Steve Ballmer to Pay $230.00 Per Phone to Beat Google

[gadgetrants]

Am I the only one not getting that this "rivals $199 Android phones"? Maybe Android phones from 6-12 months ago, that now sell for like $50 (or for less on an Amazzon or Wirefly deal).

I'm reading your comment as a response to my point about Microsoft phones "rivaling" Android phones -- my apologies if I misunderstood. Anyway, I'm pretty sure we all agree the Nokia hardware we're looking at today is less than underwhelming. My comment more or less was "IF THEY can manufacture phones that ARE AS GOOD AS TODAY'S $200 (at release) phones, and HEAVILY SUBSIDIZE the cost, they will get their foot in the door." I'm betting against their long-term success but not against the initial step succeeding.

I kind of think they will fail just as bad as they did in the phone market before, but that's just my opinion. We'll see I guess

OK, now let me burn the candle from the other end! Even though I'm pessimistic about Win7/Win8 for phones gaining a long-term foothold, there is one issue we've overlooked: phone/tablet/PC integration. Again, my expectations are low, but Microsoft has a very serious chance to wow us here, IF they can develop a platform that integrates multiple devices (a) as cleanly as Apple does, but (b) WITHOUT the Apple constraints and limitations (e.g., enslavement to iTunes). I'm pretty open-minding about that -- if they do a good job, a lot of people will take Windows more seriously.

But you're right -- they've boffed their phone efforts badly so far.

-Matt

[gadgetrants]

Reading these forums make me chuckle

I promise, here are the three reasons people choose a phone (I've sold aplently in my life...)

1) It's cheap/free
2) It's pretty
3) My friend/family member has it

Do guys actually say "Ooooh, it's PRETTY!" or is that more a chick thing? I think your list is spot-on, but it may be a little tilted toward the lady-folk. (And I did say "a little"!)

EDIT: In hindsight, your comment is pretty thought-provoking. I wonder how you'd account for the success of the first Droid? On a related note, I was asking my son about his favorite PC games last night (e.g., Battlefield, Call of Duty, Counter Strike, etc.) and he kept emphasizing that marketing dollars and advertising highly correlate with success (which I guess feeds into your #3). Is that how the D1 made it so big?

-Matt

[scott craft]

Right now android owns the free/cheap market. With lower priced Windows phones coming out and the good chance Verizon and AT&T will have the iPhone 4 nearly free after the next iPhone release, that will probably change. For myself I plan on getting a Nokia Windows phone the minute Verizon releases one.
Sent from my Windows7 Phone using Board Express

[ConqSoft]

Yep, I definitely plan to add a new Windows phone to my collection once Verizon gets one. I like keeping up with all of the big three.