We need a Surface Phone for flagship

[michail71]

I'm willing to bet MS execs read these boards for research purposes so I'd like to propose a marketing idea for them.

Create a high end flagship phone and call it the Surface Phone. No crazy 3-4 digit number schemes, etc and endless carrier variants that come out every other week, ENOUGH with that *&%@! The Lumia brand has just been way too saturated with low end devices that then get neglected.

Keep it simple and piggy back on the Surface brand. It will help unify the products, just like Windows 10 is doing.

And please, a large screen phablet version to replace the 1520 is needed. The iPhone 6+ has made this acceptable now. And please for the sake of humanity and all that's good in this world, don't skimp screen size on us. This can be the Surface Phone Pro.

 

[enixon]

The 640 XL is proof they know big phones have a place in the market. Granted it is 'only' 5.7", it still has a bigger screen than the iPhone 6+. Overall, the phone is physically the size of a 1520 as well. I don't think you will have to worry about them releasing a flagship phone that is around 5.7" or bigger.

I would like a Surface phone though, that has specific features that other Windows phones do not have.

 

[ACynicalLamp]

Well I said this earlier, but if you look at the ASUS Zen Phone 2 and look at the Surface 3, the former is as if the latter were smashed into a phone form factor. I think its reasonable to expect a Surface phone (continuum anyone?). Although I think they stated that Surface is for tablets and that weird 80 inch display they have. We don't have that long to wait anyways.

 

[sam6691]

Am excited to see what MS has to offer for FLAGSHIP PHONE, I will upgrade to it any how. But I wish there will be best features

 

[CapoFantasma97]

I think they would never mess a brand for tablet/PC hybrid with phones.
Lumia for smartphones, Surface for tablet and tablet/PC hybrids.
Also, Surface brand isn't so much strong here in Europe, one of the most relevant markets for Lumias, especially Italy, where the market share has always been stronger than other countries.
We just need a killer phone, a flagship that would take others down.
They also should make a 1020 sucessor, since it attracted many users for its massive specs for camera, ending up some of them took a Lumia, while other changed mind towards Windows Phone.

 

[Guytronic]

I'm willing to bet MS execs read these boards for research purposes

Microsoft doesn't rely on WC for any business analytics.
They pay huge amounts of money to consumer research firms to watchdog market trends.
Good decisions drive stock prices up.
Bad goes the other way.

Happy shareholders is what determines what will be.
I doubt they're happy with Microsoft Mobile right now.

 

[anon(5383410)]

Naming a phone Surface would cause more confusion than anything. I do agree that they need to knock it off with the numbering scheme for country variants. They could've just as easily done something with the sku/serial number so that sellers could differentiate,as in most cases they're the ones who are going to be concerned with it. Then they'd be able to have something like a Lumia S, Lumia and Lumia XL. The last thing you should lack while trying to gain traction is identity.

 

[michail71]

Microsoft doesn't rely on WC for any business analytics.
They pay huge amounts of money to consumer research firms to watchdog market trends.
Good decisions drive stock prices up.
Bad goes the other way.

Happy shareholders is what determines what will be.
I doubt they're happy with Microsoft Mobile right now.

Not saying they rely on it, just that they may see it. I've been involved in projects where we were browsing public forums out of simple curiosity. It was hard biting my tongue and not jumping in to the discussions.


I've been at companies that dump huge amounts of money into consumer research firms. Often ignoring their own internal creative talent that wound up being correct in the end. Marketing execs sometimes get caught up in spending those budgets while ignoring the simple ideas and common sense around them. Then since they paid a fortune for it they take it as gospel.

IHMO, these things have their place but nothing game changing or industry shaking ever comes from these research firms.

 

[bo_woods]

I agree, Surface Phone won't cause cause confusion IMO because one is called "Surface" and the other is called "Surface Phone" ! You hear the word phone after it and instantly know it's a phone! Like Samsung does the opposite.. Galaxy alone is their phone brand while Galaxy Tab is their android Tablet brand.. and its nice that way

 

[colinkiama]

I agree, Surface Phone won't cause cause confusion IMO because one is called "Surface" and the other is called "Surface Phone" ! You hear the word phone after it and instantly know it's a phone! Like Samsung does the opposite.. Galaxy alone is their phone brand while Galaxy Tab is their android Tablet brand.. and its nice that way

Surfaces aren't available everywhere so not everyone knows about them but lumias are becoming recognised in most places now. Scrapping the name to change it to surface would be a bad idea since the brand would have to gain attention again. It would be nice if they did something similar with the Lumia icon. Lumia (insert word here) and Lumia (use that word again) xl. That way you keep a more recognised brand and a name that no one will get confused with. Then when they plan to make a sequel, they can just add a 2 to the name, the customer will know exactly what it is too, it's foolproof

 

[bo_woods]

Surfaces aren't available everywhere so not everyone knows about them but lumias are becoming recognised in most places now. Scrapping the name to change it to surface would be a bad idea since the brand would have to gain attention again. It would be nice if they did something similar with the Lumia icon. Lumia (insert word here) and Lumia (use that word again) xl. That way you keep a more recognised brand and a name that no one will get confused with. Then when they plan to make a sequel, they can just add a 2 to the name, the customer will know exactly what it is too, it's foolproof

I really like that too! But the idea isn't to scrap Lumia period, it is just to Seperate Lumia from flagship phones.. budget and midrange phones would still be called Lumia.. But I really Like that idea ! Lumia Pro and Lumia Pro Xl maybe? And add 1,2,3,and so forth for each gen just like the they would with surface phone. .

 

[colinkiama]

I really like that too! But the idea isn't to scrap Lumia period, it is just to Seperate Lumia from flagship phones.. budget and midrange phones would still be called Lumia.. But I really Like that idea ! Lumia Pro and Lumia Pro Xl maybe? And add 1,2,3,and so forth for each gen just like the they would with surface phone. .

Thanks, but now that I've read this, your idea is awesome too, surface phone for the flagship and Lumia from the low end and midrange phones. It does make alot of sense.

 

[Tsang Fai]

So what exactly a "Surface Phone" is supposed to be, if there is any?

Is it a Windows Phone with the following?

• pen support
• a mini type cover? (does it make sense to type in such a tiny type cover...?)
• with a mini docking station (for continuum)?
• With kickstand? (But that will make the phone obviously thicker)

I am confused. Yes, "Surface" phone sounds great. But what do we expect it has to be?

 

[bo_woods]

Mop

So what exactly a "Surface Phone" is supposed to be, if there is any?

Is it a Windows Phone with the following?

• pen support
• a mini type cover? (does it make sense to type in such a tiny type cover...?)
• with a mini docking station (for continuum)?
• With kickstand? (But that will make the phone obviously thicker)

I am confused. Yes, "Surface" phone sounds great. But what do we expect it has to be?

It doesn't have to be anything more than an updated, modern and astounding flagship windows phone that succeeds Nokias previous flagships.. the Surface Phone moniker is simply a name, that some of us think a should be applied to future Microsoft flagship phones.. .it doesn't neccessarily have to have any type of laptop like features. .. Surface Phone just seems like better branding.. . But of course alongaide the phone being called Surface Phone, some design element swould have to change to make it more similar and blend in with the surface Tablet, such as a more metallic body, instead of a full plastic one.. The Surface Phone name doesn't neccessarily come along with a list of speca and features that It needs to be itself nor is It a specific physical concept within itself .. It is just a brand some people think Microsoft should use, along with a little bit more of consistence between the flagship Microsoft phone and it's Tablet/laptop brother

Just my 2 pennies

 

[michail71]

Lumia Surface, lol! But I really do think the Lumia line was oversaturated with products the majority of the public (at least high end market) have no interest in. It reminds me of the video card market. You really need to be an expert to make an sense of all the model numbers. Keep it simple, simple marketing.

Stats already show flagship phones are where app sales do their best too. And MS has not done much for that market. If they are pushing universal apps that should be a focus.

 

[michail71]

Also, people keep asking me if my Lumia 1520 is an iPhone. I tell them what it is and what os it run. Then they are curious and ask to take a closer look. I see some boredom with android in them and curiosity. Yet, they haven't heard much about the Lumia brand or WP in general. But they do seem curious for a change.

 

[Tsang Fai]

Mop

It doesn't have to be anything more than an updated, modern and astounding flagship windows phone that succeeds Nokias previous flagships.. the Surface Phone moniker is simply a name, that some of us think a should be applied to future Microsoft flagship phones.. .it doesn't neccessarily have to have any type of laptop like features. .. Surface Phone just seems like better branding.. . But of course alongaide the phone being called Surface Phone, some design element swould have to change to make it more similar and blend in with the surface Tablet, such as a more metallic body, instead of a full plastic one.. The Surface Phone name doesn't neccessarily come along with a list of speca and features that It needs to be itself nor is It a specific physical concept within itself .. It is just a brand some people think Microsoft should use, along with a little bit more of consistence between the flagship Microsoft phone and it's Tablet/laptop brother

Just my 2 pennies

Agree. The brand name "Surface" sounds much better than "Microsoft".

Surface has come to the attention of those Apple & Android users. More and more people say "Surface, wow, very nice". But for "Microsoft", they still have some negative impression.

Brand name is important to all Microsoft products. Windows Phone does need a fresh new brand name.

Microsoft has the power and experience to build another cool brand name, just like what they did for Surface Pro 3 / Surface 3, Xbox, etc.

A cool brand name attracts people to try the product without too much hesitation.

 

[snowmutt]

I like so may points being brought up on this thread:

The most important in my opinion, is NO MORE NUMBER SCHEMES!! Seriously- in this day and age when companies are spitting out devices like cherry pits at a juicing company number schemes are a death knell. It is a holdover from when Nokia was king of the mobile phone world and the Nokia name was enough to sell a phone. With the market over saturated with choices, number schemes are sterile and unable to gain any traction. Lumia is a great branding. Run with it. I do not care if you use lettering, nicknames of designers best friends, or even mountain ranges as a way to separate low from premium, just ditch the numbers.

The absolute LEAST they could is make the scheming more productive. Start over from scratch with W10. Designate a set of numbers for low end, mid range, and premium. Than stick in that number range for ALL your devices. If you say 300 is low end, so be it. That gives you 99 numbers. Go in order, and help your consumers to see what is the latest in the line (302 would be older than a 303 all day).

I do not even like that. But at least it would be easier to brand in the marketplaces.

 

[snowmutt]

Back on topic- I actually would prefer to stick with the Surface name for tablets. I have ZERO problems with a premium Lumia phone having the design language of a Surface tablet. I think that would amazing. But as far as branding I think Microsoft has been doing a nice job growing the Surface tablet line. And in all honesty the tablet line is much more important to MS's core audience than mobile phones. I would hate to water down one of the markets which is actually showing nice growth for MS just for the sake of another market.

 

[EMINENT 1]

I have a HUGE problem with the name Lumia and it makes me cringe every time I hear someone butcher it to Lumina. I've stated this many times in the past about how terrible it is. I'd like the transition to rebrand the flagship to Surface and keep Lumia's on low end or ditch the name forever. It's not recognized here in the states at least to people I know and in the workplace.