chance” type of VM’s - to STOP! I hate those. If you have called me I have a record of it - if you leave a VM make it relevant - not just “call me back” - it wastes both of our time.

    I find myself wearing a watch a lot less - they still come in handy at times though. It is easier to sneak a peak at your watch then your cell phone when you are in a meeting or event and need to check the time. My favorite watch is one that has a 1GB flash drive built in - that comes in really handy.

  • http://myspace.com/hukit your little borther

    I still don’t have a watch, which makes it really funny when I try to sell one to someone. Also i agree to the voicemail comment, practically the only one that leaves me messages anymore is mom. but I find it funny (and profound) when you say:
    “I think we’re finally getting to a point where the channel used will depend on the nature of the message and the relationship between the sender and receiver”
    because in many other languages there are even entirely different conjugations for every verb in there language depending on how well you know the person, and sentence structured rules depending on the situation and cause. to think that electronic communication is self developing to the level that there are unspoken rules for what form of communication to use depending on the nature of the message, and the relationship of the receiver. the “e-pen” is becoming stronger than the spoken word, blogs are replacing folk tales. this is fantastic for individual productivity. but hopefully we don’t loose the importance , the feel, of talking to someone face to face or instead of reading our children bedtime stories we will be video conferencing with them.

  • http://myspace.com/hukit your little borther

    I still don’t have a watch, which makes it really funny when I try to sell one to someone. Also i agree to the voicemail comment, practically the only one that leaves me messages anymore is mom. but I find it funny (and profound) when you say:
    “I think we’re finally getting to a point where the channel used will depend on the nature of the message and the relationship between the sender and receiver”
    because in many other languages there are even entirely different conjugations for every verb in there language depending on how well you know the person, and sentence structured rules depending on the situation and cause. to think that electronic communication is self developing to the level that there are unspoken rules for what form of communication to use depending on the nature of the message, and the relationship of the receiver. the “e-pen” is becoming stronger than the spoken word, blogs are replacing folk tales. this is fantastic for individual productivity. but hopefully we don’t loose the importance , the feel, of talking to someone face to face or instead of reading our children bedtime stories we will be video conferencing with them.

  • http://www.timebanditswatches.com Watches

    I rarely listen to voicemail myself. My wife is worse. She still has unread messages from last year.

  • http://www.timebanditswatches.com Watches

    I rarely listen to voicemail myself. My wife is worse. She still has unread messages from last year.

  • http://www.excusetogolf.com Brian Packer

    I have actually asked people who tend to leave the “Hey its ______ call me back when you get a chance” type of VM's - to STOP! I hate those. If you have called me I have a record of it - if you leave a VM make it relevant - not just “call me back” - it wastes both of our time.

    I find myself wearing a watch a lot less - they still come in handy at times though. It is easier to sneak a peak at your watch then your cell phone when you are in a meeting or event and need to check the time. My favorite watch is one that has a 1GB flash drive built in - that comes in really handy.

  • http://www.newcommbiz.com/rebirth-of-the-wristwatch-forget-tablets-and-smartphones-i-want-a-micro-computing-device-strapped-to-my-wrist/ Rebirth of the Wristwatch: Forget Tablets and Smartphones, I Want A Micro Computing Device Strapped to My Wrist | @NewCommBiz

    [...] 2011 ⋅ Post a comment Filed Under  mobile, NFC, Trends Tweet Four years ago I noted that even before the recession hit wrist watches were dying. Who needs a wrist watch when every device you carry with you tells the [...]

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