I wouldn't use one example to prove a rule. First mover advantage may not be permanent when coupled with poor business skills, but it can give you enough starting cash to keep your product one step ahead of the rest if wisely use.
I would be interested to hear what strategy alternatives you believe there are for the many non-US developers to get their apps to market either prior to the G1s' full launch or in the first weeks or month of availability? A few may be know people who can get them a G1, a few may go to the grey market, but for most emulator only testing is the only cost-effective strategy. Al. Mark Murphy wrote: > Al Sutton wrote: > >> This would be a great idea if Google made the hardware available to >> everyone, but for developers who are part of the 95% of the worlds >> population who don't live in the US they have a choice; >> >> a) Release and rely on user feedback to help development. >> >> b) Hold back until they can get a device and risk losing out to >> developers in Googles preferred markets that are able to release code >> soon after the G1 is available. >> > > I agree that, ideally, there'd be a way to purchase unlocked hardware > through a developer program. Problem is, I suspect this is a prime > loophole for device speculators who resell hardware on eBay. Besides, > the contracts between HTC and T-Mobile might not have allowed it, > regardless of what Google or any other OHA member might have wanted or > not wanted. > > >> So, although an release of emulator tested code may not be ideal, for >> many it's going to be the only option if they want to get things >> rolling, and who knows, developers may end up with users who do have >> G1s' who are want to help test and app and give feedback as opposed to >> having to wait until Google decide to launch the phone in the developers >> market. >> > > That's one attitude. Another is "you only have one chance to make a > first impression". > > Bear in mind that first-mover advantage is an advantage, not a guarantee > of success or, conversely, indicator of failure if you're not first. I > get the impression that plenty of iPhone apps that weren't available on > Day One have still gotten popular. Furthermore, if first-mover advantage > were permanent, we should all still be using WordStar as our word > processor. The fact that we aren't demonstrates that first-mover > advantage is not a permanent winning state. > > I'm not questioning that, for some developers and some apps, launching > based on emulator-only testing is the right strategy. I do dispute the > notion that it is the only strategy. > > And now, I sit back and wait for somebody to reply, "I *do* still use > WordStar, you insensitive clod!"... ;-) > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
