T-Mobile Pulling HD7 from Store Shelves?

[Adan Galvan]

<p><img style="border: 1px solid rgb(210, 210, 187);" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1318899691.usr681.jpg"></p><p>I just stopped in to my local T-Mobile in Chicago, and to my surprise there was no sign of Windows Phone anywhere in the store. When I asked the employee where it was, she mentioned that T-Mobile was really not focused on Windows Phone because there was a "very specific market" for those devices (whatever that meant). I then asked her about the HTC Radar, and she confirmed they were getting it, but didn't have any information to share. It strikes me as surprising and sad to see that Windows Phone has been overlooked in this way. I'd be really interested in hearing from our readers about their experiences. Is this a sign of things to come from T-Mobile?</p>

[benjimen]

I think you'll be about the only one who experiences a sense of surprise...

[DaveyNZL]

Unfortunately there is this misplaced idea, amongst retailers, that Windows Phone is somehow a business device only. This is legacy from Windows Mobile days. I see it here in NZ stores also.

For all the multitude of Androids, Blackberries & iPhone there is usually only 1 WP7 handset on display in the darkest corner of the shop

What's the bet that pro Android & apple reps happily perpetuate the misnomer.

As all current WP7 users will attest it is in fact a fantastic consumer device.

[Ron Hostetter]

T-Mobile's been missing Win-7 Phones for a while now. I wrote about it back in early September. Very frustrating.

http://windowsphonethoughts.com/news/show/116353/why-does-t-mobile-hate-microsoft-or-is-it-vice-versa.html

[Sven Johannsen]

Well that's about the dumbest thing I've heard recently. Considering they are the only major (and I use the term loosly) US carrier that doesn't have iPhones, can they really afford to limit their choice to just android? Granted android doesn't sell poorly, though I can't imagine why, Windows Phone is a viable alternative. With Mango it is getting pretty good reviews, and the HD7 is a fine device (yes I have one). You would think T-Mobile would want multiple WP models to make up for not having the iPhone.

[Don Tolson]

Unfortunately for WP7, I have the same experience here in Canada. Walk into a carrier store and you'll find maybe one WP7 phone NOT prominently displayed. And the staff are clueless. Ask them about the iPhone or the latest Android and they are all over you.

The same is true of the Future Shops/Best Buys/Walmarts/etc. of the world. They are ALL OVER the latest iPhone or Android phone -- happily describing and displaying all the great features and talking about how powerful the processor is, and how it's got the latest O/S, etc. etc.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, WP7 has been relegated (by the media and the masses) to a 'special, technical geek' status -- even lower than Windows Mobile. And part of the problem, I believe is we don't see ANY volume of new phones coming out with WP7.

Every week, I hear about the latest and greatest Android-based offering, or the 'rumours' of a new iOS release or a new iPhone.

If Microsoft wants to make ANY impact on the phone market with WP7, it's going to have to kick the manufacturers (listening HTC?) into high gear and get some PHONES out there!

[Sven Johannsen]

Unfortunately for Microsoft, WP7 has been relegated (by the media and the masses) to a 'special, technical geek' status
I really don't get that. WP7 is about as easy to setup and use as any phone out there. Certainly no harder than the iPhone and way easier to do than Android. You can use any of them right out of the box with minimal setup of course, but to get them your way, seems a wash between WP7 and iPhone. Certainly no geek required.

Makes your life easier if you are a Live user with WP7, but it makes your life easier if you are an iTunes user/have an Apple acount on the iPhone, and are a Googler (G-mail, etc.) with Android.

Wow, really? Wow. People who think like that haven't picked up a MS phone since WM5.

[Adan Galvan]

I guess I was just surprised because the last few times I'd walked into T-Mobile stores here in Chicago they at least had the HD7, and even some animated advertising (on a giant LCD screen) showing off the phone and operating system. I realize the phone is now almost a year old, so some of this is to be expected, but for there to be zero presence in the store is pretty lame. It seems to me a no-brainer that if T-Mobile wants to compete moving forward without the iPhone they will need a stable of interesting and different mobile phones, and I was hoping that this meant Windows Phone 7.

[Don Tolson]

I really don't get that. WP7 is about as easy to setup and use as any phone out there. Certainly no harder than the iPhone and way easier to do than Android. You can use any of them right out of the box with minimal setup of course, but to get them your way, seems a wash between WP7 and iPhone. Certainly no geek required.

Makes your life easier if you are a Live user with WP7, but it makes your life easier if you are an iTunes user/have an Apple acount on the iPhone, and are a Googler (G-mail, etc.) with Android.

Wow, really? Wow. People who think like that haven't picked up a MS phone since WM5.
Hi Sven... I think you missed my point -- it's not that those of us who have actually picked and used the phone don't think it's simple and easy to use. It's that the MEDIA and the SALESPEOPLE have this perception that WP7 is geeky and not something regular people will want to use.

I totally agree -- Android is the ultimate 'geek' phone from what I've seen -- but it's still selling WAY MORE than WP7 and even exceeding iOS in some markets.

The problem is the sales force and the lack of product.

[Deslock]

It's not selling, simple as that. It's not due to lack of a sales force, or some misplaced idea by retailers that these are business phones. It's because it's difficult to gain traction in an overcrowded market (that already has a variety of excellent devices) without offering some innovative and/or standout features.

The Metro UI, though very pretty, frankly doesn't offer any significant benefits for most people.

And this phone is too heavy.

However, I have good news for Microsoft fans: last week I saw a WP7 device in the wild for the first time. And the upcoming N800 (http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/nokia-800-first-press-shots) has the potential to do well with its clean iPod nano-esque design (though it's not very ergonomic... I sure wouldn't buy it).

Personally, I await the Galaxy Nexus.

[virain]

Fortunately, here in New York WP7 are proudly displayed in AT&T stores, right between rows and rows of Android devices. They are in working condition, you can play with them as much as you want, and once "helpful" salesperson approaches you and asks "What kind oh phone you looking for?" and you answer with hope for some support of your choice "Windows Phone" this helpful salesperson looses all interest to you, helplessly shakes his/her head, like a doctor coming out operating room with bad news in a lousy sitcom, and walks away as far as he or she can.

[Sven Johannsen]

Hi Sven... I think you missed my point -- it's not that those of us who have actually picked and used the phone don't think it's simple and easy to use. It's that the MEDIA and the SALESPEOPLE have this perception that WP7 is geeky and not something regular people will want to use.
No, I got that. What I don't get is how that misconception got started (within media/salesforce), other than making judgments without ever picking up the product...assuming it is similar to previous MS offerings. In reality I don't think the old WM was any tougher to use, configure, etc, than today's Android and those ae selling like hotcakes. Personally I always thought PPC/WM was pretty easy to understand if you had ever used a Windows PC. (Start, programs, shortcuts, folders, files, control panel) Granted, not many folks had experience with one of those ;)

Agree, it's a fault of marketing, education, but I'm sure there are high level discussions on who should do this. To me its obvious that MS should, because who else will? Motorola, Samsung, etc, and the carriers are busy plugging the hell out of Android. Apple of course pushes Apple, and gets support from carriers. Who is going to sing the praises of WP but MS? In a large part though they seem to be stuck with the same philosophy that they aren't selling this to consumers, OEMs and carriers are, so.....


The fish, it never cackles bout
it's million eggs or so,
the hen is quite a different bird,
one egg-and hear her crow.
The fish we spurn, but crown the hen, which leads me to surmise:
Don't hide your light, but blow your horn it pays to advertise.