Kevin Bostic
Eclipsed by Samsung's rise, HTC is planning to claw back market share in the smartphone sector by targeting a specific set of users with its high-quality flagship unit: iPhone owners.
When the new HTC One launches in March, the Taiwanese manufacturer will roll out a new version of its HTC Sync Manager desktop application. The new version will have an added feature: the ability to extract information from iPhone backup files. That information would allow iPhone users switching to the One to transfer their photos, calendar entries, text messages, videos, and more.
CNet Asia, which first reported on the new Sync Manager, says it is unclear whether the software will work across both PC and Mac platforms, but previous versions of it did.
Initial reactions to the One have been quite positive, with tech media praising the handset's spec sheet — which includes a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 1080p display — as well as the high build quality of its unibody, machined aluminum chassis. Earlier this month, a leaked image of the device circulated around the Web showing an exterior design closely resembling Apple's iPhone 5.
How the One will fare in attracting iPhone users, though, has yet to be seen. Brand loyalty among iOS device users is a major driver behind the power and popularity of the platform, with some observers estimating a cumulative iOS customer value of $295 billion.
Apple's iOS ecosystem — both its app environment and accessory environment — is a major factor in customer loyalty. Many of the top apps for iOS are also available for Android, so HTC may see some traction on that front. The manufacturer will have a harder time, though, getting iPhone users to abandon the accessory ecosystem, in which some may have invested hundreds — even thousands — of dollars.
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38 Comments
Good luck with that! It's a one way street.
"The manufacturer will have a harder time, though, getting iPhone users to abandon the accessory ecosystem, in which some may have invested hundreds — even thousands — of dollars." Apple already removed this obstacle for me with the lightning connector.
Sounds like the makings of the Palm Pre syncing debacle all over again.
Bad strategy.
Especially given HTC's huge slip in sales, it would be far wiser for them to try and target their competitors, which includes Samsung and other Android phone makers.
As numerous studies have shown, most iPhone owners are extremely satisfied and have no intentions of switching. When people are extremely satisfied with what they've already got, they're not going to switch. Apple has higher satisfaction ratings than anybody else. An Android phone maker attempting to steal away a few iPhone users seems like a huge waste of time. If somebody was going out with a hot chick, at least an 8.2 on the hotness scale, would they dump that chick and shack up with an ugly duckling, somebody who is ranked no higher than 4.5? It makes no sense at all, unless somebody has an ugly fetish of course, and in that case, maybe they might like Android phones.
And even if an iPhone user was able to sync up their photos, text messages etc., over to an Android phone, then so what? You're not going to be able to use any of the iOS apps that you have and use, so what's the point? Nobody is going to switch over to Android because of Android's amazing app selection. The difference between the iOS ecosystem and Android's ecosystem is like the difference between heaven and hell.
[quote name="LarryA" url="/t/156167/htc-targets-iphone-owners-hopes-to-draw-converts-by-syncing-from-iphone-backups#post_2283819"]"The manufacturer will have a harder time, though, getting iPhone users to abandon the accessory ecosystem, in which some may have invested hundreds — even thousands — of dollars." Apple already removed this obstacle for me with the lightning connector.[/quote] Nonsense. You would've switched anyway. Anyone who seriously wants to keep their 30-pin dock connector accessories can do so with the lightning-to-dock-connector adapter. I've got one; it works great with my sound dock.