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Originally Posted by Stinger
I see a lot of people on gadget blogs who say that they want an Android phone but I can't figure out why. There doesn't seem to be any killer feature that they're interested in. It must be the brand associated with the product.
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When I first got wind of the project I was incredibly excited over the system due to the Web browser which promised full desktop support accross an operating system that was the same, whether you purchased a touch screen device or a non touch screen device.
I would really love to go out and purchase an HTC Touch Diamond but there are three things holding me back from doing so. For starters I cannot get the device here in the US at the moment (not until after September anyways) and then on top of that I would have to repurchase all of my already ungodly expensive application library just so it will be compatible with the Pocket PC. Then last and not least... my hatred of smudges... but I'm working on that one!
We desperately need a unified operating system that gives the users choice on which type of handset design they want whether it is a touch screen or not so the customer doesn't get shafted when they decide to try a different flavor of device.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mechanicaldan
Follow the money. Proof that there is enough competition in the mobile phone market is that Apple (the standard) has lowered their prices to compete with all the "iPhone killers."
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I would in no way consider Apple the standard in the mobile arena. Sure they have upped the bar a bit but that is all. To just ignore the other handset makers sales figures and customer base because Apple shouts their minor achivements the loudest is just silly. That is like calling the Zune the standard in portable MP3 players because their was a ton of good publicity over the 2.0 UI and completely ignoring the fact that the iPod outsells it a bagillion to one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JesterMania
I'm thinking the demand for Android-based devices will depend on 3rd-party software. If Android can have something like the iPhone AppStore with software that is 100% free/open-source, that should appeal very well to the public.
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True but this is something that could be beneficial, and done now with current technology, for all mobile platforms.
I think their will be a demand for Google devices but not because it is a Google operating system. One thing I always found amusing when I sold cellular phones was that the handsets that were carrier branded, almost always smartphones, sold incredibly well but almost never for the fact that they were smartphones. Several times I had customers tell me that they didn't want to go with Palm or Blackberry or Motorola, they wanted the cingular branded device because it was made by Cingular and they felt it would work better on the network. Rational thinking would tell you as a consumer that you would want a Nintendo branded Wiimote and not one made by MadCatz or some other third party as the one branded by the manufacturer would be higher quality.
With Google taking a Microsoft approach so everyone and their grandmother can create a gPhone with their brand on it like the carriers do - people will just buy these devices because by default they feel they will work better. Weird huh?