I will be honest; if an internationally acclaimed brand that is renowned for anything but Smartphones launches one nowhere else but in China, it is apt to raise some eyebrows. Mine went up north instantly especially since the brand just entered space that has seen more than its fair share of entrants.<\/p>\n
We have 4 panelists today all of whom will be discussing how Pepsi\u2019s venture into the Smartphone is liable to blow up in the brand\u2019s face. It doesn\u2019t seem that the beverage company\u2019s latest release will gain traction anywhere else besides China.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Doug Young<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Lead commentator for China based business blog<\/li>\n
- Todd C. Frankel<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Writer and reporter<\/li>\n
- Adam Probolsky<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Tech investor and newspaper columnist<\/li>\n
- Devindra Hardawar<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Tech and movie enthusiast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Just, Why?<\/h2>\n
Here is what today\u2019s panel has to say about Pepsi\u2019s new foray \u2013<\/p>\n
![\"Doug](\"https:\/\/www.designmantic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Doug-Young.jpg\" "\\"Doug")
<\/a><\/p>\nYoung opines that, \u201cSuch a bandwagon approach is quite typical for China, where local companies are always quick to join the latest trends even if they have little or no experience in the business. But foreign names are a little savvier, and this particular instance was the first I could recall of a major foreign brand joining this kind of silly herd mentality that often ends in failure and big losses for the associated company.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Todd](\"https:\/\/www.designmantic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Todd-Frankel.jpg\" "\\"Todd")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe launch of the Smartphone already had already started making people apprehensive over the sense of it all. A previous post from The Washington Post<\/strong><\/a> from Todd C. Frankel is skeptical whether a company that is \u201c\u2026best known for chips and soda\u201d will appeal to Chinese consumers enough to make a profit.<\/p>\n
The Pepsi P1 comes with the standard bells and whistles that most Smartphones already feature –<\/p>\n
- \n
- A 5.5 inch curved glass display<\/li>\n
- 13 megapixel camera<\/li>\n
- Android Lollipop 16GB internal memory<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Big whoop; so does every other popular Smartphone especially when it comes to brands such as Android and Samsung. In fact, one would think why a brand that specializes in everyone\u2019s favorite fizzy drink would hope to compete with Smartphone giants, Android and Samsung. As Frankel quotes personal technologies analyst from research group Gartner Tuong Nguyen who says that the mobile market is \u201c\u2026basically Apple, Samsung and then you have everybody else\u2026.Because it\u2019s such a competitive market, it\u2019s hard to make money\u2026.Regardless of the power of the Pepsi brand, it\u2019s going to be tough.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Adam](\"https:\/\/www.designmantic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Adam-Probolsky.jpg\" "\\"Adam")
<\/a><\/p>\nSome critics like Adam Probolsky were already skeptical about the Pepsi\u2019s venture into Smartphones before the Pepsi P1 was even launched \u2013<\/p>\n
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Pepsi to sell their own branded smartphones in China. I’m pretty sure this ends badly. http:\/\/t.co\/lbCOXIsQ5X<\/a> #badidea<\/a> #quickflop<\/a> #newcoke<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Adam Probolsky (@AdamProbolsky) October 13, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
- Todd C. Frankel<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Writer and reporter<\/li>\n