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If I were Motorola or Samsung, though, there's no way I'd do that. Without differentiation, you're selling a commodity product. If you're selling a commodity, t
by billjings 15y ago
If I were Motorola or Samsung, though, there's no way I'd do that. Without differentiation, you're selling a commodity product. If you're selling a commodity, there are no margins.
I agree with you that it would be better for the Android ecosystem if they would, though.
- mquander 15y agoIf you or anyone can provide actual evidence that manufacturer software increases sales or gets consumers to tolerate higher margins, I'm all ears. But short of that, I don't believe it. I've never met someone who said they preferred a phone because of the bundled software. I have observed two groups of people: - Most people aren't conscious of bundled software or couldn't care less about it. - A minority actively dislike it and are biased toward buying "Google experience" phones.
- billjings 15y agoI don't have numbers, but I've definitely met folks who have said, "Samsung has a better interface than HTC", or the like. The bundled software I'll grant is not really about differentiation - it's still a way to increase margins, though, by selling the right to bundle software on the phone or promoting your own services.
- drzaiusapelord 15y agoThey can make themselves different in other ways: 1. Hardware design. Even cosmetic stuff. 2. Good support. You know, being able to call a human being on the phone. 3. Easy OTA updater (No more Kies and god know what else) 4. Write an itunes clone for syncing that isn't terrible. Or license double-twist. 5. Useful crapware apps. Apple differentiates itself with stuff like Siri. Why is Anrdroid crapware like "Buy this 4.99 caller ID service?" There's so much room for improvement here. Considering ICS has all the eyecandy we need, its time to get out of the whole "Lets build a skin and add lots of crapware" that is turning Android into the smartphone ghetto. FWIW, its not just Android. I know a lot of iPhone users who have never upgraded the OS and never will. They don't understand the utility of doing so. I'm afraid a lot of this conversation depends on how geeks use their equipment, which is fine, but the hoi polloi isn't clamoring for updates like they should be.
- willyt 15y agoYep. And if you look at all the internal politics that has been exposed by Nokia converting to Win Phone. All that politics will be duplicated at Samsung, Motorola, HTC etc. There will design, software and UI departments that are doing this stuff to justify thier existence.
- dman 15y agoHP, Dell, Lenovo and Sony would like to have a word with you - they have been selling PC's without custom UI's all this time.
- jfb 15y agoAnd look at their margins.
- billjings 15y agoEvery one of those companies has survived by finding some way to decommodify their business. Lenovo and Sony by hardware design, Dell and HP by sales and service. Also: Windows PC manufacturers have always attempted to differentiate themselves in software as much as was feasible. They were never as free to modify the platform as Android manufacturers are, though.
- DrJokepu 15y agoIt don't disagree with the rest of your comment but it's not true that there are no margins if you're selling commodity. An awful lot of money can be made by selling commodity. Just ooh at Lakshmi Mittal.