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Why not an 'entry level' or 'value' brand for SE? |
Sammy_boy
Joined: Mar 31, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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We have the Walkman brand, now the Cyber-Shot brand, why not a cheaper set of handsets for  ?
This is an area where are lacking, and Nokia dominates with simple but excellent handsets like the 1100, 1600 et al.
How about Sony Ericsson has a line of 'Tesco Value' (a cheap range of products in a leading UK supermarket chain for the uninitiated!) - type handsets for those on a budget or getting their first phone?
A lot of people are probably getting their first Nokia, and it's often a simple phone like the 1100 or a secondhand 3310, and once they come to upgrade they go for another Nokia as they know how to use it, and bingo! Nokia has a loyal customer, even if it's only because people don't want to go outside of their 'comfort envelope'.
If can create and market it's own range of 'value' handsets I bet it could capture a lot of new, loyal customers, even if they don't want the latest feature-laden handset! But if do it right and make these cheap handsets attractive and easy to use, it could pique people's interests in those higher-end handsets? Even if it doesn't, SE will have more market share, even if those people only buy SEs as they 'know how to use them'.
What are people's thoughts?
"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke
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QVGA
Joined: May 23, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: Pakistan
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The J series? |
alandigby
Joined: Aug 11, 2004
Posts: 94
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Just what i was thinking. Old-tech hardware with revamped software and new housings it seems to me.
T39(dead)> T68(sold)> Z600(dead)> K700> K750(killed by vodka)> K700> K800(killed by cider)> K700(still alive!) > T650i |
taniame
Joined: Jul 10, 2006
Posts: 82
From: Southern California
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LOL, op, i think SE marketing is doing a fairly okay job.
Cheap phones? LOL
You know how many cell phones Chinese consume every year? In Shanghai, one of the best cities in China or maybe the best city, people making 250GBP every month (Average income). And one SE K800 costs 400 GBP in China. But ppl still buying cell phones like crazy. You see ppl saving up 2 or even 3 months' salary for a cell phone.
There are many things you cannot explain. Years ago, Nokia first invaded China. Some ppl questioned if most of chinese ppl can afford the price and claimed that Nokia went in too early. But Nokia was the winner.
NOkia doesn't design cell phones just for UK or China or any specific region. They have a globle eye, so is SE
I kept on farting...... |
Sammy_boy
Joined: Mar 31, 2004
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From: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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I was thinking as a replacement for the J series.
There are a lot of people in the developed world who only buy cheaper models as they don't use features like the camera or mp3 player and just want a simple model.
I'm no expert but I'm sure there are a lot of people in China who want a phone but don't want to spend 2-3 months wages on one!
"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke
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QVGA
Joined: May 23, 2006
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From: Pakistan
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You mean like a non colored screen one. |
alandigby
Joined: Aug 11, 2004
Posts: 94
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But do SE want to be associated with really low tech phones? I don't think it would fit in with their brand image.
T39(dead)> T68(sold)> Z600(dead)> K700> K750(killed by vodka)> K700> K800(killed by cider)> K700(still alive!) > T650i |
masterp
Joined: May 28, 2004
Posts: 250
From: nederland
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i think sammy means a phone with the basic functions calls and with/without sms and possible monochrome display .
it could be a good suggestion , but the j series is at a minimum cost with a few extras , so not so sure if it will take off enough for profit .
just my 2 cents
proud owner of a   800i , 200i , p910i + route 66 mobile 2006 and a hbh-600 , gave my k800i to my girl ( enjoying my new WII and DS lite  ) |
Sammy_boy
Joined: Mar 31, 2004
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From: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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Not necessarily a b/w screen phone, perhaps ones with colour screen but no cam or just a VGA one, bit like they have now but better designed and not rehashes of previous models?
Good point about brand image, perhaps this is a way SE could go if they decide to attack the entry level market more, especially if they want to expand their market share more.
"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke
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taniame
Joined: Jul 10, 2006
Posts: 82
From: Southern California
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People have different standard and different demands. Can't help.
SE is doing a fairly okay job.
Globalwise, they are doing good.
I kept on farting...... |
awave
Joined: Feb 11, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: United Kingdom
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i think they should bring the old /// t20 back  - just make the screen slightly bigger and make it colour, stick a camera in the back - and then voila! you have a good, basic phone - with some decent features...maybe not this simple...but  it would be a nice phone - i'd want one!
-|- awave |
taniame
Joined: Jul 10, 2006
Posts: 82
From: Southern California
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hey guys, SE does have cheap ones........
J20 etc. all under 100usd
I kept on farting...... |
max_wedge
Joined: Aug 29, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Australia
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Quote:
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On 2006-07-13 18:13:19, Sammy_boy wrote:
Not necessarily a b/w screen phone, perhaps ones with colour screen but no cam or just a VGA one, bit like they have now but better designed and not rehashes of previous models?
Good point about brand image, perhaps this is a way SE could go if they decide to attack the entry level market more, especially if they want to expand their market share more.
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Ahm...I don't see a camera on the J200 or any fancy stuff 
Show me another new phone that's more basic (other than monochrome display's ) than a J200.
It's got:
Music tones (MP3/AAC)
Polyphonic Sound 40 voices
LCD, 4,096 colour STN
128x128 pixel
SMS
IR
It doesn't have:
Picture Messaging
Internet
Email
Bluetooth
Camera
Media Player
Memory (okay, it does have a little bit)
Memory Expansion
etc etc etc.
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Sammy_boy
Joined: Mar 31, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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I'm not talking specs per se, perhaps more asthetics. I can't really say why, but there seems to be something missing from SE's entry level.
Look at it this way, I've seen plenty of older and entry level Nokias, but very few/if any J200s, T290s, etc. etc.!
"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke
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skull0n3
Joined: Jul 14, 2006
Posts: 3
From: deep dark africa
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When i look around me hood i see some of the kids rocking budget phones and they are all rocking a nokia of some sort. I think the problem lies with SE not presenting their budget line to the public effectively enough. Then again the only real budget SE avaible here seems to be the J210 the rest being the Z, K, W and P series phones. |
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Posted: 2006-07-13 17:25
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