As promised I have delivered on the best possible smart phone topic in Canada. No it’s not the incapable Apple 4, because contrary to popular belief apple didn’t “change everything again” with their new phone. No, instead we will talk about how a special company called HTC sparks change like water from a well. Specifically this will be a review based on the HTC desire Z. Some call it a smart-phone, but I call it “magic in your pocket” phone.
At first glance the product is simple looking, only a few buttons in view. However on closer inspection another dimension reveals itself. A full keyboard flips out from under the large HD screen. And presto, you’re typing faster than you did in grade 9 computer class! By all means this isn’t the end of the fantastic wealth of functions this phone possesses. It has an 800MHZ processor, that’s a snapdragon for all you tech savvy people. HTC Z also has a great web based service called sense which allows users to find a lost phone with GPS, and wipe all data if the phone is stolen for good.
Regrettably a huge drawback of a large processor and HD screen is battery life. With a very large battery the Z only manages to accommodate a day of heavy use. If you dim the screen, avoid Downloading excessive Mylie Cyress videos then it can last a few days. The problem is there are so many layers in this phone, it’s always thinking, which means that processor is buzzing. Of course this can all be limited with inboard settings, but that’s like never shifting a race car out of first gear! This leads me to a side point. Battery technology is the single most con-stringent factor on all technology today. It limits our high performance goods. Only with the introduction of better advanced ultra-capacitors and super-capacitors also known as EESU (electronic energy storage units) or other new types of battery’s will we ever free from limitations of current design.
You might say, “Yah that’s great Myles, but I have never heard of HTC before, let alone this magic in your pocket phone”. Well don’t sweat it because HTC has got you covered. HTC uses retailers to sell their product. By contracting out the work to people who specialize in selling phones like Rogers, Bell, and TELUS HTC saves bucket loads of money (which means you save!). Your second question might be something like “how come HTC doesn’t just design, manufactures, sell, and provide networks for their devices.” The simple answer is cost of capital. However for a better description we must go into the jowls of marketing ascend deep into the belly of the beast. Only their can we really figure out why HTC prefers to just design and service the phones.
HTC uses channels to sell its goods for it. Hypothetically they give the phone to company which then sells the phone to a customer, however HTC doesn’t really “give” the phone to the provider, they just give them the right to sell it which once sold the funds are carved up between provider and seller.
HTC keeps its channels tight, knowing that expensive high performance goods like “magic in your pocket” phones need short channels in order to create and effective link between customer and designer.
Keeping cost down is apparent in many markets. And the balance between effective channels and excessive channels keeps HTC cost down. If a company has too many channels it could inflate its product cost, and then reduce sales. However if the company tries to span too many channels by itself it can cause an unsustainable disadvantage for the company. Covering too many channels can be very expensive, although some companies can do it like Coke-a-Cola. Remember specialization is the key. It’s just not realistic for a company like HTC to Build, sell, wireless service, market, transport and warranty a phone. Instead of HTC trying to cover the blocker, sack and QB, make the kick, and score the touch down they focus on just throwing down mouth-watering products that keep you com’in back for more. They leave the TLog to the pros.
To sum it all up
1. HTC has to specialize to keep their business focused and profitable
2. Apple 4 is the worst thing to come from apple yet (don’t worry apple fans there will be more)
3. When purchasing a phone consider a manufactures business plan. Do they have good channels that will help keep the cost comparable with the value you get?
4. Get the HTC desire Z before they are all gone!
