[Off-topic] devis:
Being in IT and having a WM device I always get the "you're so technical" stares and comments. However, slowly but surely most companies are realizing the benefits of a WM device over anything else out there. I work in an all blackberry environment and not a day goes by when I don't have to fix some stupid blackberry with a stupid BES problem. By comparison my Wizard looks like an angel. It gets its email without extra licensing fees, full internet, native Office compatibility and the rest. I have brought this up in the past with my superiors but they don't quite see a move happening because of budget constraints. Last company I worked for only allowed Blackberries and Palm OS Treos connected via Goodlink. Money wasted in licensing fees for both BES and Goodlink servers could have been used to purchase new WM devices and upgrade Exchange. But no...

Enter Apple... the "bleeding edge technology without the hassle" company. A new product in the already stagnant cell phone market. Granted, it is a new approach to mobile telephony for most users, but that's all it is. Its technology simply doesn't fit my lifestyle. Its features aren't impressive and its lack of third party apps (at least for now) is just sad. A few partners here at the lawfirm I work at went out and bought the iPhone. Then they're coming to me and asking to get their Exchange email connected. Well... regardless of how much money one wastes on crap, it isn't nice to be told that what you bought for 500 dollars is nothing but crap. So I set them up with Outlook Web Access. Sadly, over EDGE that mother is slower than W Bush's brain processing power. So they look at me all perplexed when I then suggest that they use its WiFi feature to speed up the connectivity. It is in those instances that I hide my Wizard... Job security is important, not to mention it will allow me to get the Kaiser in a month and a half :)

But to go back to your original thought...

WM devices are apealing to tech freaks like us, and people we have converted into tech freaks like us. We like them because we know what they can do, not to mention the fact that we can screw with them as much as we want and keep them alive (for the most part).

But, if WM devices are to succeed, they need to be more heavily introduced to the business world. Cost benefits, ease of use, availability of addon third party apps, ability to VPN in, connectivity options, i mean there are countless benefits. A few companies out there are going all WM but thats a very short list. Being in IT I have the possibility to somewhat influence decisions of this sort. But the real decision stays with the big cheese on top.

HTCs marketing strategy should focus on businesses. Start with smaller businesses and slowly move up to the bigger corporations. I think of they agressively advertise their product it won't take long until the HTC brand becomes just as well known as Nokia or Motorola.

But I also believe that mass advertising simply isn't what these devices were built for. the iPhone appeals to the "cool" factor, the shiny new toy. We've all seen the Sony Style stores. Well, Apple is about that as well. The iPhone isn't a tool, it's an accessory. It's a Prada bag that also makes calls. WM devices can be overwhelming to most users, primarily for the lack of information surrounding them. iPhone... a whole different story.

But quite frankly, the more iCrap users out there, the better I feel about the purchases I make. Besides, when I pay for a device I want to pay for the components, labor, R&D, support and a little OEM profit. What I don't want to pay for is a name. Sorry Apple... I just don't think you're worth my money.