How to defeat the iPhone
Since 2007, the iPhone has reigned supreme over the high-end smartphone market and it’s well deserved. We tend to describe the iPhone as the ‘Jesus’ of all phones because it really did come down to save the mobile industry. With its unprecedented multi-touch interface to its futuristic-looking design, the iPhone was more than fives years ahead of any other phone on the market but let’s not get it twisted the first iPhone as a phone, was pretty trash. First, of, it came rocking 2G. While everyone else has already made the giant leap to the 3G network, Apple flagship device crash landed on us with the slowest and quite outdated 2G network.
The camera could not match anything that either Nokia and Sony Ericsson had in the market (I mean you couldn’t even record video), you couldn’t send any multimedia through sms (which was really quite popular for transferring Photos to your friends) and lets not forget the no Bluetooth functionality for file transferring. You really felt left out in school when everyone was ‘bluetoothing’ music that they’ve been recording on their phones through their tv speakers (them days) to each other.
To summarise, the original iPhone, as a phone, was trash. But we all forgave Apple for this because the iPhones widescreen iPod functionality and its internet communication services was second to none. Safari eliminated the ‘baby internet’ that was haunting all the other smartphones in the market and instead gave us the internet in its full glory. But that was then. What about now?
Well now, we can agree the iPhone as caught up with its competition in terms of its mobile capabilities. Thanks to android, manufacturers such as Samsung and LG are able to compete with Apples sophisticated iOS operating system. The build quality and features that many of these devices boast is incredible. You could even argue that in terms of hardware the Samsung Galaxy devices completely blows the iPhone out of the water with its OLED display, bigger battery and water resisting technology (before it was cool) companies such as Samsung has really gone above and beyond to create a masterpiece of a phone in both quality and design. And then there’s the rest. The LGs the Microsoft. The Googles. Don’t get me wrong the phones these companies bring to the table are incredible in terms of what it’s capable of such as their cameras or the fact that google offers unlimited storage on its Pixel lineup. The only problem is that one cares. Why? Well there are many reason but one main reason is that essentially what these companies are doing are pretty much making devices that look way too close to the design of the iPhone. This takes me to my first point on how to defeat the iPhone.
Design is essential
Outside of a smartphones core functionality, design is one of if not the most important aspect of a smartphone. Since the early days of mobile phone companies such as LG, Motorola and Samsung really went the extra step to gives us some of the most unique designs. Some flipped, swerved, swivelled you name it. The early days of mobile phones were really something.
Motorola razor. This phone became the must have device all around the world. It was definitely the most stylish of all the phones out there. The chores I had to do before I had enough money to cop one these was intense. Worth every penny.
We now live in the era of the smartphones and the designs you can give these devices are pretty limited. So it’s understandable to see why most smartphones end up looking like an iPhones I mean look at the early days of the Samsung Galaxy phones. To say they where iPhone rip offs would be an understatement.
Unlike Other companies, Samsung took a page from Apples books and realised that the average user (who are the biggest cosumers of smartphones and pretty much everything else) really do not care about all the bells and whistles that’s your phone apparently has. As long they they can access their main apps such as whatsapp, instagram Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, they are all good. As a smartphone manufacturer, you get an extra point (mainly in sells) if you can convince the average user to buy into a new so called ‘feature’ that would changed the way they use their devices. Most of the time it’s mostly gimmicks but hey at least you got the option. More on that in a minutes.
“People like pretty things. So pretty your things and sell it back to the people”
Samsung was tired of being accused of copying Apple (lets face it though they where) so they went the extra mile to figure out a way to differentiate themselves from the iPhone so what did they do? They went all futuristic on us. They curved the screen.
Does curving the screen give any type of meaningful productivity to phone? No. But you can’t look at this phone and tell me that don’t look cool a.f.
That’s the whole point. To look cool. Yes the curve screen is utterly pointless but it gives the phone this wavey looking design that capture the sight of any passerby. I mean how many curved screen on a mobile phone are actually out there? Not only that but the pure OLED display technology makes everything on the screen look ten times better than what most of its competitors can even get close to. Not only is this phone beautifully designed, but it also packs all the latest and greatest tech trend out there including a 4K camera, fingerprint sensor and even Samsungs own personal gimmick the heart sensor at the back. I mean the option is there if your really need it I guess. This is why many so many people gravitated towards the Galaxy edge line outside of the iPhone market.
So dear other smartphone manufacturers and wannabes. bringing out an iPhone clone with no strong jarring design would gain the attention of exactly “o” people utside the geek circle. Give the people what they want. Something fresh, something different, something they can buy and walk outside and people would instantly distinguish it from An iPhone. I’m talking to you Google.
Image is Key.
Smartphone manufacturers also need to realise that they are not just selling a product. They are selling a lifestyle. How people perceive your devices will motivated them not only buy the device but to also become loyal to your brand to upgrade in the future. What do I mean by this? Apple is a great example of a company doing it right (of course they would be) they have created this idea through their adverts that if you buy the iPhone, you too could take these incredible shots that was taken entirely on an iPhone
Although many of these pictures are incredible, lets face it most people who do purchase the iPhone will only use it for taking hundreds of bathrooms selfies but the idea that you own a devices that can shoot such beautiful pictures really does make you appreciate the device more. Even if you most probably would never utilise it to its full potential. This ladies and gentlemen is what I like to call wishful marketing.
Another way Apple Increases its brand and its iPhone brand is to associate themselves with other high end and respectable brand. The phone you have really can say a lot about you to others.
Your smartphone increases your personal brand. You know what else increases your brand? Fashion and Apple knows this.
What better way to introduce the iPhone 6S plus than to use to it to record the entire New York fashion Week runway and. And a huge fuss about it afterward to tell every what they just witnessed. The images you see where not shot on RED cameras but and iPhone. The quality is almost unrecognisable (kind of).
What is one of the rare colours the rich like to associate themselves with?
Next up, celebrities. The influence celebrities have on us mere mortals is quite powerful.
And of course let’s not forget about the teenagers. You need to cater to them too.
If your brand becomes trendy and stylish enough, the celebrities will dive right in whiteout you as a company ever having to pay them to use it. They’ll even try to associate themselves with the brand.
Even when you are the spokesperson for blackberry you still got to use your iPhone. Is that not right Alicia Keys?
So, other smartphone manufacturers, learn to understand that just bringing out a phone is not enough. You need to market it well. Use celebrities, fashion anything that would help to build your brand. Design is key. Make us crave your devices don’t just bring out another clone of something already popular differentiate yourselves. Do you know who else has been doing this successfully? Of course. Samsung.
Celebrities are your friends. Utilise them.
These are some some of the few things you can do to actually make your phones relevant so people would actually want to consider buying them. Follow these simple steps and you could have an iPhone killer in your hands. Unless you’re Blackberry. Nothing can help you at this point.
Lets face it at this point there’s only two horses in the race Apple and Samsung. The next battle between these two is gonna take us straight into the future.
