Fool me once...
I want sooooo bad to dump a boat load of money on an off contract Lumia 920 or 1020. As I've said before, I'm not a huge apps person, but I do love taking pictures with my phone and the 920 is good with the 1020 being amazing. The 920 has come down in price on Expansys's Canadian page to under $400, but the 1020 is still roughly a whopping $700. The 920 is "affordable", if not supremely so. But I just can't do it.
You see, I bought a Lumia 800 probably 2 months before Microsoft FINALLY announced that no, Windows Phone 7 devices would not in fact be upgradeable to Windows Phone 8, which came not long after the devices were launched. Despite the fact that the launch of these phones and the launch of the OS was less than a year apart. In other words, MUCH less than a years notice was given about the upgrade-ability of the handsets coming on the market AND that notice was held until AFTER the launch of those products. I have little qualms with calling that dirty and underhanded.
This silence has become Microsoft's hallmark, and I think also a huge part of the perception problem. When Nokia was asked if their Windows Phone 8 devices would receive the next OS update, Nokia originally responded that MS had already confirmed that they switched to the Windows 8 core to ensure that the devices could receive the next OS update. They later modified their statement to say only that MS had confirmed that the OS was designed to receive updates.
Fishy.
Not Nokia's fault. Quite likely someone at MS had prodded Nokia to adjust their statement. But why bother? Either because they hadn't yet decided whether or not to support legacy hardware, or because they had decided already and the truth contrasts with Nokia's statement. Given that 8.1 doesn't seem to be on the way any time soon, I would wager the former. If Nokia's assessment was indeed accurate there would be no need/reason for Microsoft to prod them to stick exactly to the wording in their own press.
This is another example of where Microsoft is following the wrong model of course. I agree in secrecy. But only in certain areas. Your fan base should be made aware, as soon as decisions are made, about how you plan on supporting future devices. I think you will gain/retain more fans than you do by luring them in and screwing them over. Many people swore to leave the platform after the WP8 outrage. And given that WP is in many ways still behind Android and iOS I wouldn't be surprised if they actually followed through. They simply don't have the clout to abuse their user base this way.
Also, you should not be tight-lipped about less than revolutionary features. This is another area I stand utterly baffled on. For the most part Microsoft is reacting to consumer responses on what is needed in their product with each new release. Which means most features aren't anything the competition could "steal", because they things Microsoft is "stealing" from them. Ergo there is no value in people knowing you plan to, or have completed code on such a feature. In fact, knowing a desired feature is coming to the platform in advance might sway people who are on the fence or buy time from people planning on switching.
So, if they are in fact adding, say, a notification centre (just as an example) in WP8.1 why keep it a secret? Apple and Google aren't going to steal the idea from you. They already have their own implementation. And the longer you don't have one and people aren't aware that you are even working on one the more people that find that to be an important feature will switch to, or stay with your competition.
If we're talking about a revolutionary, actually new feature. Then keeping it secret can have strategic value. But, I think that only applies to those most successful in a given field. If you're at the top of the market and you advertise a new feature early you may find your competition hot on your heels, or even see them releasing their version of it first. But, since Microsoft is the underdog in the phone arena, I'd actually expect Apple and Google to ignore any such idea. Stealing the idea requires effort, and any idea which is new, it is also unproven in the market. Mocking it publicly can end up being free PR for your competition and can blow up in your face. Ignoring it costs nothing up front and can be more effective than an ad campaign.
All the more reason to take the gamble and publicize your plans when you're the long shot. Gives more time to drum up support, and makes your competition look foolish if it succeeds. Microsoft gets basked daily for "missing" the tablet revolution, even though they had touch first devices on the market years ahead of Apple. And if an idea fails people simply forget about (ironically, like Microsoft's aforementioned foray into tablets and touch devices).
But, I've gotten far off track now. As per my title, I was fooled when I bought my Lumia 800. I don't plan on being fooled again. I don't think I'll be buying either myself or my wife a new phone until plans for 8.1 are public (or 9 if it seems to be just around the corner). I'm thinking I'll probably be waiting until WP9. At least immediately after a major revision MS has shown willingness to give at least 2 years of support to the original hardware and OS.
You see, I bought a Lumia 800 probably 2 months before Microsoft FINALLY announced that no, Windows Phone 7 devices would not in fact be upgradeable to Windows Phone 8, which came not long after the devices were launched. Despite the fact that the launch of these phones and the launch of the OS was less than a year apart. In other words, MUCH less than a years notice was given about the upgrade-ability of the handsets coming on the market AND that notice was held until AFTER the launch of those products. I have little qualms with calling that dirty and underhanded.
This silence has become Microsoft's hallmark, and I think also a huge part of the perception problem. When Nokia was asked if their Windows Phone 8 devices would receive the next OS update, Nokia originally responded that MS had already confirmed that they switched to the Windows 8 core to ensure that the devices could receive the next OS update. They later modified their statement to say only that MS had confirmed that the OS was designed to receive updates.
Fishy.
Not Nokia's fault. Quite likely someone at MS had prodded Nokia to adjust their statement. But why bother? Either because they hadn't yet decided whether or not to support legacy hardware, or because they had decided already and the truth contrasts with Nokia's statement. Given that 8.1 doesn't seem to be on the way any time soon, I would wager the former. If Nokia's assessment was indeed accurate there would be no need/reason for Microsoft to prod them to stick exactly to the wording in their own press.
This is another example of where Microsoft is following the wrong model of course. I agree in secrecy. But only in certain areas. Your fan base should be made aware, as soon as decisions are made, about how you plan on supporting future devices. I think you will gain/retain more fans than you do by luring them in and screwing them over. Many people swore to leave the platform after the WP8 outrage. And given that WP is in many ways still behind Android and iOS I wouldn't be surprised if they actually followed through. They simply don't have the clout to abuse their user base this way.
Also, you should not be tight-lipped about less than revolutionary features. This is another area I stand utterly baffled on. For the most part Microsoft is reacting to consumer responses on what is needed in their product with each new release. Which means most features aren't anything the competition could "steal", because they things Microsoft is "stealing" from them. Ergo there is no value in people knowing you plan to, or have completed code on such a feature. In fact, knowing a desired feature is coming to the platform in advance might sway people who are on the fence or buy time from people planning on switching.
So, if they are in fact adding, say, a notification centre (just as an example) in WP8.1 why keep it a secret? Apple and Google aren't going to steal the idea from you. They already have their own implementation. And the longer you don't have one and people aren't aware that you are even working on one the more people that find that to be an important feature will switch to, or stay with your competition.
If we're talking about a revolutionary, actually new feature. Then keeping it secret can have strategic value. But, I think that only applies to those most successful in a given field. If you're at the top of the market and you advertise a new feature early you may find your competition hot on your heels, or even see them releasing their version of it first. But, since Microsoft is the underdog in the phone arena, I'd actually expect Apple and Google to ignore any such idea. Stealing the idea requires effort, and any idea which is new, it is also unproven in the market. Mocking it publicly can end up being free PR for your competition and can blow up in your face. Ignoring it costs nothing up front and can be more effective than an ad campaign.
All the more reason to take the gamble and publicize your plans when you're the long shot. Gives more time to drum up support, and makes your competition look foolish if it succeeds. Microsoft gets basked daily for "missing" the tablet revolution, even though they had touch first devices on the market years ahead of Apple. And if an idea fails people simply forget about (ironically, like Microsoft's aforementioned foray into tablets and touch devices).
But, I've gotten far off track now. As per my title, I was fooled when I bought my Lumia 800. I don't plan on being fooled again. I don't think I'll be buying either myself or my wife a new phone until plans for 8.1 are public (or 9 if it seems to be just around the corner). I'm thinking I'll probably be waiting until WP9. At least immediately after a major revision MS has shown willingness to give at least 2 years of support to the original hardware and OS.
Comments
Post a Comment