Blade doing well in the UK

[Guest rjm2k]

As if you didn't know it anyway, but ZTE seem happy with their runaway success in the UK and have even noticed the grey market whatver that refers to

http://wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/press_center/pr...213_195847.html

[Guest Nedjo]

hopefully ZTE really appreciate this and will support Blade / San Francisco with proper Android 2.3 update!

[Guest veehexx]

grey market - similar to cars... basically import something into a country that it isnt sold in.

2.3/ongoing support would be an excellent way to say thankyou :)

a fully working 2.2 would be nice actually; that doesnt freeze and touchscreen becoming unresponsive.

[Guest HMZX]

this could help them up their game to make even better quality phones

PUT OLED BACK ON ALL BLADES!!!!!!! :)

[Guest Rem1x]

That's excellent news! It's good to know ZTE are taking note of us, roll on 2.2/3!

:)

[Guest rayraven]

^+1, Would be great to get Official Froyo/Gingerbread!

@rjm2k

Can you ask ZTE guys if they have any plans for Europe?

[Guest Victor von Zeppelin]

That's genuinely lovely news. If a company like zte can produce such quality hardware at such fantastic prices, they deserve all the success they can muster. Also, if they can keep up the success, they could teach the whole industry to be more competitive at a lower price in general.

[Guest rjm2k]

grey market - similar to cars... basically import something into a country that it isnt sold in.

Yeah thanks I know what a Grey market is, just wasn't sure if they are referring to the re-sale of phones abroad or the modding thing.

[Guest cgk]

That's genuinely lovely news. If a company like zte can produce such quality hardware at such fantastic prices, they deserve all the success they can muster. Also, if they can keep up the success, they could teach the whole industry to be more competitive at a lower price in general.

It's the natural evolution of any consumer marketplace, as the devices turn into commodities, you see more players enter the market and prices are forced down - ZTE are working on low margins and high volumes and everyone will have to react - so expect to see many more £100 or less android devices.

[Guest flatnote31]

It's the natural evolution of any consumer marketplace, as the devices turn into commodities, you see more players enter the market and prices are forced down - ZTE are working on low margins and high volumes and everyone will have to react - so expect to see many more £100 or less android devices.

that's not always true...actually some companies aim to have their own cult and followers who like to distinguish themselves no matter the cost...the "Rotten Fruit" being the most abundant example :)

HTC tried with devices like the WildFire to reach down to customers on a budget but the output was rubbish..And obviously they tried not to cut down cost...they just lowered the h/w config.

And let's not forget that the vast majority out there have no interest in unlocking, modding or just cannot do it.

[Guest Rem1x]

that's not always true...actually some companies aim to have their own cult and followers who like to distinguish themselves no matter the cost...the "Rotten Fruit" being the most abundant example :)

HTC tried with devices like the WildFire to reach down to customers on a budget but the output was rubbish..And obviously they tried not to cut down cost...they just lowered the h/w config.

And let's not forget that the vast majority out there have no interest in unlocking, modding or just cannot do it.

To be fair, I used my friend's new WildFire. It's actually pretty nice. Feels much more solid than the SF, brushed Aluminium and all that. Sense runs pretty well on it.

Still, I'd not choose it over the SF.

[Guest flatnote31]

To be fair, I used my friend's new WildFire. It's actually pretty nice. Feels much more solid than the SF, brushed Aluminium and all that. Sense runs pretty well on it.

Still, I'd not choose it over the SF.

That's my point. One prefers performance over aesthetics( as long as build quality is satisfactory)

SF as I see it is 60~70% of the Desire/NexusOne, and it costs less than 33% of either.

I wasn't dissing the WildFire...I was pointing out how HTC acts in terms of "reaching down to customers on budget" ....

Personally, I'd love to see'em all banging each other as it all ends up in our favour...the user who has to pay and arm and a leg to get a decent handset that can perform well :)

[Guest cnhust]

As if you didn't know it anyway, but ZTE seem happy with their runaway success in the UK and have even noticed the grey market whatver that refers to

http://wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/press_center/pr...213_195847.html

That sounds a very good news, wish ZTE bring more perfect smartphones to us!

[Guest veehexx]

Yeah thanks I know what a Grey market is, just wasn't sure if they are referring to the re-sale of phones abroad or the modding thing.

ah sorry - should of noticed that :) i hope i didnt come across as insulting - wasnt my intention :)

[Guest veehexx]

It's the natural evolution of any consumer marketplace, as the devices turn into commodities, you see more players enter the market and prices are forced down - ZTE are working on low margins and high volumes and everyone will have to react - so expect to see many more £100 or less android devices.

surely that was the whole point of android wasnt it - open source bringing down the cost of devices.. money was/is being made from adverts rather than royalties on the handset device...

[Guest nikatapi]

So i hope ZTE recognizes the success of the Blade, and brings an Official 2.3 update to keep people interested in buying the device :)

[Guest Richard_Arkless]

surely that was the whole point of android wasnt it - open source bringing down the cost of devices.. money was/is being made from adverts rather than royalties on the handset device...

There is also other factors as well like the time spent customising the software and developing the device, if they just chucked a vanilla rom onto it, the price of the phone would probably be reduced. I think this is where the sf really shines, there isnt much customisation on it in terms of software which is why its £99

more time spent = more hours worked = more money spent = higher price device

[Guest bagge]

Yeah thanks I know what a Grey market is, just wasn't sure if they are referring to the re-sale of phones abroad or the modding thing.

The modding thingie was the first thought that hit me too.

I hope they bring out a 2.3 update too, if nothing else maybe provide "unofficial" source code that wouldnt have to go through so thorough testing on their behalf. I think most of us that cares about updates are techy enough to consider fiddling with custom roms.

[Guest paper doll]

quality hardware at such fantastic prices, they deserve all the success they can muster. Also, if they can keep up the success, they could teach the whole industry to be more competitive at a lower price in general.

I've had two break in the 10 days I've owned them and can't see the quality to be honest, don't know who's more chip shop, ZTE or Orange.

Edited December 15, 2010 by paper doll

[Guest paper doll]

Deleted

Edited December 15, 2010 by paper doll

[Guest]

The future's bright, the future's Orange :)

But seriously, just wait until ZTE get serious. Imagine the ZTE Blade without the small hardware and software flaws. I would happily pay £50 more for such a phone.

[Guest Maringer]

I moved to the SF from an HTC Touch HD. The SF knocks the TouchHD into a cocked hat in almost every respect but I do miss the slightly larger screen. I hope ZTE is working on a Snapdragon device with a screen of, say, 3.8 inches. Heck, I'd even pay £150 quid for one of them! :) :)

[Guest cgk]

that's not always true...actually some companies aim to have their own cult and followers who like to distinguish themselves no matter the cost...the "Rotten Fruit" being the most abundant example :)

HTC tried with devices like the WildFire to reach down to customers on a budget but the output was rubbish..And obviously they tried not to cut down cost...they just lowered the h/w config.

And let's not forget that the vast majority out there have no interest in unlocking, modding or just cannot do it.

Apple (who I guess you are talking about) have brand equity which means they can still differentiate in that way (like in the PC market, they don't turn out a £299 macbook), ZTE can't, so they are competiting on price - the smartphone market is no different from the PC market or the DVD market and is following the same economic movements.

surely that was the whole point of android wasnt it - open source bringing down the cost of devices.. money was/is being made from adverts rather than royalties on the handset device...

And more broadly to become the most ubiquitous OS - which is on it's way to happening, absolutely no other OS is operating at so many prices points with the market.