The venue might seem strange, but the strategy is sound.
Motorola’s Defy seems like a great piece of hardware. Think Motorola 3.7-inch display Droid 2 without the slider keyboard and you’ve got the form factor. The Defy is also rugged and waterproof enough to withstand some rain, dust and dirt. The screen is “scratchproof.”
I like the move to a ruggedized form factor. This is an area that hasn’t been explored by consumer handset makers yet, but it has potential, especially for those who’ve dropped their double-sided (ahem) glass phones and had them shatter.
The downside of the Defy is that it will be loaded to the teeth with Motorola’s (MOT) MotoBlur overlay, or user interface, which not only slows down the user’s experience but also slows down the time it takes to upgrade.
That’s why the phone will come stocked with the older Android 2.1 for the holidays when it is released on T-Mobile’s network. Many techies, including myself, probably would pass over this phone for that reason alone.
But, will Oprah’s audience care? Of course not. They won’t know any better and they’ll be smitten with the rugged factor and the fact that their kids won’t be able to destroy it on the way to soccer practice. Good play, Motorola!
That’s why Oprah is a great place to launch the device. Full press release and Oprah video below:
Motorola Debuts DEFY™ on the Farewell Season Premiere of “The Oprah Winfrey Show”Exclusively for T-Mobile USA, Motorola DEFY is Equipped to Withstand All That Life Throws Your Way
September 13, 2010LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – September 13, 2010 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) unveiled the Motorola DEFY™ enhanced with MOTOBLUR™ on today’s 25th season premiere of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Slim and pocket-able, this smartphone powered by Android™, which is planned for exclusive U.S. availability to customers of T-Mobile USA, comes equipped with a 3.7-inch high-resolution and scratch-resistant touch screen display that provides edge-to-edge views of your favorite websites, photos and videos.
“DEFY is designed to handle everything that life throws your way,” said Bill Ogle chief marketing officer, Motorola Mobility, Inc. “With all the features consumers expect in a smartphone, DEFY packs Web browsing, entertainment and messaging capabilities as well as an exterior design that can withstand the stresses of everyday life.”
Motorola DEFY is scratch and water resistant as well as dust proof, protecting you from life’s little challenges such as a sudden rain shower to a drop in the sand. Pre-installed on the DEFY, CrystalTalk® PLUS vanquishes noisy environments with two microphones that intelligently filter out background noise and amplify your voice so you don’t have to shout.
“DEFY is essentially a connection hub wrapped in a layer of protection,” said Paul Cole, vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “The unique and innovative form-factor of the DEFY provides you with the confidence to truly take your phone anywhere.”
An Adobe® Flash® Lite®-enabled Web browser and 3.7-inch WVGA screen allow you to view more of the Web than standard browsers. Choose from thousands of applications, widgets and games on Android Market™ and enjoy access to Google™ services including Google Search™, Google Maps™ and Gmail™.
With a durable form-factor and 5-megapixel camera featuring a flash, digital zoom and auto focus, the Motorola DEFY is the trusty companion to capture memories at the next family reunion or vacation. Part of the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), DEFY enables you to stream, store and share content with compatible devices around the home such as HDTVs, game consoles and PCs. Also, the Connected Music Player provides the option to display lyrics to your songs and enables you to discover, buy and download music, right from your phone.
Availability
Motorola DEFY with MOTOBLUR is expected to be available exclusively to T-Mobile USA customers in time for the holidays.
