Sometimes our industry is one of extremes. Especially from manufacturers. Just look at a few years ago, when companies decided that they needed to go all-in when it comes to a device's specifications. There aren't many companies out there, especially those taking part in the Android Army, that play it quietly with new hardware. They throw just about everything they can into our new handsets, and a few of them are probably pretty miffed that they can't include the kitchen sink for good measure.
Being an industry that has moments of extremism isn't a bad thing, I guess. After all, we have the most impressive devices imaginable because of that mentality. Even if it has finally calmed down, we're still reaping the benefits today, so I'm not sure anyone can really complain.
We can definitely complain about exclusivities, though.
Do you remember the original One? I do. Great phone. Actually, I know you remember it, because it was that good. Just look at the device remain at the top of our very own Smartphone Rankings! It's just held the top spot like it hasn't even faced any competition! Just palming them away, never breaking a sweat. HTC certainly had a hit on its hands last year, and with the upcoming launch of the All New One right around the corner (tomorrow!), well, you can see why people are getting excited for HTC to release this thing already.
The leaks have either helped you get even more excited for the All New One, or they've started to ruin the surprise. Either way, we don't know everything about the device quite yet, like how much it will cost when it lands on store shelves (reportedly as early as this month). The other thing we don't know for sure? Where it's landing, and when.
We've heard reports that tell us the All New One will be made immediately available on March 25, as early as 1pm (depending on your time zone, mind you). That would certainly be something new, and that's just worth getting excited about all on its own if you ask me. But, it looks like we may have to temper that excitement a bit, as there could be a catch to the good news. (Isn't there always?)
New reports, corroborated by earlier rumors, suggest that HTC has worked out a timed exclusivity deal with Verizon Wireless. That deal? To give the All New One an exclusive launch on the Big Red network for a few weeks, at the very least, so that other carriers like T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T have to wait until April to launch the handset.
It's not really about making those carriers wait, though, is it? Sure, I'm sure they're chomping at the bit to launch this new, high-end device, but this is really about making the consumer wait. While Verizon has plenty of subscribers under its umbrella, they aren't *all* there. So a lot of people are going to have to wait to get the All New One, and that could very well push them away from buying the thing at all. Even if it is just for a few weeks.
However, I have to play Devil's Advocate here for a moment. Isn't it a good thing that Verizon subscribers are getting a shot at the All New One in a timely matter? After all, they had to wait *months* to get their fingers around the original One, after it saw launches on a bunch of other networks to boot. And, if this timed exclusive thing really is only for a few weeks, and the other carriers could launch it in April, that's not really all that bad, right?
Honestly, when I started hearing the rumblings of a Verizon exclusive launch, I couldn't help but laugh. That's pretty funny to me, considering how terrible the original One's launch on Verizon went last year. That was awful. And now, since we're in an industry of extremes, here we are with Verizon supposedly landing a deal to launch the new device on their network, and only their network.
So, my question to you, is whether or not you think you can wait a couple of weeks, at the least, to get your hands on the All New One, if it does indeed launch exclusively for Verizon and you don't happen to be under that carrier's network. Do you plan on picking up HTC's newest flagship device at all? Let me know!
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