Nike has positioned themselves as an innovative company, often leading the pack with new technology for as long as I can remember. Six years ago or so I started using the Nike run tracker they had on their Web site – which, at the time was light years in front of everyone else.
It wasn’t long after Nike hooked up with Apple that they began losing their forward motion on the tech front. You would think that the two companies, both with a strong innovative track record, that they would continue to lead the pack – stronger than ever.
Granted, the Nike+ integration with the iPod Nano was a step in the right direction – more like a baby step in what could have been a marathon of innovative leadership.
At the time, the Nano was a nice option for runners who wanted nothing more than to pound pavement to Lenny Kravitz or the Black Eyed Peas – it was the smallest iPod with a screen.
It wasn’t long after the Nano integration that the online run tracker was only available to those who used the Nike+ system. Personally, I think that was a poor marketing move – who shuts out THOUSANDS of users who are motivated to use a product that is little more than a marketing tool with “sticky” features? Fail.
Yes, I know the Nike+ is only $29, which is not a big jump – that’s assuming you own one of the two supported iPods – Nano, and recently, the Touch.
Since the iPod integration, Nike has invested an untold amount of money into integrating their technology into their shoes, and telling us all how “must have” their little device is.
I’m not tracking their logic with this one at all anymore. I think at first (however many years ago its been now) it was a step in the right direction – sync a pedometer with a media device – love it. But now what? Not only have they locked all of us out who don’t want to buy their gimmicky shoe or strap a gadget to our New Balances AND buy a Nano – we’re 2 versions into the iPhone and STILL no Nike support! Are you kidding me? There are apps on the iPhone that can measure your heart, blood pressure, track where and how fast you ran, and the list goes on – and yet STILL no Nike.
Why Nike? Because you know you’re $29 gimmick has no more value on the iPhone?
Nike has gotten SO far into bed with their own proprietary technology – that USED to lead the way – that they are having a hard time pulling out (so to speak).
Can’t these companies learn from each others mistakes – your proprietary technology, albeit cool, WILL get replaced by accessible, open and piggyback-able technology. Get over how cool you think you are and find ways to share while still creating revenue. It can be done, and for the record, I think Nike can still do it.
The closer your revenue is attached to YOUR technology the more vulnerable you are to technology itself.
Nike, I love you. You were the first running shoe I ever owned. But as a friend, please, you gotta get over yourself. If you want to run with the pack, you’ve got to think about business in a Web+ world and not a Nike+ world.
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Nike: Exercise in fail
Nike has positioned themselves as an innovative company, often leading the pack with new technology for as long as I can remember. Six years ago or so I started using the Nike run tracker they had on their Web site – which, at the time was light years in front of everyone else.
It wasn’t long after Nike hooked up with Apple that they began losing their forward motion on the tech front. You would think that the two companies, both with a strong innovative track record, that they would continue to lead the pack – stronger than ever.
Granted, the Nike+ integration with the iPod Nano was a step in the right direction – more like a baby step in what could have been a marathon of innovative leadership.
At the time, the Nano was a nice option for runners who wanted nothing more than to pound pavement to Lenny Kravitz or the Black Eyed Peas – it was the smallest iPod with a screen.
It wasn’t long after the Nano integration that the online run tracker was only available to those who used the Nike+ system. Personally, I think that was a poor marketing move – who shuts out THOUSANDS of users who are motivated to use a product that is little more than a marketing tool with “sticky” features? Fail.
Yes, I know the Nike+ is only $29, which is not a big jump – that’s assuming you own one of the two supported iPods – Nano, and recently, the Touch.
Since the iPod integration, Nike has invested an untold amount of money into integrating their technology into their shoes, and telling us all how “must have” their little device is.
I’m not tracking their logic with this one at all anymore. I think at first (however many years ago its been now) it was a step in the right direction – sync a pedometer with a media device – love it. But now what? Not only have they locked all of us out who don’t want to buy their gimmicky shoe or strap a gadget to our New Balances AND buy a Nano – we’re 2 versions into the iPhone and STILL no Nike support! Are you kidding me? There are apps on the iPhone that can measure your heart, blood pressure, track where and how fast you ran, and the list goes on – and yet STILL no Nike.
Why Nike? Because you know you’re $29 gimmick has no more value on the iPhone?
Nike has gotten SO far into bed with their own proprietary technology – that USED to lead the way – that they are having a hard time pulling out (so to speak).
Can’t these companies learn from each others mistakes – your proprietary technology, albeit cool, WILL get replaced by accessible, open and piggyback-able technology. Get over how cool you think you are and find ways to share while still creating revenue. It can be done, and for the record, I think Nike can still do it.
The closer your revenue is attached to YOUR technology the more vulnerable you are to technology itself.
Nike, I love you. You were the first running shoe I ever owned. But as a friend, please, you gotta get over yourself. If you want to run with the pack, you’ve got to think about business in a Web+ world and not a Nike+ world.
No related posts.