What has happened to Windows Phone 7?

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nitrotech

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#72412 25-Nov-2010 21:46

So we had the release of Windows Phone 7 which was restricted to Vodafone - we are a month down the track and still no sign of any new devices or networks, even vodafone only stock the device in limited stores.

Doesn't matter how good the phone is if you can't get your hands on it.

Has Microsoft stuffed up their re-entry into the smartphone world?

freitasm

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#409665 25-Nov-2010 22:18

nitrotech: So we had the release of Windows Phone 7 which was restricted to Vodafone - we are a month down the track and still no sign of any new devices or networks, even vodafone only stock the device in limited stores.

Blame the OEM not having enough stock... I am told both Australia and New Zealand suffered with HTC making availalble a lot less handsets than originally ordered/asked for.

nitrotech: Doesn't matter how good the phone is if you can't get your hands on it.

Are people trying and going for something else? Do we have any idea of how is it going?

nitrotech: Has Microsoft stuffed up their re-entry into the smartphone world?

Probably not. Blame the OEMs, again.

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nitrotech

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#409674 25-Nov-2010 22:37

freitasm:

Blame the OEM not having enough stock... I am told both Australia and New Zealand suffered with HTC making availalble a lot less handsets than originally ordered/asked for.

Yes I understand that but only one of three NZ telcos planned to have it at launch, Surely MS should have been creating a relationship with the telco's to push this thing - can't just rely on the OEM to do all the work.

Are people trying and going for something else? Do we have any idea of how is it going?

Point is that I can't walk into a store anywhere in town and get a win 7 phone, but could get an iphone or android at multiple stores.

Probably not. Blame the OEMs, again.

You really only get one chance to launch - I think it's opportunity lost

freitasm

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#409681 25-Nov-2010 22:55

Yes, lost...

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paulspain

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#409687 25-Nov-2010 23:32

I wouldn't be inclined to write off Windows Phone 7 at all. Android took some time to build up momentum too. There will be a number of handsets available in NZ within the next few months. It seems those who have one are very happy - and with 15,000+ developers paid up to submit applications to the marketplace the app list will continue to grow at a solid pace. My business partner was one of many diehard Blackberry fans until he tried Windows Phone 7 handset - now he's totally sold on it.

Remember that Windows based phones have always delivered the most robust implementations of Exchange ActiveSync email sychronisation. Apple's implementation comes close but still seems to suffer numerous bugs (just check out Apple's forums). The Android implementation seems to be verging on a joke in terms of quality and reliability. Now consider that the large majority of businesses in NZ and globally run Exchange Server - having a decent implementation of Exchange ActiveSync actually means a lot. There are a few tweaks that Microsoft can do to ActiveSync on WP7 to make it even more competitive but I fully expect to see those delivered in an update (which it seems should come soon and often).

As more WP7 phones come to market (and prices drift downwards) gamers will start realising there is a great collection of Xbox Live games available on a phone. Xbox Live on it's own is likely to attract an additional audience. Right now though it seems (from visiting Xbox retailers in NZ) that virtually nobody in the retail segment realises that the PSP has some competition...

Currently I am using the HTC Trophy and it's a great handset. It's a pity it's taking so long for Telecom NZ to get handsets into stock (especially the HTC HD 7).

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technicaljoe

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#409700 26-Nov-2010 00:54

Here's my 2 cents...

HTC Magic launch last year was interesting (remember their launch party?)
http://www.ben.geek.nz/2009/06/vodafone-htc-magic-launch-party/

The stock was limited, not all stores have it or care about it. iPhone was the rage at the time.

A year later, a lot of consumer-grade Android devices are on the market, but selection is still quite limited. Still can't easily source a top of the line device.

With iPhone, well, the choice has always been limited...

But this is typical with New Zealand, when was the last time you had a good selection of things at retail store?

I visited a number of Vodafone stores on Windows Phone 7 launch day, the inconsistent training and subjective opinions were rampant. Some tell customers Windows Phone 7 is a failure outright, some call it a toy phone (and iPhone isn't a toy phone?), some didn't know when it's coming out, and some didn't even know what it is. Is this Microsoft's fault? Could done better with training, for sure. But it's like any retail stores, when was the last time you had a meaningful conversation or assistance from a salesperson?

I love my Windows Phone 7, and I am also an active Android phone user. I think this would be a never-ending race to one-up one another. Just look at Nokia and RIM, who'd thought the table would turn on them like that...