"We've focused in on how real people want to use their phones when they're on the go -- we want you to get in, out, and back to life as fast as humanly possible."
First of all, some of the animations on some of their apps have a bit of time to them and don't really fit in with that mantra. But more importantly, I'm not sure what market they are heading for and what they want to say. Do they want their apps to be immersive or lightweight? Do they want people to enjoy their phone or try to use it as little as possible?
In the end the message to me makes their phones sound non-engaging. Not the greatest selling point in my opinion. Imagine the iPhone commercial where they run through 5 apps in 30 seconds. The Windows Phone 7 equivalent would be a 5-second commercial with someone quickly hitting two buttons and saying "Done. Glad that's over.". Interesting marketing strategy.
By all accounts, they were remarkably successful.
I know people who don't like phones and they buy the minimum phone necessary to suit the need... A £30 handset on a top up based tariff.
I don't know people who will spend a lot of money on a phone they intend to use as little as possible.
I think that sums up a lot of the Blackberry owners I know. Company mandates a smartphone, but employees want to use it as little as possible.
Then again, it will be interesting to see if that resonates with a less technical market segment.
Dentyne got this right.
People don't fiddle with their phones while walking because the phones are hard to use. They fiddle because the phone is fun and addicting.
There's no desire for a phone that lets you get in and out quickly. On the contrary. If they could come up with a phone that lets you be online all the time without walking into things, they'd have a huge winner.
Everyone, seems to think that we will be able to see updates on the home screen itself, which I don't think will work.
For example email: What will I see on the homescreen? who sent the email, when it was sent? will I see a brief message on the screen? How much information will I see in a tiny box/slice/tile. I don't think I will be able to see a lot of it.
Twitter: I think, I will be able to see the last tweet. A little helpful.
Facebook updates: I think it would work same as twitter.
The user has to launch an app to get the complete information. I think its bad if MS tries to make the phone into a taskbar notification system.
They appear to be catering to people who think people with phones are douchebags who walk around staring at their screen all day.
I'm not sure how well this marketing strategy will work, because I am one of those douchebags, but it doesn't make me want to get one.