Will Motorola's tablet strategy work?

Models with the new Motorola Xoom

THE much talked-about Motorola Xoom is finally here on our shore just a day before the anciously-awaited iPad 2 availability, but will it be able to attract tablet enthusiasts?


On paper, it looks like the Xoom is a pretty capable contender in the tablet space with its first-of-its-kind dual-core processor, 16:9 aspect ration 10.2-inch screen, high-definition screen, HDMI, SD slots and many more.

The dual-core 1GHz processor alone will allow users to muti-task a lot of applications. Anybody would like to have this powerful machine as their Web companion, no doubt about it.

But at RM2,499 for only a WiFi version and a tie-up to a 24-month data plan from Maxis is a bit too much to ask, despite the fact that Motorola throws in its DEFY 3G smartphone with the package - you'll get two nice devices with one purchase.

The current Xoom WiFi version needs the DEFY phone to make it a truly mobile warrior.

Is this a smart move? my answer yes and no.

Firstly, if I don't have a smartphone and a tablet, I may lean towards this package (RM2,499 for two smart devices sounds good), but if I already have a smartphone, I may not want to spend RM2,499 for a Wi-Fi version tablet.

Secondly, Maxis is also offering HTC Flyer (a 7-inchAndroid 1.5GHz tablet with 3G capability) from just RM199 with an undisclosed data plan. Retail price of the device is RM2,499. This may sound more reasonable, spend RM199 with a data-plan tie-up. The discount on the device is huge here.

Thirdly, iPad 2 is officially available today with no tie-up to any telcos. You can buy it off the shelves from local Apple distributors from RM1,499 to RM2,499.

Then, there is also Acer Iconia Tab A500, a 10-inch Android tablet from RM1,599, also off the shelves, and a few more tablets like Samsung Tab, Viewsonic, Dell Streak 5, etc.

Come to think of it, this tablet war is really about strategy - pricing, tie-ups. The devices are just about the same.

Fly with HTC Flyer

THE tablet PC market is set to get hotter with the latest announcement of HTC Flyer, a seven-inch touch-screen device.
Designed to meet the needs of mobile executives and tablet enthusiasts, the Flyer will be first through telecommunications Maxis starting May 12, 2011.
The telecommunications service provider has also singed a memorandum of understanding to allow it to be the first telco in Malaysia to exclusively offer existing and up-and-coming HTC smart devices to their customers.
According to Maxis' chief executive officer, Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke, the partnership with HTC began last year when Maxis partnered HTC to be the first to offer its customers the HTC Desire, Desire Z, Wildfire, HTC HD7 and HTC 7 Mozart.
"Today's partnership with HTC will ensure that Maxis customers will continue to be to the first in Malaysia to enjoy HTC’s new devices," he said at the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur last week.
Maxis said it will offer the RM2,499 HTC Flyer at just RM199 with a selected wireless data plans, which will be announced soon.
Besides the HTC Flyer, Maxis also offers current HTC's flagship smartphone, the HTC Desire S.
To date, Maxis has 13.92 million subscribers with 41.5 percent of its mobile revenue coming from non-voice services.
Van Overbeke said besides offering exclusive devices for its clients, Maxis will also continue developing applications for these devices as an added value to the customers.
Commenting on the new Flyer tablet, HTC Asia's senior director of product marketing, Darren Sng, said that the new tablet offers users both convenience and power in one device.
"We've chosen to develop the Flyer in a seven-inch form factor to make it easy to hold. For example, when you write, you want to hold the device in one hand and the other hand writing, but if it's a 10-inch device, it will be difficult to do this," he said.
The Flyer is encased in a sleek aluminum unibody. It is also ultra-light, weighing as little as a paperback book, and compact enough to fit in a jacket pocket only.
"These features will make it easy for users to slip the device in their jacket pocket or even a small handbag.
The tablet is also said to be the current fastest tablet with a 1.5GHz processor and high-speed HSPA+ wireless capabilities.
As the device is designed for users to take notes with it, Sng said HTC has include a new technology called HTC Scribe, which transforms traditional note-taking into smart note-taking by integrating natural onscreen writing with thoughtful and integrated innovations.
"This technology enables users to use the included pen to take notes, sign contracts, draw pictures, or even write on a web page or photo. A feature called Timemark enables you to capture the audio of a meeting in line with your written notes, so tapping on a word in your notes instantly takes you to that exact place in time in the audio recording of the meeting. Notes are also integrated with the calendar so when there is an appointment reminder you are automatically prompted with an opportunity to begin a new note or in the case of recurring meetings, to continue where the last meeting left off," he explained.
Besides that, HTC will also be introducing NTC Watch, which is a movie download service to be used on its devices.
"With this service, users will be able to download premium Hollywood movies to their device," said Sng, adding that the service will be managed by HTC and will only be available in the fourth quarter of this year.
The HTC Desire S smartphone is already available atv RN1,299 onwards with Maxis data plans.
The Android-based phone features HTC’s trademark aluminum unibody and Qualcomm’s new 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8255 processor.
Its other features include dual front and back cameras, HD video recording and a 3.7-inch WVGA display.