Samsung Galaxy Note - the 'confused' inch form factor will hamper its success


So Samsung is hosting a press conference in Delhi on November 2, 2011 and all rumors are touting it to be the India launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note. 
 
What is the Galaxy Note?
The Samsung Galaxy Note is a smartphone-tablet hybrid. It features a 5.3-inch 1280×800 pixel Super AMOLED display, a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, an 8.0 MP rear and 2.0 MP front camera, 16/32GB internal memory with a microSD card slot and a stylus (the S Pen) that can crop picture outlines other than the normal scribbling and sketching. It can make calls as well. 

Who is it being positioned for?
The product is being positioned for users who want both a smartphone and a tablet, but don't want to invest in both. Enclosed at the bottom of this post is product intro video for reference. 

Why i think this product would not do well?
·         I don't think the 5inch form factor is going to make any inroads globally [including India] and the Streak was enough proof for that. I personally like to call it the 'confused' inch form factor. The tablets market may have matured compared to last year when the Streak was launched, but the arguments about using a 5 inch form factor as a phone or a tablet are still relevant. It’s too big to use as a phone and too small for comfort to use as a tab. 

·         Pricing will also play a key role. Considering that the 29k-35k price slot has a lot of 10 inch tablets [including the iPad] to offer, anything above 30k is going to hamper the attractiveness for Galaxy Note from a consumer perspective; I think the sweet spot would be 25k and since they do believe in skimming the market, it would probably be launched around 28k.

·         Also, am not sure if Samsung themselves are sure about the sub 8.9 inch form factors in tablets. Their 7 inch tab which is a remarkable product, in terms of what it offers and it’s pricing [26k], has been neglected by them recently. The company has entered in a partnership with Belkin for accessories; none have been designed for the 7 inch. The company has also recently partnered with BIGFlix to launch a My Movies app, which will only come on the Samsung Galaxy S, SII and Galaxy Tab 750; not for the 7 inch tab.

Since Samsung is a complete b2c company and they will put a lot of marketing muscle behind this product as well, which will see an initial spark; but that, I predict, would soon subside. 



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