Mystery Shopper is looking for an Android phone. Which ones are better than the iPhone? What is an Android? What do they cost and who makes the best one?
5: O2
Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 2/5
Airtime knowledge – 0/5
Questioning ability – 1/5
Sales ability – 1/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 12/30
4: Carphone Warehouse
Product range – 4/5
Product knowledge – 2/5
Airtime knowledge – 1/5
Questioning ability – 1/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 15/30
3: T-Mobile
Product range – 4/5
Product knowledge – 4/5
Airtime knowledge – 0/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 18/30
2: Vodafone
Product range – 4/5
Product knowledge – 3/5
Airtime knowledge – 3/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 20/30
1: Orange
Product range – 4/5
Product knowledge – 3/5
Airtime knowledge – 4/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 4/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 23/30
Summary
Android handsets from Samsung, HTC and Motorola were considered key devices, offering all the feature-rich benefits of the Google OS without the high costs of the frequently compared iPhone.
It was interesting that several comments cited only two main OS choices, excluding Windows, BlackBerry, Symbian and Palm.
Orange won by offering more handset detail and tariff optopns compared to other stores. None of the stores felt the need to give a hands-on demonstration, which was disappointing as the new dual-core phones promise so much.
Full review in Mobile News issue 489 (May 23, 2011).
