OnePlus Outlines Much Needed Revamp To Its Problematic Invite System
The OnePlus team said it learned from its mistakes with the launch of its original OnePlus One handset and promises a smoother rollout for the forthcoming OnePlus 2. This time around there will be more units available -- a lot more. According to OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, there will be anywhere from 30 times to 50 times more OnePlus 2 handsets at launch than there were OnePlus One phones when it first debuted.
Pei also detailed changes to the invite system. Many people will be glad to hear that, as Pei readily acknowledges that some people felt last year's system was too difficult and too time consuming. Some even thought it was a "big marketing stunt" to drum up interest. To avoid a similar scenario from playing out, there will be more invites available this time around.
To get your name on the list, you only need to provide your email and you'll receive an invite as soon as one is available. There's no need to hang out all day on a forum or social media, and once you receive your OnePlus 2, you'll receive additional invites that you can hand out to friends. That part isn't new, though it's nice to see it's returning.
The changes are largely the result of now having a better understanding about demand.
"Last year, we made a product that we were really confident about, but we didn’t know how people would react to it. We had no clue how many people would actually want to buy it and had the challenge of managing our cash flow and inventory risk," Pei explains. "In addition, we didn’t agree that pre-orders or having products instantly becoming sold out was a great experience. Our solution to managing risk and user experience was the invite system."
The OnePlus 2 will launch later this month. It will be priced under $450 and will sport a Snapdragon 810 SoC, 4GB of RAM, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C connector, and 3,300 mAh battery. Other specs haven't yet been confirmed.
Pei also detailed changes to the invite system. Many people will be glad to hear that, as Pei readily acknowledges that some people felt last year's system was too difficult and too time consuming. Some even thought it was a "big marketing stunt" to drum up interest. To avoid a similar scenario from playing out, there will be more invites available this time around.
To get your name on the list, you only need to provide your email and you'll receive an invite as soon as one is available. There's no need to hang out all day on a forum or social media, and once you receive your OnePlus 2, you'll receive additional invites that you can hand out to friends. That part isn't new, though it's nice to see it's returning.
The changes are largely the result of now having a better understanding about demand.
"Last year, we made a product that we were really confident about, but we didn’t know how people would react to it. We had no clue how many people would actually want to buy it and had the challenge of managing our cash flow and inventory risk," Pei explains. "In addition, we didn’t agree that pre-orders or having products instantly becoming sold out was a great experience. Our solution to managing risk and user experience was the invite system."
The OnePlus 2 will launch later this month. It will be priced under $450 and will sport a Snapdragon 810 SoC, 4GB of RAM, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C connector, and 3,300 mAh battery. Other specs haven't yet been confirmed.
