Omnia 2 vs. iPhone 4

June 27, 2010 – Omnia 2 vs. iPhone 4

Some people have been crediting the iPhone 4G as a phone of miracles – able to cure cancer, levitate, and turn into a Transformer that will protect humanity from extinction.

As much as iPhone 4G is a great phone, it would be beneficial to understand what else can be offered to a customer that may not be able to afford the iPhone, the iPhone is not a perfect fit for them, or your sales targets haven’t been hit this month and you can’t wait until July. Please forward this to your team.

Let’s do our own World Cup face-off, shall we?

New on iPhone 4G	Samsung Omnia 2
Forward-facing camera	Got it.
High-def screen with video recording up to 720p at 30 frames per second	Si.
5 megapixel camera w/Flash	Check.
Multi-tasking	Of course.

For the right customer, the Omnia 2 is the better choice:
1. Storage Space – iPhone 4G is sold at 16GB or 32 GB with no chance for expandable memory. Omnia 2 is sold with 16GB and support for 32GB MicroSD card = 48 GB in total! Plus, expandable means that you can rotate SD cards in and out of the phone. Great for different content during different needs of the day.

2. Flash Web Browsing – Flash is what you need to watch the World Cup highlights at Fifa.com. A customer activating on a 3-year plan needs to think, within 3 years, will Flash become more prominent? By getting a non-Flash phone, am I limiting myself?

3. DLNA – Omnia 2 is a part of the Digital Live Network Alliance. In the future, most electronics will be DLNA-capable (meaning that your refrigerator can talk to your coffee maker, etc.). With DLNA, you can capture a high-def video on your Omnia 2 and stream it to your TV, immediately.

4. Price – most importantly, iPhone 4G is $200 on a 3-year plan. Omnia 2 is $0 on a 3-year plan. Your customers that are tight on budget don’t have to be left behind.

Introducing Windows Phone 7

March 31, 2010 – Introducing Windows Phone 7

Exploding into the marketplace for Holiday 2010 is Windows Phone 7 Series. When you see the word “series” tacked to the end of a phone brand, you know we mean business.

However, right now Windows Phone 7 Series is like Fight Club – the first and second rule of Fight Club is…you don’t talk about Fight Club. Reason being that you can expect more amazing 6.5 phones to be released in the upcoming year and customers have a lovely habit of withholding activations in anticipation.

Please forward to your reps to keep them in the know. This is a preview of Windows Phone 7 so that when customers ask, you can drop our industry’s favourite line “…there are no hard information on release dates/phones/features but as soon as there is, we will be the first to know”.

Office Mobile 2010+ Music & Video with Zune + Gaming with Xbox Live + Live tiles – bringing together your Start home screen + Bing smart search – one easy button access + Integrated Hub system – completely redesigned innovative interface = Windows Phone 7…or for short – OMG, Let’s Buy It!

For more information and up-to-date news on Windows Phone 7, visit the following link or add me on Twitter (@vancityshan):

http://www.windowsphone7series.com/

Telus reps can access free online training to help you sell the current product – 6.1 & 6.5:

http://www.windowsphoneexpert.com

Global App Marketplace

February 25, 2010 – Global App Marketplace

Like the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Windows Phones are working to bring the world to us. Just released, the latest Windows App Marketplace update features an additional setting called “World View”. In this view, customers can spy on the app catalogue of foreign countries and download their apps.

Because in Canada, we may not sell cell phones in igloos, and we don’t actually have earmuff-wearing Sasquatches running around at every street corner, but we do open our arms to each unique individual!

This truly enhances the user experience for your customers as this will allow them to use their phone as if they were in their native country – they can read the reviews of fellow Germans in Germany, browse and use native Mexican apps in their Spanish language, and all with no need to conform to one standard.

For example:

• One of the most popular apps in Taiwan is “Tranzwhiz”, a very handy Chinese translation tool.
• The French are eco-friendly with “Ecogyzer”, an exclusive app that allows companies to measure and track the KMs that their employees drive

To get the update, App Marketplace will automatically search for it on launch or you can force the update by simply reinstalling the App Marketplace. Apps can also be installed and run from the SD card, which means you have all the space in the world for a 3D “Call of Duty” shootout, widely popular in all countries that contain men.

Link: http://marketplace.windowsphone.com/default.aspx

Maximizing the Touch Screen

February 10, 2010 – Maximizing the Touch Screen

I’ve noticed (and you might have to) that some customers when testing out the Windows Phones will lightly pet the screen surface with the ball of their finger like they would pet a small premature baby monkey… and then they will marvel in utter shock at how nothing is moving.

Although the tenderness is admirable, Windows phones use resistive touch screens (as opposed to capacitive touch screens) meaning that it is activated by pure pressure (instead of activated by “heat”).

The good news is that certain customer segments greatly benefit from resistive touch phones. So please share with your reps these customer segments:

1.)    Any women (or men) that have long fingernails. They can maximize their fingernails to glide through the touch screen with ease and efficiency.

2.)    Anyone that lives/works in cold climates (outdoor workers, Eskimos, residents of any Canadian city besides Vancouver). They can maximize their gloves to use their Smart Phone and keep warm, at the same time!

3.)    Business customers that use a stylus. They can maximize their stylus for precision editing of Microsoft Office documents and Internet Explorer Mobile web browsing. Lacking a stylus, they can use a nearby pen, a prosthetic arm, a twig from the ground…

Dating with the Omnia 2

February 2, 2010 – Dating with the Omnia 2

Throughout the Olympics, I plan to keep you in the know, as we welcome all the foreign customers coming in!

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, so speaking of couplings, let’s explore how the Samsung Omnia II + Windows Mobile 6.5 complement each other.

Like Ying & Yang, the best approach to a killer sale is pairing up the killer hardware + OS combinations. So forward to your reps these killer combos:

Omnia II DVD-Quality Video Capture + WinMo Facebook

Back in my day, online dating was taboo. Not the case anymore! With 480p video capture capabilities and a more full-featured Facebook application that supports uploading videos, you can record yourself saving orphan babies and then sit and relax as the messages come pouring in!

Omnia II 800Mhz Processor + Internet Explorer Flash Web Browsing

Boasting a supremely fast processer with HSPA means that you can watch Flash animation at near-PC speeds – crucial if you want to view that Flash Valentines e-card your significant other sent you.

Omnia II DLNA Capability + Microsoft Office Mobile

Omnia II is part of the Digital Living Network Alliance, an increasingly growing network of hardware and appliances. This means that you can create a sappy Powerpoint slide of “Best Moments” and then project it over-the-air onto your DLNA-enabled TV to WOW your significant other. Very handy for business professionals as well as this essentially extends the screens available outside of to Smart Phone to project, view, and edit Office docs.

Omnia II 5.0 Megapixel/Panoramic Camera + 6.5 Photo Editing

With a beautiful camera system, you can maximize your 6.5 native photo editing abilities – crop, auto-correct, and add effects. The wide panoramic camera is great for romantic scenic views – or in the case of Tiger Woods, enough room to fit in all 17 girlfriends.

Dating with the LG IQ

January 26, 2010 – Dating with the LG IQ

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, so speaking of couplings, let’s explore how LG + Windows Mobile 6.5 complement each other!

Like Ying & Yang, the best approach to a killer sale is pairing up the killer hardware + OS combinations. So please share with your reps these killer combos:

LG IQ 1Ghz Snapdragon Processor + Internet Explorer Flash Web Browsing

Boasting a supremely fast processer with HSPA means that you can watch Flash animation at near-PC speeds – crucial if you want to view that Flash Valentines e-card your significant other sent you. Plus, it’s like what your Mother-in-Law turns into after 20 years of marriage…a Snapdragon.

LG IQ Smart Sensor + Microsoft Office Mobile

Turbo-scroll through long lists with this finger motion sensor, great for intricate needlework on the phone – like editing Word/Excel documents.

LG IQ Fingerprint Scanner + 6.5 Lock Screen

Put your best face forward and the skeletons-in-your-closet safely locked in your phone with iron-clad security, including registering your fingerprints to unlock the phone. No need to unlock your phone to see your missed notifications, WinMo 6.5 highlights all missed notifications and lets you unlock straight to them. Because that missed call could be a missed opportunity and you’ll want to get to it fast!

LG IQ 5.0 Megapixel Camera + 6.5 Photo Editing & Upload

With a beautiful camera system, you can maximize your 6.5 native photo editing abilities. Crop out your face for a great Facebook profile picture, adjust for red-eye, then send it straight to Facebook directly on your phone. Then watch as the messages pour in!

Custom Theme Generator

December 16, 2009 – Custom Theme Generator

My name is Shan Shan. Awhile back, I was waiting at the swine flu clinic, searching the web for the best phone theme when SUDDENLY an idea popped into my brain (cut to absurdly more attractive version of myself doing reenactment) – my phone theme should be…completely my design! 

And voila, next thing you know, Microsoft comes out with the Custom Theme Generator website.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/theme-generator.mspx

Through this website, I was able to:

1. Decide exactly how my colour scheme would look
2. Choose my own wallpaper and background
3. Install and share it with friends easily and quickly

Now I know what you are thinking – “Shan Shan you should sue Bill Gates for stealing your idea” but hey it’s Christmas and sharing is caring! I guess that’s what Billy calls “philanthropy”.

I’m a Windows Phone and 6.5 was MY idea!

(P.S. This e-mail may or may not have been a complete rip off of the Windows 7 commercials.)

Work & Play Apps

December 8, 2010 – Work & Play Apps

As the holiday season is rolling along, please share with your team these killer apps for both work and play…and everything in between!

Everything in Between – Productivity Apps

1. Fill’er Up – If you are like me, the fuel monitor on your car is really just a decoration. So when that flashing red gas light goes off, I seriously need to find a gas station! One click of this app tells you your location (via cell tower), the location of the nearest gas stations, and directions/map of how to get there.
2. Find My ATM – Because that $2.50 charge per withdrawal at a foreign ATM is annoying…
3. Find My Bru – There is a Starbucks at every corner, unless you are actually looking for one. In that case, all the Starbucks have conveniently disappeared off the face of the earth…but somehow you managed to find 7 Tim Hortons. This app will help you find both Starbucks and Tim Hortons.
4. Park n’ Find – You can pinpoint your location and snap a picture to remind yourself of where you parked.

(above are free downloads at Windows App Marketplace)

Play Apps

1. 2000+ Games including many popular Xbox titles – Call of Duty, Madden, Need for Speed, NBA Live, etc.
2. A slew of social networking apps available – Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc.
3. Facebook Chat App! http://fim.lotion.org/fim.Mosko.Mobi.CAB

(above available in Windows App Marketplace or at various internet sites)

Work Apps

1. Office Mobile: Includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, OneNote
2. Remote Desktop Mobile: Access your laptop/desktop from your Windows phone to edit files on-to-go
3. Internet Sharing/Wireless Modem: Turns your Windows phone into a modem to allow internet sharing with your laptop (Digital Life Canada did a study showing 83% of Canadians would be interested in this feature when buying a phone)

(above should be already installed in Windows phones)

App Marketplace Available for 6.1

December 24, 2009 – App Marketplace Available for 6.1

Please share with your team that Windows Phone App Marketplace is now available for all Windows 6.0 and 6.1 series phones.

To download, you can visit this website with your phone:

http://mp.windowsphone.com

Apps can be browsed from the phone, or from your PC desktop at:

http://marketplace.windowsphone.com/Default.aspx

All apps from the Marketplace are:
1.) Refundable! – great for when your kids get a hold of your phone and decide it’d be a hilarious idea to spend your money
2.) Backed up – great for when you are resting your phone on your lap in the car, and then just as you get out, you realized you hurled your phone into a big pothole of water…this is basically a monthly event for me…
3.) Certified – guarantees that your downloaded apps weren’t programmed by two creepy guys in a dark alley with a vicious plan for global phone apocalypse

So check out the great work and play apps in the Marketplace!

Try My Phone Premium Features for Free

November 23, 2009 – Try My Phone Premium Features for Free

As you know, My Phone is our free back-up service available here:

http://myphone.microsoft.com

In addition to the back-up and device content management tools within the website, we also have Premium features that will help you find your phone.

This includes 4 features:

1.  Ring – you can ring your phone even if it is on vibrate
2.  Locate – you can locate your phone from the last time My Phone synced. If your phone was turned on when you lost it, you can go to the website and start a manual sync. Otherwise, the last sync by default will be midnight of the last night. Of course, it won’t tell you which corner of the couch your phone is, but it will pinpoint the intersection/block to help jolt your memory
3. Lock & Flash Message – you can ask your phone to lock and flash a message
4. Wipe – when all hope is lost, you can wipe your phone’s content so the FBI will have nothing on you!

So please share this with your team and your customers, as it is free to try for the first time (after that, it is $5 per use). Happy phone finding.