Microsoft is at great risk of being taken out by the next generation of users if it doesn’t [...]]]>

Google has announced that it will be porting it’s Google Doc’s platform to the iPad.   Google has yet to go head to head with the Microsoft Office suite – but it’s begun to nibble at it’s target.

Microsoft is at great risk of being taken out by the next generation of users if it doesn’t learn to adapt to the new competitive field quickly.   Apple has wisely learned that a $ 9.99 price point for it’s version of Word (Pages) is what customers are willing to pay.

The risk to Microsoft is that Google will take over the University/Student/Low tech audience.  If Microsoft hopes to remain relevant in the portable market it needs to get a free version of Word (or next to free) version out into the market ASAP.

Google is following the brilliant approach of Apple – don’t compete with Microsoft head-on.  Attack the fringe.

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A bit of background – in June Rogers announced that it would be providing customers with the ability to upgrade to the iPhone 4.  It was around the same time that Apple formally acknowledged issues with their new devices th

Rogers iPhone 4 Email from June 2010. [...]]]> How not to run a marketing campaign courtesy of Rogers.

A bit of background – in June Rogers announced that it would be providing customers with the ability to upgrade to the iPhone 4.  It was around the same time that Apple formally acknowledged issues with their new devices th

Rogers iPhone 4 Email from June 2010. The last email I have received from Rogers regarding the iPhone 4. Why so silent?

at under certain circumstances could result in dropped calls.  In the process, the supply of iPhones all but dried up as Apple worked on a fix.  As of the time of this writing, inventory in Canada is still in low supply.

As a current Rogers customer I was invited (well after visiting their website and providing my email address) to be informed of the upcoming release.   The last email I have ever received is the one shown here.  And NOTHING, not a word since.  In the meantime, the iPhone has been released to the public.  And still nothing from Rogers – no front of the line privileges, no phones set aside for me.  Instead I had to go and seek out the iPhone myself – of course they were sold out everywhere.

Finally in Mid-August by chance I stumbled upon a Rogers store that had 5 left in stock.  I got in line – and was customer number 5.  As the iPhones were issued – I got excited – here we go.  But when the line got to customer number 3 – that person decided to take two phones!   Thus denying me a phone.

Since then I’ve gone into Rogers stores that have told me they’ve never seen an iPhone 4, and the regular Rogers store has a sign buried inside the store that tells customers that they are currently out of stock of the devices.  But a clerk at this one location told me to keep coming in on Monday’s and Friday’s as they are the days that the store receives new shipments.

In the weeks since, I’ve continued my degrading visits into the stores to get my phone – of course each time leaving more annoyed and hater of the Rogers brand.

So what’s gone wrong?

Rogers should know better.  When the iPhone 3 and 3G were released – it was a highly sought out device – so there is NO EXCUSE for Rogers to not be prepared for high demand and have a plan in place.

What would I have done?

Let’s face it, once you’re locked into a Phone company, they own you.  Fine, I get it.  The money is in keeping customer and more importantly expanding their customer base.   With the launch of iPhone 4 Rogers now had to compete with Bell and Telus – as these companies now were able to sell the devices.

1.  Keep your customers updated.  Customers understand that problems can arise – are are forgiving.  So why on earth hasn’t Rogers sent out emails (to those who’ve opted in) informing them of the problems Rogers is having securing phones?  Silence is no answer, no excuse.

2. Incentivize Waiting. Every single new iPhone 4 should be going to new customers.  Those who already have an iPhone and Rogers customers should be at the bottom of the list.   Rogers should provide a good incentive for my patience.  Say 3 months free at the end of a 3 year contract.   Reason at the end of the contract is double fold – if I leave Rogers early they won’t lose out because of the offer also in year 3, I’ll have forgotten about this offer and it will be a nice feel good bonus at a time that I may consider moving to the competition.   This makes their current customers happy with the delay and frees up badly needed inventory to new customers.

3. Don’t play games with your customers.   A Rogers store rep admitted to me today that they aren’t allowed to display in the window signs stating that they’re out of stock of iPhones.  So they make their customers enter the store each and every time they’re curious about more iPhones being available.  Their logic is that by having me come in their sales clerks can sell me another device – good luck.   Just be straight up – find a real solution.  Text me when a phone is ready, send me an email, create a website showing where they’re in stock.

Really Rogers, you can do better.   Making your customers beg for a phone is a joke.  Even worse when you leave your customers in the dark.

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As I’ve said before 2010 is the year of the tablet, but we need to keep in mind – it’s not [...]]]>

So now Nokia is the latest participant in the tablet race.  And who cares?  Maybe the same crowd that thinks there’s still hope for Palm (See my note at the end of this article)?

As I’ve said before 2010 is the year of the tablet, but we need to keep in mind – it’s not about the hardware, but it’s all about the content.  As I see it the only worthy opponent for Apple’s market share is the Google Android, and it comes back to the applications.  And the HP Slate is bound to fail as it will be built on the cumbersome Windows 7 Mobile protocol, great for Netbooks – but not a thumb friendly OS.

The Tablet Market was open to anyone for the past several years, so this 12th hour attempt to get into a market because they need to compete with Apple is doomed to fail.

People seem to forget that the iPad isn’t some whim, rather it’s based on over a decade (plus) of software design, testing and real-world use centered around it’s iPod/iPhone platform.   Early versions of both the iPhone and iPod did have their bugs and flaws.

But at the heart of why Apple will win is content.  Every new iPhone/iTouch/iTunes app, song or video that a person buys is an additional strike against all other competitors.   Windows success as a computing platform can be traced back to being first to market.  As consumers purchased more and more Windows based products, the more entrenched the operating system became.

(This was wrote in April – before Palm was purchased by HP)

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It’s in [...]]]>

With the release of iPad so should come with MobileMe tossed in for free.  Take a page from Google and see the value not in the user fee’s but rather the targeting advertising.  Maybe offer a package of reduced services, and for those who want more features – pay a little bit more.

It’s in Apple’s business interest to keep users locked to the Apple platform, and what better way than to control the contacts and photos of the customer?

The risk to Apple is that customers switch to Google for their sync and cloud solutions (which I currently utilize- free is a good price point to me).

If Apple can make Cloud computing as seamless as they make their hardware and software – they will grow their market for even more hardware devices over time.  Otherwise they may have to enter the ring with Google to keep customers with their platform – and nobody wants to take on Google.

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Microsoft has decided to take their not so secret anti-Apple stance one step further by deciding to opening a series of retail outlets that directly compete with the now iconic and very popular Apple stores.  Microsoft has escalated this ‘threat’ to new levels by publicly stating that they will [...]]]>

Microsoft's Retail Experience Centre in Redmond Washington

Microsoft has decided to take their not so secret anti-Apple stance one step further by deciding to opening a series of retail outlets that directly compete with the now iconic and very popular Apple stores.  Microsoft has escalated this ‘threat’ to new levels by publicly stating that they will open their outlets next to or near existing, well established Apple stores.

From a retailing standpoint, it makes sense to capitalize on your competition by feeding off of their audience.  But Microsoft might run into problems with the looming Google OS (Chrome), other retailers like BestBuy and of course their OEM’s like Dell and HP.

First – the retail outlets will surly emphasis 3rd party devices like HP laptops and the like, but Microsoft will be exposing these manufactures to closer scrutiny from consumers – putting their equipment in direct competition with Apple products.  But unlike Apple machines, HP, Dell, Gateway products are at the direct mercy of how well Microsoft develops it software and the operating systems features.  Head-to-Head comparisons of PC based products always results in higher grades going to Apple products.  I don’t know how manufacturers feel about being forced to compete with the crowd favorite, when all they can compete on is price and hardware design/features.

Prediction – Hardware companies tired of dealing with MS will be more open to adopting the Google Chrome OS

Second – Microsoft risks pissing off it’s major retailers – like Future Shop and Best Buy.  Do you think other retailers want to see the Microsoft Stores syphon off their hardware sales?  Do you think retailers want to loose sales of USB cables and power bars to Microsoft?  Do you think these retailers are going to push Microsoft products and related hardware in their stores?  My impression is this leaves a big opening for Google OS.  And ironically Microsoft could find it in the same boat that Apple toiled in for years, with the lack of major National retailers even wanting to carry their products.  Apple had to fight to get into Best Buy and other chains.  So Apple and Google can now go back to major chains and offer them incentives to push their products.  I think Google will have the best chance in forming a wedge and getting better access to consumers.  And all they have to do is point to the MS store down in the mall taking away their money.

Prediction – Retailers will push Google OS and Apple products

Apple Store Interior

Third and finally – Microsoft will become directly compared to Apple.  Microsoft due to the nature of their more open system risks putting this on display in a retail setting.  I can’t imagine how Microsoft hopes to show it’s as equally simplistic in a retail setting.  Photos of their prototype store show the more chaotic feel to their store.  The experience will be more along the lines of visiting the Sony Store – and we all know how Sony has lost it’s edge.  I really think a side by side comparison with Apple will be to Microsoft’s detriment.  Will Microsoft have a Genius Bar, where consumers can get their computers fixed – free under warranty?  I don’t think so.  The direct comparisons between companies will become very tangible.

Prediction – Microsoft’s retail outlets will grow into chaotic, bad experience outlets, with the feel of a Radio Shack – a whole lot of junk.

So Microsoft will have to put all it’s resources in ensuring that these outlets don’t become a nightmare.  If they don’t get it right – this will become a PR and Business disaster.