"Distribution Inefficiency" in telecommunication products

by Alan Razmi
During past few days I was reviewing different market places for similar products (in my case, smart phones) and I was surprisingly shocked and confused in terms of availability, services, price, etc. and I've found a great deal of failure in efficient distribution plans and policies...

Nowadays when we purchase a smart phone - in my example - we are not just buying a device but getting other many things extra and beside it such as few accessories like speaker headphones, power adapters, connection cables, manuals, services and also apps pre-installed in to that device. so by purchasing one device we already get more than one item in which some can be replaced, purchased, repaired or removed separately and individually dealt as an extra item. in to that we should add lots and lots of other accessories that are available for one or set of devices as peripherals which in my point of view are as important and required as the device itself, such as bluetooth headsets/keyboard and mouses, speakers, stands and ducks, chargers, cables, cases, batteries, etc. that are produced by the same phone manufacturer and exclusively for it's own products.

So as we see above each manufacturer faces a great value of different products that are somehow related but yet need different considerations in planning, production, distribution and so on... and here is where the problem occurs.
   
What I sow during my review was a huge gap between producing different productions and to make them ready and available in different market places... to illustrate this issue I'll set an example...

I was looking for a smartphone to purchase and also some of it's peripherals like a stand, an extra battery and charger, a USB OTG connector, a protecting case and a high capacity micro SD memory card... and guess what ? I could not get what I wanted in just one market or even I could not get it at all in any market itself despite of having them launched already and it is really annoying.

• First of all, the manufacturer informed about 3 variation of the device with different memory capacities in which they only launched the entry level of it (in where I'm right now) with the least memory size (16 GB) but with a very appropriate price tag so perhaps the other two higher versions would be more expensive in which I prefer to pay and to get them but there is no any trace of them any where so I've tried to contact the manufacturer and request for more further info. and as you know, no proper respond.
• Next I've realized there are even more variations of the same device and it made the case even more confusing with different options, accessories coming with device, apps, networks so on and so forth based on different locations (even if they might be under the same network structure).  
• Further, I've found that in some market areas (locations) which the device is launched, it is not a complete set of prompted devices in terms of specifications/capacities, either they launched just the lower version (like where I am now) or higher one's which results in to even more confusion and customer inconvenience and by the time they start to launch them, the device itself is out dated and old enough to discourage me not to go for it.
• Finally and more importantly is the case of peripherals and their availability in different locations; and believe me that is the one which makes my review full-fledged... in those places that the device is not yet launched I've found a plenty number of genuine peripherals already available and on the other hand lack of extras in the locations that the device is launched and being sold.

I believe what I've mentioned above is what every one of us have experienced, though in different fields and products but mostly in the same level and feel. I think this is just a result of miss planning and targeting in which leads directly into product distribution inefficiency and also into more confusion for customers as it will force them to choose their choices among only few options that are available or are given by the manufacturer for that period of time due to lack of availability and though they are aware of other options that suits them better.

As every body knows, telecommunication devices ranged from mobile phones to the smart phones and newly-come favorite tablets, all are as important as their exclusive or common extra peripherals in which the variety of them and number of productions just shows and tells about their demands.
 

I personally found it not pleasant struggling a lot to get exactly what I want though I know every item of it is ready and launched but I should still search around the world, collecting them just like the pieces of a puzzle and from different market places and with lots of difficulties so I might finally get what I've planed to buy at the first place.

And yet there is not any clear response or answer to this confusion and discomfort, at least not in my case and not from my reviewed manufacturer...

So what do you think about this matter ? and What are the reasons of it in your point of view ? Have you ever experienced the same ?  just share with us what do you think and what can be done ?

by Alan Razmi

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Samsung Galaxy Note II presented and launched in Inida

OK... finally the waits are over and the gigantic Samsung's super smart phone - the second generation - Samsung Galaxy Note II, was arrived, Presented and Launched in India on 27th of September in Hyderabad.

Recorded coverage of the event can be found further at the bottom of this post but before hovering the page all to the down, a little bit about the event itself...

Unfortunately the day of launch and event was not so well informed resulting in being some how a private session and it was for sure one of the calmest events that Samsung (particularly Samsung India) has made till date which is not suitable for a very successive device such as " Note " in my point of view.

The other disappointing matter was the launch of only 16GB version just like the original model which was again a really annoying part of the show as every body should wait even longer right after the launch so they may, I repeat, they may get them or NOT as it happened in the case of the original Note that the higher version (32 GB) was never showed up. and as you know by now, there are three versions of Galaxy Note II, 16, 32 and 64 GB of internal storage capacities...

But that was not all the pain... End of the event as usual was the Media's turn to participate and ask key questions about the specs, more info and details of presented device(s) and believe me as it was really out of Material, Enthusiasm, Mind and Thinking, Relativity, Key Point, etc. and almost non of the questions were directly about Galaxy Note II and specially launch date of the other versions, but the Samsung market place, business plans and even iPhone.

I believe the audience of the show were wrongly targeted and invited or maybe they were lost their ways to another event held by Samsung or they just went there to have fun and take some photos only with "Imtiaz" - a film maker whom I enjoyed his experiences with the device by the way - but even with out holding the device in hand... !! or perhaps they just went there to occupy some chairs and enjoy the free brochures and lunch right after the show and I didn't see any other reason other those above, judge yourself anyway...

OK, I know what you may think... Maybe just because I'm not satisfy with this short launch (only 16 GB version), I'm a bit more pessimist this time which I'll accept but believe me I have written at least 4 e-mail messages to them about the matter since one month prior to the launch and yet nothing happened.

Over all it was clear that they have managed to conduct the event in a very short time so it was not so well organized as even the display was cranked and was not positioned correctly beside many other things to consider...

Any ways, I hope we can hear good news about all versions availability soon before many including myself shift to other markets abroad to get the higher versions as we waited long enough to have this great piece of tech.

enjoy the show and so the great Samsung Galaxy Note II, after the break...

by Alan Razmi

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Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3

When it comes to rivalry in the smartphone Universe, the dispute does not come any more intense than it is between Apple’s iPhone line and Samsung’s Galaxy S line.

Samsung and Apple are the two absolute leaders in the smartphone market, account for 50% of the smartphones sold each month (Apple sells an iPhone for any two smartphones sold by Samsung) and 90% of all profits made during the first quarter by all smartphone manufacturers, not to mention that the two giants and are involved in numerous legal battles across the globe.

For all intents and purposes, I find it fairly safe to claim that Apple is Samsung’s nemesis and vice versa, which is kind of a strange thing considering that the South Korean giant has manufactured a lot of the components that you can find in the new Apple iPad and the iPhone 4S. Apple is now rumored to diversify its supply chain sources, although reason dictates that this will surely draw a moderate hole in the Cupertino based profit margins.

Now that Apple has finally unveiled the most hyped smartphone in the history of mankind (it’s funny how I used to say the exact same thing about the Samsung Galaxy S3 when I was comparing it against the HTC One X a few months back), it is time for a thorough analysis of the differences between the Apple iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Though it will be difficult for Android lovers as well as for Apple fan boys to come to a conclusion on which phone is superior than the other but the only thing to cheer about is that in a constant completion effort by Apple and Samsung, end customer can hope for better innovation and better value for their money. So, to give you an in depth analysis, here we are with the point-to-point comparison chart which will help you to differentiate in terms of specs disclosed by Apple.

Comparison Parameter	Samsung Galaxy S3	Apple iPhone 5
Operating System	Android Ice Cream Sandwich**Upgradeable to Jellybean	IOS 6
Screen Size & Pixels	4.8 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels	4.0 inches with 640 x 1136 pixels
Network Band	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900LTE**In Select Countries	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900LTE 700 MHz Class 13 / 17 (Verizon & AT&T)
Dimensions	136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm	123.8 x 58.5 x 7.6 mm
Weight	133 gms	112 gms
Screen Type	Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors	LED backlit IPS TFT with 16M colors
CPU & Chipset	Exynos 4412 Quad Core	Apple A6 Quad Core
RAM	1GB	1GB
FM Radio	Stereo FM with RDS	Not Available
Rear Camera	8 MP with 3264×2448 pixels & LED Flash with Simultaneous HD video and image recording	8 MP with 3264×2448 pixels & LED Flash
Secondary Camera	1.9 MP with Recording at 720p@30fps	1.3 MP with Recording at 720p@30fps
Sim Card	Micro SIM	Nano SIM
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
USB Connectivity	Supports USB on the Go	Doesn’t Support USB On the Go, Normal USB Connectivity
Connectivity Standards / Speed	HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps	DC-HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, LTE, 100 Mbps; Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Plus Cellular
Internal Memory Options	16/32/64 GB storage	16/32/64 GB storage
External SD Card Support	Yes, maximum up to 64GB	Not Available
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP Support and EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)	Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP Support
NFC	Yes	Not Available
FM Recording	Yes	Not Available
Colors	Pebble Blue, Marble White, Garnet Red	Black & White
Battery	Li-Ion 2100 mAh	Li-Po 1440 mAH
Stand By Time	590hrs	225hrs
Availability	Now Available in Stores Near You	From September 21 in Select Countries
Price	Country Dependent	Starting $199**With 2 years Contract

So which one is better: the Galaxy S3 or the iPhone 5? Well, I know most of you were hoping for a definitive answer, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s really all about personal preference!

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has the advantage of a bigger display and an array of customizations that can be made thanks to its Android operating system.

The Apple iPhone 5 has the advantage of a better optimized ecosystem, no LTE compromises, as well as slightly better internal specs.

So what do you guys think? Which one is better and why? Drop us a line in the comment section below and share your takes, will you?

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