A “Desire” for a new phone.

So lately (actually, since Nov 2009), I’ve been wanting to buy a new phone. While browsing phone sites endlessly page after page, I came across one particular promotional video that I swear I “OMG”-ed almost every 10 seconds.

And here it is, the HTC Desire HD:

After watching this video, I was pretty set on getting this phone even if it meant cutting down my spending by half every month. It occurred to me that in this generation today, phones are not just “phones”. They are not just a mere device that connects two voices together anymore but one that connects you to the world.

So just what is it about THIS phone that makes it better than all the others? Or if it isn’t, why do I think that? With the rapidly advancing technology today, to even stand a chance against competitors, I feel that marketing plays a critical role in capturing the market.

So….I decided to look at the Desire’s marketing mix:

Product:

• smartphone running on newest Android OS version, 2.2 Froyo
• 4.3-inch multi-touchscreen
• HTCsense
• 8MP camera with HD recording
• GPS, WiFi, 3G

Price: Around $600, but probably available with contract in Canada sometime this year.

Place: Phone service providers (not yet released in Canada), online (eg. eBay)

Promotion: Overview site with a 7 minute promotional video. I haven’t seen other promotions yet in Canada

HTC was able to offer all the “basic” features of a phone (eg. camera, wifi) and more! For example, some unique features include detecting when it is in a bag so it rings louder or going silent when you pick it up and turn it over. Their 7 minute promotional video was informative while attention grabbing at the same time.

I definitely got affected by HTC’s marketing! But of course, with such great features, the Desire sells itself!