Memo To Motorola: You Aren't Apple

from the yeah,-do-that dept

Fresh off the underwhelming launch of the iTunes phone, Motorola says it's going to take a page out of Apple's book and start selling phones the day after it announces them, rather than follow mobile-phone industry custom and announce them months before they're ready. Ever since the success of the RAZR, Motorola's tried to portray itself as the phone equivalent of Apple in terms of design, so it's slightly ironic in light of the new pronouncement that the RAZR follow-ups that are supposed to cement that reputation were announced months ago and are still nowhere to be found. The point for Motorola is that to be like Apple, it takes more than flashy design and quickly putting your products on sale; it helps to have good products, too. The cynic in me, though, can't help but wonder if the new plan was prompted by the ROKR's launch, when all the details of the device were known well before it was officially announced, making the device DOA.
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  • identicon
    Jason, 16 Nov 2005 @ 9:54am

    I've always though of motorola as very applesque.

    They always seem to have the most innovative designs and features. Consider the razr, which was like $600 retail when it first came out -- extremely thin and high-profile, but sold well. I think they appeal to the same markets.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Fenra, 16 Nov 2005 @ 10:05am

    No Subject Given

    I don't think it will work as well for Motorola as it does for Apple. Where Apple can announce an IPod and people will scurry to snatch one up the next day, cell phones don't seem to be such an impulse buy. There are too many choices and a new IPod can just be added to your collection. A cell phone is more of an upgrade.

    People are more likely to wait for something they know is coming if they already have a functioning cell phone. If people didn't know there was a new RAZR coming out in X months, what would keep them from buying the cool new Nokia whatever that just came out?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Nov 2005 @ 11:23am

      Re: No Subject Given

      I think one of the big reason people just don't jump out and buy a new phone is because most wait until their contract is up so they can get a better deal.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Sohrab, 16 Nov 2005 @ 12:04pm

        Re: No Subject Given

        I also agree with that. Avg. person is locked in for a 2 year contract. You can either pay $450 for a new phone or wait and get it for $100 you know? Alot of people dont just have that spare cash to throw around.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Oliver Wendell Jones, 16 Nov 2005 @ 1:36pm

          Re: No Subject Given

          The other thing is that the manufacturers seldom release a phone for all networks simultaneously. If you release a Cingular only phone, or a Verizon only phone, then you can only expect to capture a segment of that market - those people who feel they need a new phone *and* happen to use that provider.

          I have yet to see a single phone that would make me want to jump to a new provider and be willing to pay an early-out fee.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 16 Nov 2005 @ 5:39pm

            Re: No Subject Given

            What is so upsetting about researching and then purchasing a Motorola phone... is that a week later, you will get an email or flyer with details of "the next greatest phone from Motorola is now here... for $299" -- And the phone you just purchased for $299 is now on sale from Nextel/Sprint for $149.

            With the release of new phones EVERY WEEK, there really is no incentive to purchase the latest & greatest phone... unless of course you enjoy having advertisements in your face that something better has just come out -- for exactly the same price you paid for your top-of-the-line model just a few days before.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Sohrab, 16 Nov 2005 @ 11:00am

    No Subject Given

    I personally dont care what stance Moto takes. I do like their phones over everybody else. Minus Sony but....Verizon is retarded like that and we dont get Sony phones =/ let alone the RAZR...*sigh*

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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