WTH Sprint?

[Robfactory]

Ok so as of late Sprint has been coming out with some good Phones (Pre, Hero, Moment) and really good pricing plans, not to mention I keep on hearing about positive experiences from customers when it comes to CS. However, how come Sprint isn't doing more to advertise the HTC Hero?
Have you guys seen any commercials for it?
I haven't.
This phone has the potential to blow away the Pre(sales), but it seems Sprint has taken a backseat and let word of mouth do the work.

 

[ChrisPlague]

Ok so as of late Sprint has been coming out with some good Phones (Pre, Hero, Moment) and really good pricing plans, not to mention I keep on hearing about positive experiences from customers when it comes to CS. However, how come Sprint isn't doing more to advertise the HTC Hero?
Have you guys seen any commercials for it?
I haven't.
This phone has the potential to blow away the Pre(sales), but it seems Sprint has taken a backseat and let word of mouth do the work.

i would assume as of now they probably want to make sure they have a hefty supply of the phone before they advertise because what good is advertising if you dont have a good amount in stores to sell?

 

[aznsmith]

i would assume as of now they probably want to make sure they have a hefty supply of the phone before they advertise because what good is advertising if you dont have a good amount in stores to sell?

That's probably correct. When I got my Hero, bestbuy only had 2 left, so I asked them about how many they sold and their reply was around 20, which is rather low.

 

[Turk 182]

First post for me! Woooooooo.

Check today's best Buy insert.

 

[Robfactory]

Any type of publicity is good publicity. By not having enough to supply they get on the news and blogs.
And could even get the attention of someone who isn't that tech inclined but sees this is the item to get.

 

[ChrisPlague]

Any type of publicity is good publicity. By not having enough to supply they get on the news and blogs.
And could even get the attention of someone who isn't that tech inclined but sees this is the item to get.

but why spend the money on the advertising if they dont have it in the store, the customers will move on to another device which will result in money spent

 

[Robfactory]

You got to remember, not all areas are going to sell out. When people hear that they ran out you will create a need. People will think it's a hot item and therefore people will go ahead and want one. it's the way things work. Look at the xbox, iphone, ps2 & Ps3, and wii debuts. They didn't have enough on, but that didn't stop people from buying it. It became the "hot" item.

 

[ChrisPlague]

You got to remember, not all areas are going to sell out. When people hear that they ran out you will create a need. People will think it's a hot item and therefore people will go ahead and want one. it's the way things work. Look at the xbox, iphone, ps2 & Ps3, and wii debuts. They didn't have enough on, but that didn't stop people from buying it. It became the "hot" item.

Sprint doesnt make the phone nor do they g the phone for a cheap price... keep in mind sprint is still turning around from the hole Gary Forsee put them in. Theyre still paying off their debt so they cant have a massive supply of these phones on hand and thye obviously dont want to overbuy the handsets just in case it doesnt take off as much as they would anticipate

 

[apollomaker]

Howdy All --- well, just a guess, since I just purchased my Hero along with the mandatory plan (here) for the all-digital service + 2 year renewal.

I looked at other systems and what they offered, but I was looking for a full-featured Android phone specifically since I am interested in tinkering with Anderoid software coding.

The store I bought at had plenty of stock, but I live near the SF Bay Area which is very cell-phone-service intense. I think too, with the deteriorating economy and political situation, people here are pulling in their purse strings a bit too (to say the least) -- so I think that is having an effect on what both companies (like Sprint) and buyers are doing.

Anyway, just a comment. Sprint here is selling Heros. And it is always fun to watch a new, emerging system like Android come on board ---- it sure has the boys up at MS worried a bit about Win Mobile.

Looking forward to the forum -- glad to be on board.

Bob ---

 

[Deleted User]

Howdy All --- well, just a guess, since I just purchased my Hero along with the mandatory plan (here) for the all-digital service + 2 year renewal.

I looked at other systems and what they offered, but I was looking for a full-featured Android phone specifically since I am interested in tinkering with Anderoid software coding.

The store I bought at had plenty of stock, but I live near the SF Bay Area which is very cell-phone-service intense. I think too, with the deteriorating economy and political situation, people here are pulling in their purse strings a bit too (to say the least) -- so I think that is having an effect on what both companies (like Sprint) and buyers are doing.

Anyway, just a comment. Sprint here is selling Heros. And it is always fun to watch a new, emerging system like Android come on board ---- it sure has the boys up at MS worried a bit about Win Mobile.

Looking forward to the forum -- glad to be on board.

Bob ---

Hi Bob and welcome! Last I heard the WinMo guys weren't too afraid of Android, thinking that they could lean on WinMo 6.5 to combat Android while WinMo 7 would tackle the iPhone... oh the humour!

 

[apollomaker]

Hi Bob and welcome! Last I heard the WinMo guys weren't too afraid of Android, thinking that they could lean on WinMo 6.5 to combat Android while WinMo 7 would tackle the iPhone... oh the humour!

Hi There Gremlyn -- commentary from the WinMo gang (and Balmer himself) can be entertaining -- remember, these are the guys that thought Vista was a good idea. I still tinker with my older PDAs which run WinMo. I even tried some tweaked versions of WinMo 6.5 and did not even like the interface and went back to 6.1. Simply was not impressed. My guess is that MS will underestimated the versatility of Android (Linux + Java) and the fact that the "open software forum" will attract much third party creativity.

Time will tell. There are many resourceful companies watching Android right now and it could really blow wide open downstream. What I have seen in the short time I have had it, says that much can be done with it.

Thanks for the response -- Regards

 

[Robfactory]

i heard Ballmer said they kinda dropped the ball on 6.5 but that 7 will be the sh!t

 

[maddmatt02]

You got to remember, not all areas are going to sell out. When people hear that they ran out you will create a need. People will think it's a hot item and therefore people will go ahead and want one. it's the way things work. Look at the xbox, iphone, ps2 & Ps3, and wii debuts. They didn't have enough on, but that didn't stop people from buying it. It became the "hot" item.

thats true to some extent, but if you go to buy a PS3, and they are sold out, what are your options? buy a 360 instead.

go to buy a hero and its sold out, what are your options?

you could pick a different carrier and get a G1, mytouch3g, droid, droid eris, etc.. if you just have to have android, or get a pre, or a BB, or.....

you have TONS of alternate options when it comes to phones.

 

[Robfactory]

People will wait.
If it's just a matter of 2 wks or something like that. How many people bought a 360 instead of a PS3?
The same with the Hero. What other Android phone had the specs? Not the mytouch. Also, how mny android based phone came out 2 wks prior or 2 wks after?

 

[maddmatt02]

well, I wasnt saying people bought the 360 instead, got a PS3 here. not a launch though, but I remember it being more than 2 weeks.

and I know the heros been out and the other phones arent. but if people can wait they might wait for the droid or something, and if they cant wait, they also wont wait for the hero and they will buy something else.

 

[IOWA]

Hi Bob and welcome! Last I heard the WinMo guys weren't too afraid of Android, thinking that they could lean on WinMo 6.5 to combat Android while WinMo 7 would tackle the iPhone... oh the humour!

WinMo still out-performs Android when it comes to functionality, and apps/programs. Fanboys are funny. The only reason I went with android is the HTC WinMo devices had an unjustifiable cost for something I am only keeping for a year or less. WinMo 7 IS going to turn heads, the developers at microsoft certainly can pull it off. Yeah they struggled a bit, but look what they did with the Zune. And look how far the xbox has come. And local syncing is an invaluable tool, something I was quite surprised the android system doesn't do. And WinMo DOES run Java. Both systems have their ups and downs, and WinMos main downfall is its out-dated UI. Windows Mobile 7 is going to correct that. Also with WinMo you can store and INSTALL apps to the SD card, and many more feature people with Android are pining for.

 

[MauiDude]

Um, Windows Mobile?? Sorry Nope. Future EPIC fail about to hit the fan there.

 

[IOWA]

Um, Windows Mobile?? Sorry Nope. Future EPIC fail about to hit the fan there.

Have you even had a WinMo phone? The closed mindedness of some people baffles me. Really. How can you POSSIBLY judge a product that hasnt come out yet? You got to test it before everyone else? I think not. Look at when XBOX came out, it was awkward to play, and not very many good games. But look how it came around. So I ask you, how do you know? Are you psychic? No. You don't know. Stop passing judgement on things you don't know, or don't understand. It seems to me you only know what media tech outlets tell you to think.

 

[MauiDude]

Hahaha, YES! I am writing this with a Touch Pro right now! I had the 6700, mogul and now this TP. Nope, gave MS a chance as soon as I can I'm goin Android! Bye!

 

[IOWA]

Coming from WinMo myself there is ALOT that I miss from WinMo, but I am also enjoying the android experience. There are simple features missing from Android, like separating mms/sms/email notification sounds, and easy copy and paste. And WinMo 6.5 looks very, very nice.

 

[MauiDude]

Yeah, I guess it all comes down to usage and personal preferences. I have yet to own an Android device so actually don't really really know if it suits me. But what I know so far looks great.

 

[numus]

No advertisement for the hero?!?
I see ads for hte hero all the time.. it is the moment that has had absolutely 0 advertisements.. They dont even have it on their premier phones on the website until like page 3 or so.. During the holdiay revamp of the site, the top 3 where the hero, tour and pre.. moment was the last one on the list.. kinda like a "cant find anything better so we will just throw the moment in last" eventho it is the superior of the android phones...

 

[toomuchgame441]

They did kind of lag on the advertising for the hero for a while. But they have a good number of commercials for it now. I like how they always put the Hero in the middle at the end of the commercials, lol. They know its the best...

 

[Robfactory]

numus: Please take account on when I posted this and when you are responding. Gracias!
I wrote a piece for the main site about the tele companies making "A" phone the face of the company (T-Mo = myTouch, AT&T =iPhone, V = Droid, Sprint = Pre) and how the Pre has failed to generate buzz based on its build quality.
Sprint pent up all of its Pennies on the Pre and it backfired.