The other day we showed you a video from Apple where Apple claimed that the Motorola Droid X experienced similar reception issues to the iPhone 4 if it was held in a certain way.
Now Motorola has hit back at Apple with a full-page advert in the New York Times, with the title ‘No Jacket Required – The Droid X by Motorola.’ You can see the full advert below in the second picture.
At Motorola, we believe a customer shouldn’t have to dress up their phone for it to work properly. That’s why the DROID X comes with a dual antenna design. The kind that allows you to hold the phone any way you like to make crystal clear calls without a bulky phone jacket. For us, it’s just one of those things that comes as a given when you’ve been making mobile phones for over 30 years.
Background on the Antenna Issue
The antenna issue, often referred to as “Antennagate,” became a significant controversy for Apple when the iPhone 4 was released. Users reported that holding the phone in a certain way, specifically covering the lower-left corner, would result in dropped calls and reduced signal strength. This was attributed to the phone’s unique antenna design, which was integrated into the stainless steel band around the device. Apple initially downplayed the issue but later offered free cases to affected users, which helped mitigate the problem by preventing direct contact with the antenna.
Motorola’s advert is a direct response to this controversy, emphasizing that their Droid X does not suffer from the same design flaw. By highlighting their dual antenna design, Motorola aims to reassure customers that they can hold their phone any way they like without experiencing reception issues.
Marketing Strategies in the Mobile Phone Industry
The mobile phone industry is highly competitive, with manufacturers constantly vying for consumer attention and market share. Marketing strategies often involve not just promoting the strengths of their own products but also highlighting the weaknesses of competitors. This can be seen in the way Motorola’s advert takes a jab at Apple’s antenna issues.
Such marketing tactics are not new. For example, in the early 2000s, Apple ran a series of “Get a Mac” ads that humorously compared Macs to PCs, highlighting the perceived advantages of Apple’s computers. Similarly, Samsung has often targeted Apple in its advertisements, mocking features or design choices of the iPhone.
While these campaigns can be effective in drawing attention and swaying consumer opinion, they also run the risk of escalating into public spats that can distract from the core business of developing and improving products. In the case of the antenna issue, both Apple and Motorola could arguably benefit more from focusing on innovative solutions and advancements in mobile technology rather than engaging in a war of words.
No doubt we will have some sort of response from Apple within the next few days. Maybe mobile phone manufacturers should spend more time working on new antenna designs and less time on these so-called clever marketing campaigns. The ultimate goal should be to provide consumers with reliable, high-quality devices that meet their needs and expectations.
via Gizmodo
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