Okay, since some people got confused about this, we’ve broken the previous article here into two articles.
Following the release of the camera-less Treo 600, we feel it necessary to depict the typical process in the release of Sprint phones, as people continue to question why we don’t give minute-by-minute release information in these headlines. This is just a generic example, yes, we know the camera-less Treo 600 is only available in select channels.
Week before release: Online communities start to talk about people placing orders for phone. Orders turn out to not be real, but just sales reps writing down all the billing info on the hope that the phone is actually in-stock, and that their computer is lying about it not being for sale.
Days (1 – 5) before announcement: Some people manage to order phone, most fail and their money gets stuck in limbo.
Day of product announcement of release: Phone still isn’t fully cleared for sale yet with TeleSales, people begin calling, some people get orders, most are at least told to call back later.
48 Hours Later: TeleSales gets the memo that the phone is supposed to be released… starts selling it.
Seven days after announcement: Phone usually appears on web site.
Note to Sprint: Your customers will be more happy with you if products are launched in all channels (PR, TeleSales, Web, Stores) at the same time. If you need help on this, call me.
