On paper, the Droid Razr is the first phone that has come out, that I can recall, on top of an iPhone launch that is more advanced in nearly every way. It is thinner, it is lighter, faster, has longer battery life, and it is a 4G rather than a 3G phone. Based on specs alone, the Droid Razr obliterates the iPhone 4S, but I doubt many Apple folks will switch. Interestingly, I’m at an EMC event today and one of the questions to the business audience was on smartphone platforms: The only one they would block? Android. I think this highlights the long-term competitive problem for Google, and perhaps a possible opportunity for the Windows Phone platform on Nokia. It isn’t just about the hardware As this mostly CIO audience pointed out, the iPhone stands out because it’s the best overall solution on the planet. The app store is both the largest and the most aggressively vetted, the breadth of services the most complete, the accessories the most prevalent, and the integration with other things (like cars) the most common. In addition, it has the most loyal audience, and Apple traditionally has both the highest customer satisfaction and the highest customer advocacy scores (people who will actively promote Apple products). Representatives from company after company said they recently enabled Mac and iPad use in their firms, and were immediately overwhelmed by demand they didn’t have any idea existed. Clearly a cautionary tale for Microsoft and Windows. Apple seems to spend more time thinking through the complete solution, and in caring for its users, which gives it a sustaining advantage.
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