Comment: What's in a name? T-Mobile G1 Touch vs HTC Hero
Why is T-Mobile insisting on G1 Touch?
24 June 2009 18:10 GMT / By Stuart Miles
We are changing our name, no really, but only for users visiting the site using an Apple Mac.
For PC users we will still be called Pocket-lint, but for Mac users we've decided that it would be really clever to change our name to Technamesthatsoundalikebutdontactuallymeananything.com.
Will there be any difference in the content? Of course not, that would only confuse, it will just be the name that's changing so Mac users and PC users can tell what computer they are using when they visit the site.
Eh?
I agree it sounds like the stupidest idea you've ever heard, and that's because it is (we aren't really changing our name). However, this is exactly what T-Mobile has done with the launch of the latest HTC Android-powered handset that launched in the UK on Wednesday.
You can imagine the meeting now:
Executive one: So what are we going to call this thing?
Executive two: How about the name HTC has given it; the HTC Hero
Executive one: Nah, let's call it the G1 Touch so it sounds like we ordered it just for us
Executive two: Like your style hombre, sounds like it's got some shizzle, gives you that touchy-feely sound too.
HTC Hero = T-Mobile G1 Touch
With so many mobile phones, smartphones and handsets launching, even in this last 3 weeks, I just can't fathom why the operator would want to introduce yet another name for a product that is virtually identical in every way, just to show that it has ownership.
Why confuse consumers, why try and confuse anyone?
Okay, so some will say that they've called it the G1 Touch to fit in with the fact that their first Android handset was the G1 and this, as it ditches the keyboard, is called the G1 Touch because it's all about touching the screen.
That's great, I get the logic, but then you could touch the first one as well, so that argument kinda sounds silly. But you can only get away with calling it a sequel phone with sequel labelling if no one else is taking the handset.
Sorry T-Mobile, but Orange is stocking it as well - and called the name that HTC actually gave it - the HTC Hero.
So what should T-Mobile do? Well, if they are clever, and I very much doubt this will happen, they ditch the G1 Touch moniker and go for the HTC Hero branding.
This renaming of HTC worked when HTC was a white label no-name manufacturer, but that MDA, SPV, G1 naming convention just isn't going to cut it any more.
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