Slowest phone launch in awhile?

[sushiglobster]

Good grief finally someone comes out and says it here: Is it me or do Google and Samsung really suck at product launches?

There are some pretty good points made in the above link. I do find it quite amateurish in the way that Google (an ad agency of all things) is handling and marketing this device.

I've been thinking the same for awhile now. How is it we don't even have a price or release date let alone an announcement of who in the US will carry this phone. How is it we don't even know the thickness of the Verizon phone already? Seriously. The thickness. How do we not know that already? We already know what's going on with the RAZR and probably will know pretty quickly with what's up with the new HTC (Vigor) phone. For an up and coming flagship phone, I have to admit that things have remained in the dark far too long especially considering how things are rumored to launch this month.


Anyone else thinking the same here?

EDIT: I have to add more here. The Galaxy Note for example, has release dates and which carriers would be getting it. Still the Nexus Galaxy is "soon." To this day, it is till "soon." Except for the Nov 17th date from the UK. Even the actual ICS/GN keynote (that was originally delayed mind you) was a bit of a mess...feeling like it was just thrown together. It probably was though. As someone stated in the link that I posted above, there shouldn't be anymore "secrets" to this phone. It's been announced, we've seen many pictures of it, videos of it, and it's even been taken apart to see what HW is inside. Very crying out loud, we should know dates by now...and again, the thickness of the Verizon LTE version.

I say, get it the "F" together and quit leaving us in the dark. Buzz has been dying. The forums are quite dead compared to how it was a few weeks back. Get on it.

 

[thebrain73]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

I agree. Google is in the business of advertising, but can't even sell their own phone properly. I was going to jump from Sprint to Verizon for this phone. Now I am seriously looking at a way to get an SGS2 on a pay as you go network. Verizon and to a lesser extent Google are really begging to annoy me with all of this super secret GN crap.

 

[Adrynalyne]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

I'm not seeing the problem.

Google had a presentation of a phone coming out, but did not give hard dates other than sometime November.

Verizon made an announcement that it would be released sometime before year end.

Samsung isn't involved in saying.


Where did the failure happen? How does a product launch suck...without yet launching?

 

[SuperTongue]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

I think most people are just use to the Apple style of a product launch: announce the phone, announce a launch date. End of story.

Yes, this is a high profile device, but it doesn't mean Google or Samsung has to follow any specific company and announce a set-in-stone release date. They announced the phone, said it'll be out this year, even down to November. How is that not enough for some people?

Heck, most people here haven't even used it.

I think we just need to relax and realize that it's coming. Soon.

And as Adrynalyne stated...

How does a product launch suck...without yet launching?

 

[sushiglobster]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

I'm not seeing the problem.

Google had a presentation of a phone coming out, but did not give hard dates other than sometime November.

Verizon made an announcement that it would be released sometime before year end.

Samsung isn't involved in saying.


Where did the failure happen? How does a product launch suck...without yet launching?

The whole thing is a launch. What we saw was a soft launch. A product announcement with no actual product to buy. Then there is the hard launch, with actual product to buy, which hasn't occurred yet and which we have no idea of yet. Just rumors.

It "sucks" compared to the phones that have been announced since the unveiling of the GN. There are solid dates...pre orders up....yet nothing from a phone that was to have been announced Oct 11th, then later moved to the 18th. Look how much those other phone launches have progressed compared to this phone and this launch.

EDIT: I'll change the thread title, "worst" isn't the word to use here.

 

[edoublediz]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

I think most people are just use to the Apple style of a product launch: announce the phone, announce a launch date. End of story.

Yes, this is a high profile device, but it doesn't mean Google or Samsung has to follow any specific company and announce a set-in-stone release date. They announced the phone, said it'll be out this year, even down to November. How is that not enough for some people?

Heck, most people here haven't even used it.

I think we just need to relax and realize that it's coming. Soon.

And as Adrynalyne stated...

i agree with this. announce it set a date, sell it!! it seems there are issues with every launch VZW does. i do understand they havnt released any of this yet so, i am being patient but, you would think they would have their ish a little more together than this!!

 

[Adrynalyne]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

The whole thing is a launch. What we saw was a soft launch. A product announcement with no actual product to buy. Then there is the hard launch, with actual product to buy, which hasn't occurred yet and which we have no idea of yet. Just rumors.

It "sucks" compared to the phones that have been announced since the unveiling of the GN. There are solid dates...pre orders up....yet nothing from a phone that was to have been announced Oct 11th, then later moved to the 18th. Look how much those other phone launches have progressed compared to this phone and this launch.

EDIT: I'll change the thread title, "worst" isn't the word to use here.

No...I do not believe that was a soft launch.


Soft Launch vs Hard Launch — Pragmatic Marketing, world's most popular product management training

It has to have been received by at least some customers to be a soft launch. Considering the testers I know are still testing...that = not even a soft launch.

Sometimes the term Soft Launch is used to describe when a product isn't really launched but has escaped from the building, or to justify why minimal effort has gone into planning for a real product launch.

 

[MMcCraryNJ]

I know we are all really excited (myself included) about this device. But we all need to take a bit of a breather and relax. Believe me, I am in the "shut up and take my money" mode too, I'm currently on T-Mobile with a Vibrant that's forever stuck on Froyo, without a working GPS and with internet speeds that range from 100-900 kbps/second because the service sucks in my new area.

It's so very easy to sit there and blame Samsung, blame Google, blame Verizon, for making you wait with no info. But really, what are you blaming them for?

Google showed off ICS in October/November, like they said they would. Remember, before the official unveiling a couple of weeks ago, they did not mention a thing about a new Nexus device. We as a community assumed because A. It's about time for a new one, and B. We continuously have kept up with the internet rumor machine.

And the only reason everyone is letting Verizon let them down is because of the rumor machine. Verizon hasn't said anything concrete yet....so what? What sense does it make to be upset at Verizon because you read a report that was based on a rumor on the internet saying the device would be out the 3rd/10th or whatever? They sent out a press release saying "later this year". Get mad at them after 12/31 comes and goes because they never even promised the month of November.

And I think it is a bit silly for everyone to be so upset about lack of information this early. It's only been November 1st for an hour...hardly enough time to get the pitchforks out.

I personally feel that we will hear more about their release plans in the next 2 weeks, and the 17th looks like s possible date where we can all be happy. But if it comes and goes, so what? VZW has until the end of the year to make good on their word.

 

[sushiglobster]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

No...I do not believe that was a soft launch.


Soft Launch vs Hard Launch — Pragmatic Marketing, world's most popular product management training

It has to have been received by at least some customers to be a soft launch. Considering the testers I know are still testing...that = not even a soft launch.

hah, okay then. I can agree with that, though this link shows something similar to what I'm talking about and even what you are talking about, with the product actually out and about being tested and what not. Link: What is a Soft Launch?

Either way, I'm not going to turn this in to a match about who is defining a soft/hard launch better.

The problem here is that we are still in the dark with a lot of things compared to products that have been announced since the GN. The phone is "slow to launch" compared to other phones that have been announced. How come we are being left in the dark so much compared to these other phones?

EDIT: So far yes, you guys make very valid points, but are kind of missing the point of this thread in general. Why are we being left in the dark so much about this phone compared to other phones ?

 

[SuperTongue]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

Why are we being left in the dark so much about this phone compared to other phones?

A variety of (potential) reasons. We're honestly not sure. No one really is.

The common thought seems to be that Verizon has three headliners and wouldn't want to disrupt the sales of one to launch another early, especially when the first is a DROID branded phone that they'll be dropping millions to market.

Just by my lurking, it seems that this is a seemingly general opinion at the moment. Verizon knows how to make money. Unless there's a hardware issue with the LTE version of the Galaxy Nexus, Samsung has no reason to delay the US launch. Google obviously has the final build of ICS ready as it launches in Europe on the 17th.

Therefore, all this lack of news or information is most likely thanks in due part to Verizon and their rather large controlling hand in their network.

They've got a plan, even if it might seem like they don't.

 

[Adrynalyne]

I think (myself) that Google should have stayed silent about all of it and let Verizon woo everyone with a mystery launch.

That to me would have been awesome and won Verizon some real kudos.

 

[sushiglobster]

I think (myself) that Google should have stayed silent about all of it and let Verizon woo everyone with a mystery launch.

That to me would have been awesome and won Verizon some real kudos.

Yea, I think a Ninja Launch would be awesome. I almost kind of think it could happen. How much does a Nexus device get marketed usually? I think Verizon could just press the launch button and magically one day, we can just order it.

 

[ejaymd11]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

I agree. Google is in the business of advertising, but can't even sell their own phone properly. I was going to jump from Sprint to Verizon for this phone. Now I am seriously looking at a way to get an SGS2 on a pay as you go network. Verizon and to a lesser extent Google are really begging to annoy me with all of this super secret GN crap.

Okay let me get this right. You was going to jump from Sprint, to VZW to get this phone, but since right now it's not being hyped up the way you want it to be, and even thought you already know about the phone, you are going to get a SGS2 instead? So brilliant.

 

[qnet]

I think (myself) that Google should have stayed silent about all of it and let Verizon woo everyone with a mystery launch.

That to me would have been awesome and won Verizon some real kudos.

Something like that would have been the best way IMO, don't say anything until it's actually a week from being ready. This whole thing is starting to remind me the Xoom expected launch earlier this year. Anyway, my Chiefs won and, it's time to go to bed.

 

[Mooem]

Well given the international release of the Nexus, it would be difficult for them to stay silent. Android is a worldwide phenomenon which can't tailor to just one market's carrier.

 

[experiment 626]

Re: Worst phone launch in awhile?

The common thought seems to be that Verizon has three headliners and wouldn't want to disrupt the sales of one to launch another early, especially when the first is a DROID branded phone that they'll be dropping millions to market.
They've got a plan, even if it might seem like they don't.

Sadly for us Nexus buyers this is the truth. The first two weeks of November would seem to belong to Moto and HTC respectively,then Samsung.

 

[greydarrah]

This launch is no different than most others of late. The Thunderbolt, the Bionic...tons of hype, enormous perceived delays (perceived because a launch date has still not been given, so how can you call it a delay), wild speculation, love and disgust over segments of a device that does yet exist. If you go to the days before the release of most devices, you can pretty much cut and paste most of the threads and switch them freely between all the unreleased phones. There's nothing to be done but wait and continue to make up more crazy stuff that gets everyone all fired up. What else is there to do?

 

[nemov]

This launch is no different than most others of late. The Thunderbolt, the Bionic...tons of hype, enormous perceived delays (perceived because a launch date has still not been given, so how can you call it a delay), wild speculation, love and disgust over segments of a device that does yet exist. If you go to the days before the release of most devices, you can pretty much cut and paste most of the threads and switch them freely between all the unreleased phones. There's nothing to be done but wait and continue to make up more crazy stuff that gets everyone all fired up. What else is there to do?

You forgot to mention the other group...

There is also a group of people that post over and over again urging others to be patient. This is likely a coping mechanism for their own impatience.

I'm surprised there aren't classes on message board psychology.

 

[greydarrah]

Why did DroidLion over at droidphonecentral report that Nexus is being released first ( I guess like a pre-release) in New York and Los Angeles? That's crap!

"...confirming an early release - date still unknown - for Los Angeles and New York City, to kick off the Galaxy Nexus USA arrival..."

 

[ohiomoto]

If you think this is bad, then you must not have noticed that HP did a soft launch for the HP Pre 3, Veer and Touchpad!