Motorola, listen to me carefully. You had some good times. The RAZR was an amazing success: groundbreaking design, $500 with a contract, 50 million sold.But now your laurels are as old and worn as the phone that got you them in the first place.
The RAZR is dead.
Changing the color of your product for four years does not constitute a "design refresh". Releasing a purple "version" for Mother's Day? "Tattooed" editions? Please. Technology years pass faster than dog years. That means your design for the RAZR is at least 21 years old. 21 years ago it was 1986.
With all these color changes and little innovation to an admittedly good, but dated, design you're coming across as the 32 year old whose sole sense of worth is founded on his high school football career.
Yes, you have the KRZR now. It's about two years overdue, but it's sleeker and shinier than it's predecessor. Why then, are you still trying to ring every last ounce out of the RAZR? Each new RAZR you come out with is being sold for free with a contract. Your once coveted, high-end phone is now used for free by pre-teens as a $9.99 per month add-on to their parent's plans.
The RAZR is killing the brand it established.
People used to say, "Cool! A RAZR!" Now, with a hint of nostalgia, they sigh and say, "The RAZR was cool..."
Do you see those three dots at the end of that statement? They're death. They signify the amount of time someone will fondly look back at their experience with your product, not unlike thinking about their first time playing Nintendo, until they snap out of it and start looking for the next cool thing.
Yet you're still pushing it as if it was the latest and greatest.Discontinue it, even if it's making money. Pull it from the shelves, even if you lose money. It's hurting more than it's helping. People look at their phones with disgust half way through their two-year contracts as it is, and you're pushing the same phone four years later.
Take a cue from Apple: don't feed demand, create demand.
21 years ago Motorola gave us the RAZR. What are they doing now?
I like the RAZR. The next phone I own will be a RAZR! Why don't you get rid of whatever phone you have now a get a RAZR? RAZRs are still cool! You're just a phone snob.:)
ReplyDeleteRob, I understand that you're having a hard time coping with the idea of getting a cell phone. It's OK.
ReplyDeleteI already had a RAZR and got rid of it in about six months.
Yes, I am a phone snob.
This is a cyclic thing for Motorola. They did it when cellphones first came out, they're doing it again now. They do it in other product lines they make as well.
ReplyDeleteBasically, they're lazy. When the company is at risk of tanking, they'll work hard and come up with something novel and interesting. If it succeeds, they'll do nothing until the company is about to tank again.
It's a shame. If they are capable of that kind of innovation, it's too bad they aren't more motivated.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment by the way.
Sorry! I know you posted this a long time ago. I am currently using a RAZR, and I am sad to admit that I am tired of it. It just isn't a RAZR anymore. It's more like a BRNG. But still, I like the phone just for what it is. Thin, slick, and shiny. Even if it isn't what it used to be, the RAZR is still a memorable phone, probably the most memorable of any that will exist for a long time. With that, I respect your ideas, but I still love my good old boring RAZR.
ReplyDeleteP.S.-I'm a phone snob, too!
I agree - not to mention the RAZR is the biggest piece of crap ever! I have tried to get rid of mine on several occasions but Verizon will not let me get rid of it. The phone is slow and most the time ignores the keys I push. Down with the RAZR!
ReplyDelete