Android is hotter than ever. Google has made tremendous strides in the OS with the release of Android 2.1 and the forthcoming Android 2.2 Froyo release. There’s plenty of talk about how fragmentation is hurting Google, but a bigger issue that’s hurting adoption of the platform has been the inability of carriers to keep popular phones in stock. Both phones, the Droid Incredible and HTC EVO 4G, are both manufactured by HTC. With the Droid X coming, will HTC be the biggest loser in the Android wars this summer?
In April, Verizon released the Droid Incredible, manufactured by HTC. It launched with glowing reviews and was sold out relatively quickly. This situation hasn’t changed much since April. While we don’t have any concrete numbers on devices shipped to Verizon over the past few months, it hasn’t been enough to meet demand. The situation is only getting worse, with the wait now well over a month. If you order a Droid Incredible from Verizon Wireless, the device will ship by July 14th. That’s almost a cool month before you can get a Droid Incredible, a device that was released almost 2 months ago. The Droid was Verizon’s biggest seller, so why wouldn’t they anticipate big sales for the Droid Incredible? Perhaps they did, but HTC simply cannot meet demand. Either way, Verizon customers are left sitting on the sideline or jumping ship. With the Droid X rumored for a July 19th release, you might start to see customers waiting for the new Motorola phone.
This issue isn’t just Verizon’s problem. Sprint’s EVO 4G, also manufactured by HTC, is the world’s first 4G phone. Again, great reviews and major buzz. If you want to buy the HTC EVO 4G from Sprint’s online site, you are out of luck. A message reads, “Sold out, check back later – more on the way”. As if to keep you waiting, and not shop elsewhere, Sprint also includes this message confirming the hotness of the device.
Sorry, this device is so hot we can’t keep it on our virtual shelves. Check back later – more are on their way!
It’s great that Sprint is having success with the HTC EVO 4G and that it “can’t keep it on their virtual shelves”. While Verizon doesn’t include this added marketing speak, their Droid Incredible is suffering from the same hotness. In the end, that doesn’t help get phones in peoples hands.
So we’ve got two hot Android devices, both out of stock during a timeframe that both Sprint and Verizon could be selling devices like hotcakes. That window of opportunity is closing and fast. Apple’s iPhone 4 will go on sale next week and that’s a juggernaut. It still remains to be seen if Apple will be able to keep the iPhone 4 in stock, considering they sold out of pre-orders on day one. The biggest loser here might just be HTC. They have two hot phones on two carriers, both desperate to get more phones on the shelf. Right now, they are competing with older phones, such as Verizon’s original Droid. That will likely keep folks waiting for stock of the Incredible. The EVO 4G is still the big fish in Sprint’s pond, so again limited choices for those who cannot procure an EVO. Being the only 4G phone will also help keep this as the “phone to get” on Sprint. For those who don’t mind switching carriers, another big display Android device will stir things up. Next Wednesday Verizon will introduce the Droid X. If Motorola is able to deliver this phone soon and in mass quantities, it could be the new Android flavor of the week. This industry moves fast. Having a popular phone doesn’t secure success. You need to get them on the shelves. There will be no shortage of hot phones this summer, but the real winner will be the phone that customers can actually buy.
18 comments
HTC EVO 4g is not first world 4G phone. First was been HTC MAX 4g. It was begin sale in Russia in 2008
I know! And it wasn’t even the first 4G Wimax phone for sale in the U.S., actually. Why does everyone keep touting it as the “first”? If a product launches in the woods but no American corporation hears it, does it make a sound?
Sprint touts it prominently in their advertisements as being a first. That’s basically what the entire 30 second commercial tries to convey, so to answer your question, basically people are going by what they were told by Sprint.
Sprint touts it as “the first 3G/4G phone”. According to my limited research (reading the previous 3 comments), what sprint says is technically correct
After further research, I noticed on sprint’s webpage that they do in fact tout it as “EVO, THE FIRST 4G PHONE” all in caps no less. Shame on Sprint. When I bought the evo, they were calling it the first 3G/4G phone.
I am waiting too! And this article is right, when the heat is gone, I am shopping elsewhere!
The difference between EVO and Incredible is that Incredible has supply issues due to high failure rate with manufacturing AMOLED screens. The demand is high but the supply is weeks behind.
EVO is simply selling daily stock. HTC is making and delivering EVOs every day but they sell as soon as they get out there. Word is, HTC is able to make over 15K EVOs a day.
EVO is selling way way more than Incredible.
Aren’t the AMOLED screens used in the incredible being made by Samsung? And they can’t meet the demand? So how’s that going fare with the galaxy s? Going to all carriers it will see huge sales, will HTC simply be up the river?
Verizon Motorola Droid-loved it syncing to google but husband has been through 2 and mine has had its issues —the real problem is the expensive phone plans-we pay 124. for family plan-plus 30 per phone for data plus insurance and its well over $200 a month and don’t even get one bar signal at home….Alaska is part of the North American Continental USA yet they charged us roaming charges when we were in Anchorage and Fairbanks and barely held a signal–A T & T gophone -cheap $60 plan with unlimited everything except data and it had a full signal…. Looks like we are getting the new Iphone 4…when its available as its worth the wait.
Coverage is still key, where I work (in a basement) the only signal is AT&T, however, outside the basement – all the major carriers have a really strong signal. Still, for me AT&T is too expensive.
For two unlimited data plans, two phone household, I pay 90 per month with 600 shared voice minutes between the phones on T-mobile. The other carriers don’t come close to that. The reason it’s a bit less, is one of our phones is a Nokia Nuron, and T-mobile treats that like a feature phone – $10 per month data plan, unlimited, even though it is a 3g phone with a touch screen, webkit browser, and free turn by turn navigation.
Still I had to go with a Nuron to get that price…so there is a tradeoff. The other phone is a blackberry 9700, which is also a 3g phone, however, for whatever reason, t-mobile allows tethering on this phone which it classifies as a ‘data phone’ (most of t-mobiles phones that allow tethering are also restricted to the edge network, but not this one, it uses 3g).
All in all, to get a 3g tethering plan, turn by turn navigation, unlimited data on 2 phone lines, for 90 bucks a month…in the U.S. right now, thats hard to beat – the only downside is, no iPhone or Android goodness…while they have Android phones, it would cost considerably extra to do the same thing with Android phones, based on T-mobiles pricing structure.
You are right Robert-It isn’t always about the bells and whistles…affordability, services, coverage all are considerations. A lot of people see the ads for a new cell and they have to have it-hyped up expensive cells that in a few months will be outdated and reduced in price. T mobile was great for us too but when we moved the service sucked so we swapped. Coverage is what is most important to us not services. Kudo’s for doing your research and finding a plan you can afford that gives you the services you desired. Probably shouldn’t be using your cell at work anyway so that was a con you could cross off. That’s what they make breaks for. Pro’s far out weigh the con’s with what you have going on.
I’ve checked inventory of the EVO at a half dozen Radio Shacks in my area and they all have stock. I don’t see a huge availability problem with the EVO. Tempest in a teapot it seems. Sprint has good value, good service.
This article is spot on. I was kicking myself for not buying the Incredible soon after its release and now have to wait until mid-July to get one. If the Droid X will be available next month (and assuming its reviews are as good as the Incredible), then I might as well wait for it. The company that gets my business is the one that can actually sell me a product.
People, get a life. I ordered my Incredible online from Verizon in at end of May and got it 3 weeks later. It is not as much fun as getting it right away, but it is livable. It is an awesome phone and was definitely worth the wait. Definitely comparable to an iPhone.
Its not the 1st 4G phone but its the 1st Android 4G phone…
I ordered my incredible at best buy last weds and I took delivery on saturday – 3 whole days, up yours verizon store
Ever think about the fact that this is the HOTTEST phone of the summer? And maybe that’s why people are willing to wait a month for it. I know people who have it and they said there’s nothing like it on the market right now. Its capabilities plus the open source which allows the owner to program his own phone to fit his needs EXACTLY will win over all other phones available or soon to be available. Its a certain kind of person (a developer) who loves this phone. If you are someone who is “app-dicted” then no, htc is probably not the best phone for you. droid x is the closest competition to the iphone and in some ways better, and the person who chooses an iphone or replica cannot be compared to a person who would choose an open sourced phone like the htc. HTC owners MAKE the apps the X owners will be using. 😉 THAT’S why we’re willing to wait.
Best article on the subject of OUT OF STOCK issues with HTC, Verizon and Sprint.