Product and Service - Method and Delivery of Service

Product and Service

According to a recent article in Networld (Miles, 2009), Palm and Sprint have developed an innovative operating system called Web OS for the Palm Pre on the Sprint 3G Network in opening half of 2009. This supplies the marketing manager to furnish the best of both technological networks to existing business customers and a focal point on the networks speed, in addition the prospect to center attention on the outer appearance of the products brought by the younger consumer. Palm's next generation operating system designs around an extremely fast and stunning user experience and created for the multi-tasking user, webOS combines the power of a window-based operating system with the ease of using any browser (Palm.com, 2009). Applications develop standard web technologies and languages, and have permission to device-based services and data on one of the fastest networks available in the wireless business. For the marketing manager this means customers are familiar with Palm/Sprint OS, furthermore, the user-friendly operability, and dependability of a customer supported network.

Palm decided to go with Sprint as the primary operator for the Palm Pre. First, the company's 3G network, second the company's "Simply Everything" plan, which includes voice and data and texting for $99 a month; and lastly because of the company's customer service program called "Ready Now," which assists people setting up the phones and understanding how to use the product before they leave the store. The most interesting data came out in the Q&A, when Palm stated it would soon offer an application store for the platform and remain around to support Windows Mobile (Duryee, 2009). For the market manager this follows the 4 P's of marketing making for a successful transition for both companies, and giving the customer what they want, "The Works."

Method and Delivery of Service

Of course, this means that the four P's of marketing mix are part of this product, and in the instance concerning both company networks, will include product and place as elements of the marketing mix. First, the product means having a good service or idea to satisfy consumer need (Kerin, Hartley, Berkowitz, & Rudelius, 2005, p. 14). Next in the marketing mix element, the place, this is where the company wants to get the product into the consumer's hand (Kerin, Hartley, Berkowitz, & Rudelius, 2005, p. 14). By making sure the phone network is working to the potential needed the company can ensure customers the necessary coverage wherever, and whenever the consumer desires to make various types of successful transactions. For this to be victorious, other entities must come up to par, which includes manufacturing and other wholesale vendors to make the product profitable, and acceptable in the consumer's eyes.

Channels of Distribution

Palm products sell through specific internet, retail resellers, and wireless operating channels all over the world, and at Palm's online stores (Palm.com, 2009). Most business personnel enjoy the luxury of the Palm phones, however, with the new Palm Pre the younger class of consumers will experience the closest phone that will stands out from Apple's I phone with the power of Sprint's high quality network.

Explanation of the importance of marketing to this organization's success

Sprint Nextel is an organization that is under great pressure to ward off external competition that threatens the company's very existence. Therefore, Sprint created a new Business Market Group also known as BMG to help bolster the company overall financial and operational success. Sprint has come to understand that with the right marketing mix, product lines could be sold to the consumer in geographical locations around the world (Sprint.com. 2009). Sprint executive officers implemented a marketing program that had effective relationship marketing strategies that aided managers to discover what prospective customers need (Kerin, et al, 2005). The plan integrated a marketing mix to provide good service and products to the prospective buyers. Sprint managers realized that when the product marketing mix is positive this will equate to an increase in sales, however, if negative then consumer would not buy the product (2005).

On May 5, 2009, Sprint reported that its Business Market Group or BMG contributed handsomely to the companies' overall financial and operational success. During the first quarter, revenues attributed to the business customers were nearly $4 billion and generated from both its wireless and wireline networks.

Sprint's marketing team used the five key steps in segmenting and targeting markets to link market needs to those of the customers to those of the organization's marketing plan. The key elements used were to group potential buyers into segments, group products sold into categories, develop a market-product grid, and estimate size