iPod Touch/iPhone - Sonos Marketing Trickery?

[Bryan]

I think Sonos is trying to trick people into buying their products. Let me explain why…

I’ve carefully watched their products evolve and even used them on numerous occasions. While I loved the concept and wife proof interface, I wasn’t convinced this product was for me. When you start expanding a Sonos system it can become quite pricey compared to other whole house audio solution.

Then Apple introduced the ingenious devices known as the iPod Touch and iPhone. It’s tiny and slips nicely into your pocket. The interface is brilliant and some of the apps make this touch controller a force to be reckoned with.

So Sonos takes advantage of this and builds a truly elegant iPhone/iPod interface for controlling their products and releases it free of charge. Free? Why would they do such a thing? I say its marketing trickery.

So I took the bait and downloaded the app. Later I stopped by a friend’s house that has a ZP90 running. It took me seconds to link up my iPod touch and was immediately controlling his system. He was blown away and so way I. The interface is truly incredible and dare I say entertaining to use.

Needless to say, the next day I purchased a Sonos bundle and I’m telling everyone about it. What an amazing product and it just works… rare in this day and age.

So thanks Sonos, for baiting me in with the free iPod/iPhone app.

[Majik]

Bryan,
Welcome to the forums and congratulations on your new Sonos system.

The great thing about Sonos is that it is actually better than it looks on paper. People who haven't used it really don't understand how good it is. Anything which encourages potential customers to try the product out is great Marketing by Sonos, as once you get this far the product usually sells itself.

I wouldn't call this "trickery" though. It's actually a very honest way of doing business as you know exactly what you are getting.

Cheers,

Keith

[DigitalBoy]

One further comment, most true whole house audio systems are incredibly expensive. Sonos is actually very economical.

This is especially true if your house is not prewired. Price up a few ZPs vs getting in a professional installer to wire up your house with in wall controls. You might get a new definition of expensive...

The beauty of Sonos is that the end user can buy the product, plug it in and start enjoying the music. There are numerous threads on here where new folks were blown away by how easy and quick it was to set up. This is a new whole house paradigm, and it's a growing area. Sonos simply got the jump on everyone else and just got it right. Others are joining this segment rapidly, and we can expect to only see increased competition in this space.

db

[mebby]

I agree completely wit DigitalBoy. I have a friend who is adding onto his house and before he talked to me he had someone pitching him on a whole-house audio system that was around $10,000 and we did the same thing with the Sonos for less than half of that. AND that included using dedicated audio speakers whereas the previous quote included using the same speakers for audio as video.

It's easily the most cost effective AND most elegant system on the market. IMHO.

[dloendorf]

A beautiful and elegant solution to music in every room and on every patio. The Desktop Controller is great. Now for those of us who do not have iPhones...

Only downside for me is that now I have a whole new system to develop code for...where does the time go?

David

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by Majik

Bryan,
Welcome to the forums and congratulations on your new Sonos system.

Thanks!

I wouldn't call this "trickery" though. It's actually a very honest way of doing business as you know exactly what you are getting.

Keith, that was meant to be a joke. It is actually a very brilliant marketing strategy. Keep up the great work and I look forward to future products from Sonos.

If anyone hasn't tried the iPod/iPhone interface... get it now. The iPod touch basically does everything the iPhone does except for make calls and GPS. Makes for a very affordable Sonos controller that truly rocks. I just have an 8GB iPod and use it solely for applications, email, web browsing and now Sonos control. Makes a great automation controller as well.

[Majik]

Originally Posted by Bryan

Thanks!

Keith, that was meant to be a joke. It is actually a very brilliant marketing strategy. Keep up the great work and I look forward to future products from Sonos.

Yes, I missed the smiley. Sorry.

By the way... I don't work for Sonos. I'm just a long-time customer and fan of the product. You can tell the people who work for Sonos on these forums as they all have "- Sonos" in their username.

Cheers,

Keith

[dgsteven]

The enticement goes both ways. I've had my Sonos for a while now and love it. When I was recently in the market for a new phone that could handle email and internet, a factor that tipped the scales to the iPhone was the Sonos integration, which definitely added value for me...

I have to say I'm really happy with the decision thus far.

David

[blackcows]

One other thing that I considered when purchasing is that Sonos is portable. In other words if I move that same $ that I invested the first time can still be used in the next house.

Mike

[dnic63]

A friend with an phone came over last night, so I told him to download the app before he arrived.

Connected him in, he and I were both blown away by how well it worked. He changed the music for the rest of the night.

I've got 2 controllers and don't really NEED a third, but itouch/iphone will definitely be in our future. Although itunes will never replace j-river as desktop app for ripping etc.

Dave