Two desirable handsets, two very different strategies

Rating: Motorola Android vs Apple iPhone

GoMo News can’t help but notice the glaring difference between the opportunities grasped and missed in the run up to Xmas. Expansys had new stock of the Motorola Milestone (aka Droid in the USA) in time for Xmas. Vodafone decides to wait until January 14th 2010 to release its iPhone 3GS (and 3G) handsets.

Now Vodafone will inevitably argue that the 3GS and 3G are being treated as a business phone on a business tariff so Xmas doesn’t matter. So business folk don’t treat themselves to a new phone at Xmas on in the January sales, then?

It does seem like Vodafone has missed an opportunity. After all, even Tesco Mobile (the MVNO) has the 3GS available a whole month before [14th December].

Compare that to how the Milestone has fared. UK exclusive reseller, Expansys, claims it sold out of its original stock with three hours but has managed to obtain more product two days before Xmas.

That sounds to GoMo that there’s a pent up demand amongst Brit consumers for a decent Android phone and the Milestone fits the bill. It also matches analyst predictions (see GoMo News passim) that Android will be dominated by the established players.

And others are predicting that Android can save the struggling Motorola.

So Motorola has seized an opportunity? Almost certainly. What a contrast between the two approaches.

Tony is based in Surrey and is a veteran comms journalist. Tony also writes on the UK market… contact him here tony@mobileinsight.co.uk