We need to make some noise on the lack of eco-system support, it's getting ridiculous.
Firstly, we lack apps for all of our leading banks: RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, and Scotiabank.
Secondly, we lack apps for our leading vendors: Tim Hortons, Cineplex, Good Life Fitness, Air Canada, WestJet, etc.
Thirdly, we even lack apps for public services, e.g. transit in some areas, Canada Post, and so on.
I get it, Canada doesn't have many Windows Phone users, sure. But here's the thing. How will we ever get 'enough' Windows Phone users if the platform doesn't have a retention strategy? Let's say someone from a feature phone buys a Lumia 520 for cheap. Given the lack of local support, it's more than likely (IMO) that the person will upgrade to an iPhone or Android device the moment they have the opportunity to do so. Windows Phone was a nice side trip, but it isn't offering enough to make it the real deal for most normal people.
What's compelling for most normal people, I think, is the ability to use Windows Phone at the places they visit daily (Tim Hortons/GoodLife/RBC) and regularly (Cineplex). Not only that, but to win people over we need Windows Phone's latent capabilities (i.e. Wallet and NFC) to be utilized in an appropriate fashion. But we're being left behind.
For example, Rogers has suretap Wallet (allowing for NFC payments via phone), not a single word about Windows Phone. We're also missing out on opportunities, such as Metrolinx and PRESTO. Think about Torontonians, imagine a commercial where a Lumia 1020 is used to buy you a coffee; then it starts up Transit and tells you to take the GO, and while you're at Union Station you use your phone at the PRESTO scanner; when you catch up on friends on Facebook/Instagram, but a you get a work email and open up a Word document... Man, a lot of people will be intrigued, that's a lot happening *relevant* to them (especially if phones come in at $250-300 off-contract).
Disappointing. So we should raise awareness. Get in touch with Microsoft, Nokia, Rogers/Bell/Telus, Tim Hortons, etc, and ask them to make an app. Not just one or two, but rather, as many of us as possible on any given day.
Firstly, we lack apps for all of our leading banks: RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, and Scotiabank.
Secondly, we lack apps for our leading vendors: Tim Hortons, Cineplex, Good Life Fitness, Air Canada, WestJet, etc.
Thirdly, we even lack apps for public services, e.g. transit in some areas, Canada Post, and so on.
I get it, Canada doesn't have many Windows Phone users, sure. But here's the thing. How will we ever get 'enough' Windows Phone users if the platform doesn't have a retention strategy? Let's say someone from a feature phone buys a Lumia 520 for cheap. Given the lack of local support, it's more than likely (IMO) that the person will upgrade to an iPhone or Android device the moment they have the opportunity to do so. Windows Phone was a nice side trip, but it isn't offering enough to make it the real deal for most normal people.
What's compelling for most normal people, I think, is the ability to use Windows Phone at the places they visit daily (Tim Hortons/GoodLife/RBC) and regularly (Cineplex). Not only that, but to win people over we need Windows Phone's latent capabilities (i.e. Wallet and NFC) to be utilized in an appropriate fashion. But we're being left behind.
For example, Rogers has suretap Wallet (allowing for NFC payments via phone), not a single word about Windows Phone. We're also missing out on opportunities, such as Metrolinx and PRESTO. Think about Torontonians, imagine a commercial where a Lumia 1020 is used to buy you a coffee; then it starts up Transit and tells you to take the GO, and while you're at Union Station you use your phone at the PRESTO scanner; when you catch up on friends on Facebook/Instagram, but a you get a work email and open up a Word document... Man, a lot of people will be intrigued, that's a lot happening *relevant* to them (especially if phones come in at $250-300 off-contract).
Disappointing. So we should raise awareness. Get in touch with Microsoft, Nokia, Rogers/Bell/Telus, Tim Hortons, etc, and ask them to make an app. Not just one or two, but rather, as many of us as possible on any given day.