Windows Phone TV Ad is a Little Confusing

By Marcus Yam, published on October 12, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: , , , , | Themes: Smartphones, 3GSM
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It's the Windows Phone! Except there is no "Windows Phone."

Windows Mobile, while it's been a staple of smartphones for much longer than Apple's been in the phone market, has taken a quick backseat to the iPhone.

Granted, Apple's iPhone is a wonderfully easy-to-use device that does surpass it's competition on many fronts, but the upcoming versions of Windows Mobile does a lot to bring Microsoft's compact OS back up-to-date.

The release of Windows Mobile 6.5 has given Microsoft a refreshed platform to work with, and its marketing department has to figure out how to best convey what's new and special.

The first step, it seems, is to call the Microsoft software-powered devices "Windows Phone," which is nice, but also confusing because it's a platform and not just a single product. Making it even more confusing is a new TV spot advertising Windows Mobile 6.5 devices for AT&T, which makes it appear as though a single Windows Phone exists.

Aside from that, the message of smartphone capabilities such as email, instant messenger, internet browser and even Twitter are conveyed quite clearly. Take a peek for yourself!

Windows Phone Microsoft 'Icons' TV Commercial

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Comments

burnley14 10/12/2009 7:05 PM
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Clever commercial, I like it.

aoster87 10/12/2009 7:07 PM
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I didn't find this confusing.

Honis 10/12/2009 7:13 PM
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It's a good marketing ploy. Maybe the author needs to get his head out of his Apple phone for a few hours to understand Windows Phone can mean any phone with Windows on it. It seems AT&T just got a new one. Looks like it has a bigger screen than the Apple Phone too.

icylobster 10/12/2009 7:24 PM
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I actually like this commercial, very amusing. It also didn't confuse me. However I think having the phone at AT&T may not be the best choice but hey, what do I know.

Mr_Man 10/12/2009 7:34 PM
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Most informative ad Microsoft has ever made.

Anonymous 10/12/2009 7:41 PM
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"Windows Phone" is a horrible name for an OS. AT&T is further confusing it since the sentence "new Windows Phone at AT&T" DOES imply that there is a product (available through AT&T) named "WIndows Phone", unless of course you already know that "Windows Phone" is actually software and not a phone.

But, of course, bringing up this OBVIOUS fact must mean that the author is an iPhone-lover...

Maxor127 10/12/2009 7:44 PM
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fooldog01 10/12/2009 7:49 PM
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Didn't confuse me when I saw it on TV for the first time the other day.

Anonymous 10/12/2009 7:55 PM
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Because of course a Windows PC would be confusing now...

ssalim 10/12/2009 7:57 PM
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Maxor127 :
I agree that it is confusing, and the commercial is pretty retarded. Only reason I understand it is because I read this article and I'm familiar with those icons. The average user isn't though. In any case, it's a stupid, ineffective commercial.



If users aren't familiar with those icons, then they don't need these phones.

o0RaidR0o 10/12/2009 8:00 PM
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At the end of the ad it clearly states in print its the new HTC Pure. No confusion here. I guess like most Americans we don't read the fine print and then cry afoul later.

jochamus 10/12/2009 8:00 PM
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@Maxor127

Sorry but do you expect people who buy a Windows based smartphone to not know how the Internet Explorer icon looks, the twitter icon or the Microsoft Word icon? I mean people who are genuinely interested in this phone will know it's functions and I suspect that people with a smartphone will have a PC too, which means the majority of people who watch this add will be watching it from a Windows PC or will own a Windows PC, and will know what the icon's are about, Microsoft doesn't expect Apple shoppers to buy their phone.

I think the add is one of the best Windows have brought out, the Windows 7 commercial, that was very vague though. This was nice and clear -the man simply wants all his programs with him and the phone makes it possible. Can't be much clearer in my opinion.

fulle 10/12/2009 8:02 PM
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cadder 10/12/2009 8:58 PM
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The announcement recently (before the ads) of a "windows phone" confused me. I've used Windows-based PDA's for quite awhile and now have a Samsung Epix WM phone. I liked the concept at first but I think it isn't as good when you try to integrate a phone into it. Granted I have WM6.1 Pro but I don't think the user interface compares well to the fruitphone. There are a lot of apps available for WM but that pales in comparison to the fruitphone app store.

I was in a meeting and somebody asked for a quick monthly rental calculation. The guy with the iphone found the icon on his screen, cranked up the app and did the calculation quicker than I could even find the calculator on my WM phone.

Not that I like the fruitphone but I'm not sure if windows-based phones can be competitive again.

aapocketz 10/12/2009 10:20 PM
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I don't get it. There was another commercial where the guy says i'm a PC, and he is clearly lying. He is obviously human. More misinformation from M$FT!

khimera2000 10/12/2009 10:20 PM
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i have a link right on my screen for me calculator :) i run a touch pro 2... and have to say i love it. htc's skinning job shows what windows mobile can do when someone cares.

geoffs 10/12/2009 10:33 PM
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Confusing ad? No.

Stupid, insipid, and off target ad? Yes.

I understand the value of having some of those items available while mobile, but why in the world would I want to take the bloated, slow, and non-compliant browser called IE with me?

pocketdrummer 10/12/2009 11:14 PM
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People miss the point of the article. It is confusing from a business standpoint because there isn't a Microsoft developed handheld.

The ad itself makes sense that it keeps a lot of the windows functionality you leave at home.

It still won't break me away from my iPhone 3GS though, lol. The last WM phone I had was a paperweight.

Anonymous 10/13/2009 12:39 PM
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When I was first introduced to the commercial on tv I wasn't watching the screen (who watches commercials anymore anyway?) and when they said "windows phone, now at AT&T: it DID confuse me. My first thought was: "Zune phone?!" but then later on I figured it out.

For those shouting: "OMG, stuwpid newbz not reading fine print" If they had put "Windows Phones" as in multiple phones, aka different phones it would have been much clearer. You wouldn't call a phone based on a java platform a Java Phone would you?

nerdherd 10/13/2009 12:41 PM
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I don't like the new name. I'm a fan of the name "Windows Mobile". It made sense...why change a name that makes sense? I know they're trying to improve the Windows Mobile name a little since 6.5 came out, but just make the OS better and there's no need to rename it.

Kelavarus 10/13/2009 1:27 AM
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I can see how this could be confusing.

I mean, it's a smart phone, and everyone I know who has a smartphone clearly bought it because they figured if their phone was smart, they don't have to be...

Belardo 10/13/2009 1:26 PM
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Blows away the billy gates and Seinfield ADs.

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