According to Pacific Crest analyst James Faucette, quoted in Forbes, sales of the Motorola Atrix and Xoom devices, darlings of the CES rodeo, have been “disappointing.” Ironically, the very devices designed to bring Motorola out of its 2010 slump have added to its doldrums and Faucette believes that the company must “quickly adjust and refresh its product portfolio” in order to remain competitive.
He cited sales “cheaper” smartphones like the the $49 iPhone 3GS as the primary reason for the lackluster performance. I also suspect folks are waiting for better Honeycomb devices to roll out of manufacturers this year and, as we all know, there is always the iPad 2 to contend with.
I’d like to close with a poignant and amazingly apt quote from Robert Burns:
But Motorola, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o’ massive CE manufacturers an’ men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d sales!
“Gang aft agley,” indeed. Back to the dr’wng br’d Motorola!