Microsoft has unveiled their new Smartphone operating system, Windows Phone 7. So far, I haven’t seen much in the way of details, but if their advertising campaign is any indication, they’re going to focus on functionality over things like thousands of apps.
Microsoft’s ad campaign is clever, funny, and remarkably true to life.
It shows us using smartphones in an absurd, yet truthful way. If Microsoft gets their way, we’ll realize that we’re far too consumed by our phones… to the point where we are living our lives inside the phones instead of living our lives.
Microsoft Misses the Point
A young woman walks by our house daily with her dog (the park is a block away). She’s on her phone. Always. Every single time.
Is this obsessive use of a phone?
Last year Linda and I took a trip to Disneyland – on our own and without any kids in tow. We had a blast, but I had to wonder when the young woman in front of us on Splash Mountain was texting at the start of the ride. Sure enough, her phone got drenched, and she was surprised.
Is this obsessive use of texting?
And me… Well, I finally got my iPhone a few months ago. I love it. When I’m not working, riding my bike, paddling in the dragon boat, watching movies, or generally living my life, I’m playing with my phone.
I have the MLB (Major League Baseball) app so that I can watch Giants games. I let ESPN alert me when the Ducks or Gators score in their football games. And, I’ve got apps for all the major websites I visit routinely, like Mashable and Marketingprofs.
Am I obsessive?
The point Microsoft is trying to make is that “Our phone is more functional than the others.” They claim in other ads that “Ours is not another knockoff. It’s different.”
So what?
If we wanted functional, we’d go back to the old cell phones. That’s not what we want, and it’s not why the iPhone still dominates the market. I’ve talked to dozens of people who own other phones only because they hate AT&T. With Apple’s announcement that they’re building phones for Verizon, my guess is that we’ll see a huge increase in iPhone sales… just about the same time that Microsoft’s Mobile 7 becomes widely available.
Once again, Microsoft engineers think that they’ll dominate the market with functionality. My prediction is that once again they’ll be wrong. Sure, they’ll sell quite a few. They’re a big company with a lot of corporate followers. The integration with Office will help significantly as well.
Here’s what I think will happen:
Microsoft will reduce Google’s share of the mobile market, but they won’t touch Apple. Apple’s target market doesn’t want functionality. They want “cool.” While iPhone users definitely want their smartphones to do the job, they’ll stick with Apple for the cool factor.
My first glimpse of the Mobile 7 by Microsoft is that it’s trying too hard to be different without thinking about why. The user interface looks a bit clumsy, in spite of the fact that they are trying to make it simple.
I’ll have to wait until I see one for real to pass final judgment. In the meantime, enjoy Microsoft’s commercials. They’re pretty fun.
A Phone to Save Us From Our Phones? Really…
A Few Thoughts About Microsoft’s Mobile 7 Ads
Microsoft’s ad campaign is clever, funny, and remarkably true to life.
It shows us using smartphones in an absurd, yet truthful way. If Microsoft gets their way, we’ll realize that we’re far too consumed by our phones… to the point where we are living our lives inside the phones instead of living our lives.
Microsoft Misses the Point
A young woman walks by our house daily with her dog (the park is a block away). She’s on her phone. Always. Every single time.
Is this obsessive use of a phone?
Last year Linda and I took a trip to Disneyland – on our own and without any kids in tow. We had a blast, but I had to wonder when the young woman in front of us on Splash Mountain was texting at the start of the ride. Sure enough, her phone got drenched, and she was surprised.
Is this obsessive use of texting?
And me… Well, I finally got my iPhone a few months ago. I love it. When I’m not working, riding my bike, paddling in the dragon boat, watching movies, or generally living my life, I’m playing with my phone.
I have the MLB (Major League Baseball) app so that I can watch Giants games. I let ESPN alert me when the Ducks or Gators score in their football games. And, I’ve got apps for all the major websites I visit routinely, like Mashable and Marketingprofs.
Am I obsessive?
The point Microsoft is trying to make is that “Our phone is more functional than the others.” They claim in other ads that “Ours is not another knockoff. It’s different.”
So what?
If we wanted functional, we’d go back to the old cell phones. That’s not what we want, and it’s not why the iPhone still dominates the market. I’ve talked to dozens of people who own other phones only because they hate AT&T. With Apple’s announcement that they’re building phones for Verizon, my guess is that we’ll see a huge increase in iPhone sales… just about the same time that Microsoft’s Mobile 7 becomes widely available.
Once again, Microsoft engineers think that they’ll dominate the market with functionality. My prediction is that once again they’ll be wrong. Sure, they’ll sell quite a few. They’re a big company with a lot of corporate followers. The integration with Office will help significantly as well.
Here’s what I think will happen:
Microsoft will reduce Google’s share of the mobile market, but they won’t touch Apple. Apple’s target market doesn’t want functionality. They want “cool.” While iPhone users definitely want their smartphones to do the job, they’ll stick with Apple for the cool factor.
My first glimpse of the Mobile 7 by Microsoft is that it’s trying too hard to be different without thinking about why. The user interface looks a bit clumsy, in spite of the fact that they are trying to make it simple.
I’ll have to wait until I see one for real to pass final judgment. In the meantime, enjoy Microsoft’s commercials. They’re pretty fun.