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Windows Phone 7 launch --- what went wrong? (an underwhelming launch)
Computerworld ^ | 11/11/2010 | Preston Gralla

Posted on 11/11/2010 7:54:15 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Microsoft needed its Windows Phone 7 launch to make as big an impact as possible to give it some momentum in order to catch up to the iPhone and Android phones. It's now clear that didn't happen. What went wrong?

Initial reports say that on launch day, Microsoft sold only 40,000 phones. Given that the iPhone 4 had 600,000 pre-orders and Google activates 200,000 Android devices a day, this was an underwhelming launch.

It's even more underwhelming when you consider the amount of marketing dollars Microsoft has been throwing at Windows Phone 7. Computerworld reports that the company is spending $500 million for TV advertising. That should buy it a lot more than 40,000 phones on launch day.

In addition, supplies of Windows Phone 7 are "tight," Microsoft says, even though demand isn't overwhelming.

All in all, this is not a pretty picture. So what went wrong?

Let's start with the basics. Even before launch, it was clear that there was going to be shortages of Windows Phone 7s, no matter the demand. When the phone was launched in Europe, there were problems because of component shortages, possibly having to do with screens or cameras. Microsoft's primary partner in the UK, Orange, was forced to give out t £20 vouchers to customers who ordered the phone but could not get them because of shortages. Mobile Magazine quotes an Orange store manager as saying:

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.computerworld.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Society
KEYWORDS: microsoft; windowsphone7
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1 posted on 11/11/2010 7:54:16 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
They made it more locked down than Android.

It may make Windows ME look like an unbridled success.

2 posted on 11/11/2010 7:58:55 PM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.8)
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To: SeekAndFind

Microsoft didn’t sell using the phone.
They sold NOT using it.

I want to know what it does.
Does it support Windows file types?
Can I drag & drop files, photos, mp3s, and mpgs directly to and from my desktop? (I HATE “syncing”!!!)

Are there apps for it?
If it supported Windows Gadgets directly, then it would be a major selling point. But I haven’t heard anything about it doing that, so I have to assume Microsoft missed out on a huge no-brainer opportunity.


3 posted on 11/11/2010 8:03:26 PM PST by counterpunch ("Some election nights are more fun than others" - Baraq Hussein 0bama)
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To: SeekAndFind

Maybe Bill Gates would like the government to force us to buy his phone.


4 posted on 11/11/2010 8:18:49 PM PST by MsLady (If you died tonight, where would you go? Salvation, don't leave earth without it!)
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To: SeekAndFind
It launched? Seriously, I had no idea. I've seen a couple of commercials for it while watching football... Seems like their ad agency is trying to rip off the android robot with something similar, but soft and squishy.

Well, a non-event for me. I am far too happy with my android based phone to even consider switching.

5 posted on 11/11/2010 8:24:07 PM PST by ThunderSleeps (Stop obama now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: counterpunch
Microsoft didn’t sell using the phone.
They sold NOT using it.

If my Windows phone ever drops into the urinal, I'll just leave it there.

6 posted on 11/11/2010 8:24:36 PM PST by martin_fierro (REALLY!)
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To: SeekAndFind

The problem with Microsoft is they are mostly gay liberals. I mean have you seen Windows 7? It works OK but have you noticed how soft and pastel it is? In other words GAY!

I’ll bet the phone is the same thing.


7 posted on 11/11/2010 8:25:20 PM PST by fuzzybutt (Democrat Lawyers are the root of all evil.)
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To: SeekAndFind
$500 million advertising budget

I don't think Donovan's "Season of the Witch" was a particularly intelligent theme song. What were they thinking?

8 posted on 11/11/2010 8:28:49 PM PST by denydenydeny (Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak-Adams)
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To: SeekAndFind

Microsoft would be as well served to just light dollar bills on fire, but this way generates employment and is “greener”.


9 posted on 11/11/2010 8:44:27 PM PST by bigbob
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To: SeekAndFind

Help me out here. I don’t watch TV so I have no idea what an Android phone is. And why would I want to buy one of those or Microsoft phone? I just use a cell phone to make phone calls so I guess I am out of it.


10 posted on 11/11/2010 8:49:26 PM PST by Inyo-Mono (Had God not driven man from the Garden of Eden the Sierra Club surely would have.)
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To: denydenydeny

I don’t have a cell phone, so maybe I missed something others see, but for the life of me I cannot figure out what the Windows phone commercials mean!

Donavan singing Season of the Witch as cars crash in slow motion, followed by two guys standing at a urinal???

I don’t get it...

Ed


11 posted on 11/11/2010 9:42:32 PM PST by Sir_Ed
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To: Sir_Ed

Looks like you and I are alone here Ed.


12 posted on 11/11/2010 9:55:49 PM PST by Inyo-Mono (Had God not driven man from the Garden of Eden the Sierra Club surely would have.)
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To: bigbob

Used to be advertising agencies probed depth psychology, behavioral science, statistics and useful stuff like that. They have long since “transcended” all that. Too bad for the manufacturers who continue to throw money at them.


13 posted on 11/11/2010 10:03:23 PM PST by Avery Iota Kracker (He hate me.)
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To: fuzzybutt
> I mean have you seen Windows 7? It works OK but have you noticed how soft and pastel it is? In other words GAY!

Dude, get a grip. You can change it!

I happen to like the old (hell, "ancient") Windows 2000 Classic look and feel. A strong, masculine user interface - solid colors, no transparent crap, robust and rectilinear. And no I'm not being sarcastic.

Well guess what? Win7 can be made to look and feel nearly identical to Classic Windows (a la 2000). Takes like four clicks.

Windows 7 is only gay if you want it to be.

14 posted on 11/11/2010 10:45:59 PM PST by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: Inyo-Mono

I love that part of the Sierras. I used to work at Sequoia/Kings Canyon every summer and I would go to the Eastern side every so often...absolutely beautiful, breath-taking country.

See ya’,

Ed


15 posted on 11/11/2010 11:21:03 PM PST by Sir_Ed
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To: denydenydeny; SeekAndFind

Besides any possible technical shortcomings in the product, perhaps part of the problem is HOW MANY darn cellphones are you expected to buy? It seems like a new “wonder phone” is being pushed into the market every month. Maybe people are just tired of changing their hardware so frequently.

>>> I don’t think Donovan’s “Season of the Witch” was a particularly intelligent theme song.

That tells me Microsoft’s $500 million ad campaign missed me completely. I’m sure I would have noticed such an old song being played. I haven’t seen this at all.


16 posted on 11/12/2010 1:04:44 AM PST by tlb
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To: MrEdd
It may make Windows ME look like an unbridled success.

Worst Christmas gift I ever received.

17 posted on 11/12/2010 2:11:19 AM PST by mainepatsfan
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To: dayglored

You are correct however I work in IT and install a copy about once a week.

And you have to look at their gay crap until it is finished loading. So I have to keep looking at it far too often.


18 posted on 11/12/2010 4:41:47 AM PST by fuzzybutt (Democrat Lawyers are the root of all evil.)
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To: counterpunch

I agree on the both points. The decision to market the Windows Phone as the phone you use less so you can get back to life seems idiotic. If I want to get back to life I’ll get rid of my (Android) phone entirely.

I also agree that the ad campaign has utterly failed to point out whatever advantages Windows might have over IOS or Android.

IMHO, they should have done more to market the actual phones (which seem to have solid, if not groundbreaking specs). While the OS is one factor in phone choice, I think most consumers choose phones, not operating systems.

They should have launched on handsets that were a generation ahead, and promoted how functional and cool those phones were. Then, consumers would associate WindowsPhone with those great devices.


19 posted on 11/12/2010 4:55:44 AM PST by Above My Pay Grade
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To: SeekAndFind

Last night I was watching an episode of NCIS on the DVR. Someone, can’t recall who, pulled out a W7 phone. First one I’ve seen outside of the commercials.

I’m sure a good portion of their ad budget is going to “product placement” in shows.

Kinda funny that they chose that show. Abby’s been using an iPad, and McGeek has used an iPhone for years.


20 posted on 11/12/2010 5:10:00 AM PST by AFreeBird
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