“The Windows Phone 7 US launch today has been marked by very small lineups,” Electronista reports. “A handful of reports so far have shown lines of a dozen or fewer people at major stores on the West coast.”
“Microsoft has also faced a symbolic loss with one anecdote of the Microsoft Store in Denver having no line at all,” Electronista reports. “Microsoft is believed to be spending $500 million in marketing just for the holidays to try and drive early sales.”
Electronista notes, “Apple had some of its longest lines to date for the iPhone 4 and, at flagship stores like 5th Avenue in New York City and London’s Regent Street, had lines that persisted for several hours after the doors opened with hundreds or thousands in queues.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Now that’s a funeral!
It’s just going to take a while to build a market. Ya know, just like the Zune.
Went to the Austin Apple Store over the weekend.
Packed.
Went to the San Francisco Apple Store the weekend before.
Packed.
Thank God, Ballmer cashed out before the stock tanked.
Now he can afford to stay on for as long as it takes.
or the kin
I like the Win Phone 7. I think they have some cool ideas. I won’t give up my iPhone 4 for it. But I think Apple could look at a few things they’re doing and improve what they have now.
Like a real lock screen and better notifications.
A Zune Phone! Brilliant!
I feel sorry for the news reporters sent to the MS stores to cover the “story.”
“Hi, we’re down here at the Microsoft Store for the the big launch, and, well, nothing much to report. Back to you in the studio…”
It’s kind of like getting stuck reporting on Groundhog Day.
@ ChrissyOne, It usually takes about a year to build a market as in a physical place where traders can hawk their wares, I am thinking of markets where market traders either wholesale or retail to the public with an element of ‘open air’ environment.
It takes a hell of a lot longer to develop footfall, brand loyalty & reliable customer service. Is this last situation what you were alluding to?
Potential buyers are trying to get their Stanley Steamers up to full pressure.
One of the news articles starts with
“The early days of Windows Phone 7 have been marked by international shortages, info from carriers revealed this weekend.”
…. Maybe Microsoft finally caught on… and KNEW that they wouldn’t sell more than 100 of these…. so they only created 50….. Trying to play the PALM game……. I wonder if they sold all 50 though……
The disparity kinda reminds me of the launch of Windows ’95 – only the tables have turned – Apple is the one with lines around the block and Microsoft is the one flailing around. Only with Microsoft, there is nothing to “restore” the way Apple did. Microsoft’s success was always due to some underhanded scheme they used to grab it – not earn it.
Now, if MSFT tanks in the next few weeks from the WP7 failure, would Ballmer be found guilty of insider trading?
And the dozen people who stood in line were there for the free Hannah Montana tickets.
I wonder how Microsuck is going to spin this massive FAIL! lol
The Glendale, AZ Apple Store was packed at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday last week. Took me 15 min. to buy my AppleTV.
Insider trading. What did he know and when did he know it?
Funeral or ZUNERAL?
It looks really good for Ballmer to be cashing in on so much stock this week – guess he thought everyone that is immersed in their iPhone, Blackberry and Androids would be lining up to get one of these Windows 7 phones with no apps, so they can avoid bumping into things like in that powerfully funny anti-smartphone TV commercial?
With MS’s penchant for staging and faking PR stories (see recent laptop TV ads), I’m surprised it didn’t set up long line ups with paid shills and employees.
What the heck are they doing with that $500 million?
And why would Microsoft’s CEO Steve Balmer sell 1/6 (or $1.3 billion) of his Microsoft shares? He should have sold them all.
This is getting just sad. However, I did see a good TV ad from Microsoft. I guess, Ballmer didn’t get to shoot that one down before it aired.
Keep on treading water until the bowl empties out Steve Ballmer.
Probably everyone buying are having the phone delivered to their homes one day before. MSFT might have done a superb supply chain so that no such thing as queue line and disappointed customers. I am sure there won’t be nya disappointed WP7 buyer.
They should have had everyone throw their own Windows ’07 launch (not “laugh” as I accidentally typed) party. Although either word would have worked.
Peace.
I bet ms stores brougt in all workers to help with the crowd and then they open the doors and no one is there. All these workers standing around doing nothing.
The only thing i see in the commercials they do is show how windows7 phone will help you be less confused with your smart phone. But then they don’t explain how it will do so and even why our current phones are confusing us.
Plus having the live updates on the tiles woke use allot of Internet when carriers are just going to limited data plans
@ Crabapple
Something like that.
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I quipped earlier that any evidence of lines was probably because MS was giving out Hannah Montana tickets. It turns out there was a kernel of truth to that. Check out this link http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2010/11/02/how-microsoft-is-guaranteeing-big-lines-for-windows-phone-7s-us-launch/. Apparently, they’re giving out Maroon 5 tickets on the west coast and Katy Perry tickets on the East coast. Pathetic.