How successful you think the HTC Dream will be?

[secrecyguy]

How successful you think the HTC Dream will be? This poll will last 30 days.

[g_patrick15]

good poll, but why does everything have to compare to the iPhone?

[secrecyguy]

good poll, but why does everything have to compare to the iPhone?

I feel this is a serious competitor for the iPhone.

I predict in 5 years after the release of the Android OS, the only major players of the smart phone business is the iPhone and Android. The rest, will become very small or go out of business with the exemption of the Windows mobile since that is backed by Microsoft. I don't see that going away.

[g_patrick15]

Of the Smartphone Makers/Systems:Palm, RIM, Windows Mobile, Android, S60, iPhone only Palm will be gone in the next 5-10years, unless they can somehow grasp a strong resurgence. The other players are too strong and backed by so many that they will be around for the longhaul

[bachviet]

I don't think S60 is going anywhere soon since it's so popular everywhere except the US.

[Scottish Skyedance]

Android is still pretty new, success or failure is still unknown
however, more applications = winner (more freeware is way better)

[JaxGrim]

I like the fact they are going in an opposite direction than that of the iPhone. I really don't like the restrictive nature of the IPhone.

[locojones]

I appreciate the concept of Android, but to be remotely successful, it has a lot of challenges to overcome.

The first and most obvious is brand identity. Ask any person on the street what Android is and you'll be lucky to receive an answer like, "Isn't that the Data guy from Star Trek?" Branding takes money. And in a consumer society where people buy what they're told, without a multi-million dollar advertising blitz, success seems very unlikely.

Second, we've seen that many consumers will prefer a dumbed-down phone that makes them feel smart instead of a phone with real horsepower and features. Android will somehow have to overcome this hurdle by providing a phone with enough features and customization to satisfy the core audience of savvy computer geek fans while also bringing to the table the simplicity and flash that your average consumer wants.

Finally, it has to overcome many of the hurdles that plague wide acceptance of open-source in general. I think your average consumer doesn't even know, much less cares, what open-source is, so any advertising would have to tout the benefits of it (i.e. FREE FREE FREE, all your applications are FREE FREE FREE). However, open source is notorious for forked OSes, never-ending daily revisions of applications etc, and the average consumer will never put up with having to maintain their phone in that manner. Applications will have to be easy to get and require zero thought to maintain.

If Android can clear those major hurdles, and the hardware manufacturers can come to the plate with attractive handsets that run it, then maybe there will be a new player in town. Otherwise, it may stall before it even gets going.

[JaxGrim]

As evidenced by the rush of the masses for the iPhone, most people will favor a dumbed down phone that makes them feel smart over a phone with any real horsepower. Unless Android can provide a similar level of flash and simplicity, while simultaneously overcoming the problems that plague open source software (multiple forks of OSes, never-ending revisions to software, etc.), and also somehow building itself into a brand that the average person simply cannot resist, I don't see it going much of anywhere soon.

I believe you have a solid point there. Advertising can be powerful. T-Mobile may or may not push this phone much like the iPhone is. They have done it before with the Sidekick. They may do it with this phone if it will truly be a T-Mobile exclusive. I just don't see them pimping it much if its not an exclusive phone. Other than the Sidekicks, T-Mobile really hasn't had many exclusive phones to pimp out to people.

[TXLady]

You forgot to include "I just don't care" among the options.

[GadgetTravel]

You forgot to include "I just don't care" among the options.

Indeed. Also not included in the choices is "How in the hell should I know?"

But Im a bit doubtful although Im also not sure what the Dream will or wont have. From what I can tell, it wont sync well with Outlook/Exchange. Even Apple and Nokia have figured out that is important. If it really locks one into a Google world, and Im not sure how exactly that will work, its hard for me to see it being very popular. If I cant do good Exchange interactions with it, I wont look at it.

[Deke218]

Who knows? What does it look like? What's loaded on it? What's the processor speed? Anyone have any information other that the open source thingy?

[tks989]

more freedom=more devs=more apps=more fun!

[Kricket]

good poll, but why does everything have to compare to the iPhone?

i would say because, currently, it is THE most popular phone on the planet - its selling like hot cakes - its definitely the phone to beat

that being said - the htc dream wont even come close to selling as many units