You're the Windows Phone Marketing Director

[micrometers]

Looking at the xbox marketing efforts, yeah, maybe they should just buy out Chillingo or Rovio like they did with Bungie.

 

[shortylickens]

Couple ideas...

Drop "Windows" from the name... call it Microsoft Phone or Phone 7, Phone 8, etc.
Use more modern hardware... dual core processor and at least a GB of RAM.
Pay some big developers to port over popular apps that they make for iOS and Android.

As has already been pointed out NUMEROUS times, you dont need overpowered hardware for the OS. Thats one of its best selling points.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

As has already been pointed out NUMEROUS times, you dont need overpowered hardware for the OS. Thats one of its best selling points.

iOS doesn't need overpowered hardware either yet the 4S has a dual core Cortex A9 and a PowerVR SGX543MP2.

WP7's main selling point vs Android is it's smoother but ICS combined with Tegra 3 or Krait will completely eliminate that advantage. The newest Android phones have already neutralized WP7's battery life advantage.

If Microsoft wants to use low end hardware that's fine but the phones prices must reflect that. Right now a HTC Titan with a At&t contract costs more than a Galaxy S2 i777 despite having vastly inferior hardware.

 

[GTaudiophile]

GTAudiophile, I agree with everything but the focus groups on the design, they need to just copy what's working, and go with quality materials, minimal plastic, Gorilla Glass or a similar product, offer it in black and white.

Define working

Not everyone wants a G Nexus with a 4.5" screen. I don't want a tablet in my pocket.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Define working

Not everyone wants a G Nexus with a 4.5" screen. I don't want a tablet in my pocket.

Agreed, I've settled on a combo, iPhone and a 7" tablet.

4" seems reasonable, but given the popularity of larger screened phones, a range of screen sizes would be ideal, 4", 4.3-4.5".

I do like the GN look, but I'd beat Apple to the punch and make something like the wedge shaped iPhone prototype floated around last year, either burnished aluminum or with that nice rubber paint/coating.

And for god's sake, put a battery in it that's either replaceable or big enough to get me through a day.

 

[ITHURTSWHENIP]

In terms of features MS seem to be doing everything right with WP8 and supposedly they have secured the top 25 apps from both iOS and Android for this year

They just need to spend a lot more money marketing it. But i have the feeling that it will happen with the WP8/W8 launch

 

[ultimatebob]

They should use the same approach that they used to get market share for products like Bing, MSN, and Internet Explorer... bribe people to use them!

$100 mail in rebates for any new Windows phone with a 2 year contract should be good enough for starters. You're not going to poach a lot of iPhone users that way, but you're certainly get a few million people who were looking to get a $49 Android phone.

 

[Pretty Cool]

MS should more effort into the prepaid market, especially where those with a no byod policy. Users of those services usually have few choices. It would not be hard for any WP7 to look good against almost all of those low-end devices. Of course, MS phones would have to be priced right as well. This is where I would initially concentrate since there is some discontent there. Right now, MS has not created enough (actually any) dissatisfaction for high end Android or the Apple fanboi user. Thus, it would be a waste of resources right now to put too much effort into that until they can create at least some momentum.

 

[quest55720]

I think the new tango low end device can really fill the pre-paid void. You are right with how well WP runs on low specs they should be able to have great pre-paid devices.

 

[micrometers]

They should use the same approach that they used to get market share for products like Bing, MSN, and Internet Explorer... bribe people to use them!

$100 mail in rebates for any new Windows phone with a 2 year contract should be good enough for starters. You're not going to poach a lot of iPhone users that way, but you're certainly get a few million people who were looking to get a $49 Android phone.

A 2 yr contract typically runs to like 2k, no?

Basically, windows phone OS looks genuinely awesome and if only it had come out earlier it would be a great option, but it's just too damn late. People are becoming used to the iPhone interface like how people got used to the windows xp interface. And when the Mac went up against WinXP it only could get like 10% marketshare.

 

[TheStu]

A 2 yr contract typically runs to like 2k, no?

Basically, windows phone OS looks genuinely awesome and if only it had come out earlier it would be a great option, but it's just too damn late. People are becoming used to the iPhone interface like how people got used to the windows xp interface. And when the Mac went up against WinXP it only could get like 10% marketshare.

It isn't the same thing. You can get a PC (and have been able to for a while) for like $400. The cheapest Mac is the Mini which doesn't include a keyboard, mouse or monitor and costs $600. The cheapest laptop is $1000, and the cheapest full system is the iMac at $1200. And this price disparity has existed for a really long time. Forget about the specs and what you are getting for the money. At the end of the day you can get a windows box for 1/2 to 1/3rd the cost of an entry level mac. That along with subsidies to the various manufacturers, the fact that there were various manufacturers and any number of other factors contributed to the 90/10 market.

In the smartphone world, yes Android has more manufacturers, but the price advantage is gone. You can get an iPhone for free now, and they are making all the money (basically everywhere at this point it seems. It would surprise me to find out that Apple is making the majority of the profits for the... show industry too) so they can stay on top. People want their devices and they are priced to move. This is not the same situation. Heck, even though Apple only has 10% of the PC market doesn't mean anything now either. They are growing quarter over quarter and are making a huge cut of the profits.

 

[Jeff7181]

As has already been pointed out NUMEROUS times, you dont need overpowered hardware for the OS. Thats one of its best selling points.

A selling point? "The OS is so efficient, we're only giving you a single core processor." Yay. What about apps? Ever wonder if some apps don't exist on WP7 because the hardware isn't capable of providing a good experience? Nintendo got away with this with the Wii because they did something innovative with the remotes. There's nothing innovative about WP7, so what makes you think they can get away with skimping on hardware? Since when is "We're giving you last year's hardware" a selling point? WP7 marketshare is low because it offers nothing that you can't get from iOS or Android, but you get crappier hardware. Is it any wonder that nobody's lining up to buy a WP7 phone?

 

[akugami]

First off, the entire premise of your post is flawed.

iOS is not superior to Android, especially when you compare it to ICS.

Superior is subjective because it depends on the person. Let's take hardware out of the equation for this and just look purely at the OS's. For the overwhelming majority of users, iOS is superior. Why? Dead simple operation that protects the user from the user. For a phone, this is what most people need/want. iOS, for the most part, gets the job done with enough flexibility and power that they don't feel confined.

Now, for a small minority (for example, AT readers), Android is superior. They like to tweak things and mess with things. This can allow them to do far more with their Android devices than someone can with iOS with the understanding that some of these tweaks can screw up your Android device and cause you to lose a lot of time troubleshooting.

Each OS has their pros and cons. Each OS is "superior" in its own way. However, for Joe Average who makes up the overwhelming majority of consumers, iOS is better. iOS has a simpler learning curve. Not that Android is difficult but iOS simply provides a much smoother experience and learning curve if you have zero smartphone knowledge. iOS apps are much more scrutinized with less chance of malware. Along with a few other features/limitations that help protect the user from him or herself.


As for what one would do with WP7, the OS has already been rebooted between Windows Mobile and Windows Phone 7. MS now has a base to work off of and while dev support or consumer support isn't there yet, MS has a crap ton of money to throw at any problem.

1. MS has already been giving incentives to pull in developers. Continue those programs. They probably need to be tweaked to pull in higher profile developers.

2. MS needs to work with OEM's, especially Nokia, to push WP7. They need to come up with appealing designs that separate WP7 phones from Android phones. This is a combination of physical and software characteristics and features. Anther poster said the MS & Nokia alliance is a fail but I don't feel it has yet. Now, the honeymoon period is over. It takes time to shift gears but MS and Nokia doesn't have time. They need to get a unique and desirable phone out now.

3. Tight and smooth integration with Exchange servers to pull in corporate accounts.

4. Unique features. Pick something WP7 does better than the competition and emphasize it. Beef up all your weak points to cover your bases. Use those features to create new software (MS is primarily a developer) or proof of concept demos. Make me want to buy your phone cause it's that good.

WP7 is not bad...but at this point, there isn't much incentive for anyone to buy it over an Android or iOS phone. This needs to change if MS wants to be successful.

 

[ultimatebob]

A 2 yr contract typically runs to like 2k, no?

Basically, windows phone OS looks genuinely awesome and if only it had come out earlier it would be a great option, but it's just too damn late. People are becoming used to the iPhone interface like how people got used to the windows xp interface. And when the Mac went up against WinXP it only could get like 10% marketshare.

Many people are too gullible to think about the service contract as part of the price of the phone. They just want a cheap smart phone so they can surf the web and check their e-mail like their wealthier iPhone toting friends are doing.

Honestly, I think that people would think that they were getting a deal if they could get a $49 Windows mobile phone with a $100 mail in rebate if they sign up for the 2 year contract. I mean... hey! It's a "free" $50 that I can go shopping with a few weeks from now! Thanks, Microsoft!

 

[WelshBloke]

I think they will pick up quite a lot of user, particularly in the EU, with their Nokia phones.


*Wishes Nokia had gone with Android*

 

[vbuggy]

What I'd really like to see as another differentiator over Android - and yes, I know many people are going to say it's aping Apple - is PDMI as a mandated connector.

Ecosystem is also about hardware. You only need to look at the legions of iPhone peripherals for that. I'd really like to see viable dock-based stuff for WP.

 

[senseamp]

Release a ROM for rooted Android devices

 

[poofyhairguy]

If MS wants to get competitive, step one is acquire RIM and cannibalize their corporate stuff.

Forget competing with iPhones and Samsung for consumers, just make sure iOS doesn't become the standard in businesses.

 

[micrometers]

Release a ROM for rooted Android devices

There we go. Windows was dominant in large part due to piracy

 

[WelshBloke]

Release a ROM for rooted Android devices

It would be fantastic if we could pick our hardware then what OS we want to run on it.

 

[Renob]

i think the key for windows phone to take off is corporate users. Integration into the windows ecosphere at work, especially security and management by it and full featured exchange and office integration, would give them a niche that the other platforms aren't really focused on, i think.

All kinds of people at my work are issued both iphones and ipads, but we're a 100% windows shop and our product/service is all .net. If windows 8 delivers, and the windows phone division puts their focus in the right place, then in two year's time everybody at work will be walking around with windows phones and windows tablets.

bingo...

 

[LokutusofBorg]

Many people are too gullible to think about the service contract as part of the price of the phone. They just want a cheap smart phone so they can surf the web and check their e-mail like their wealthier iPhone toting friends are doing.

Honestly, I think that people would think that they were getting a deal if they could get a $49 Windows mobile phone with a $100 mail in rebate if they sign up for the 2 year contract. I mean... hey! It's a "free" $50 that I can go shopping with a few weeks from now! Thanks, Microsoft!

This doesn't make sense at all... unless you're buying a phone off-contract, then the price you pay for the contract over time has nothing to do with it. You have to get the contract no matter what.

If I have the choice between a $200 phone and a $50 phone (or free, or even money back as your example says) but both phones require me to have a $30 data package for 2 years, then it absolutely is valid to consider that $150, $200, or $250 difference there. That's real money that you can spend on something else. You aren't going to have to pay *more* for your contract if you get a cheaper phone.

 

[TheStu]

This doesn't make sense at all... unless you're buying a phone off-contract, then the price you pay for the contract over time has nothing to do with it. You have to get the contract no matter what.

If I have the choice between a $200 phone and a $50 phone (or free, or even money back as your example says) but both phones require me to have a $30 data package for 2 years, then it absolutely is valid to consider that $150, $200, or $250 difference there. That's real money that you can spend on something else. You aren't going to have to pay *more* for your contract if you get a cheaper phone.

I think his point is more that there is a difference between a $50 feature phone and a $50 smartphone in that the smartphone requires a data plan.

 

[jiffylube1024]

In order to make Windows Phone appealing, a couple ideas would be:

1. Better commercials that are clever but primarily show you the functionality of the phone, and what it does better than the competition.

2. Design a killer phone. The current Windows 7 phones are cute. Whoopedy doo. They need a phone that looks and feels cutting edge. By going with Nokia they've basically resigned themself to going after the former flip phone market. Someting like the new Motorola Razr for the Windows Phone would give it more appeal.

------

Nonetheless, I feel that Windows Phone 7 is dead in the water, and they better start putting their eggs in the Windows Phone 8 basket in a hurry. Even more important than OS quality now is Apps - quality and quantity. Windows Phone 7 has already lost the app war with iOS and Android.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

I think his point is more that there is a difference between a $50 feature phone and a $50 smartphone in that the smartphone requires a data plan.

No, both he and karmy are talking about Windows phones compared to Android phones. I can't see anybody in this thread talking about feature phones...