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Editorial

Editorial - iPhone Technical Hesitation Won't Affect Sales

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 at 1:25 PM - by

The iPhone is fairly well understood now. Analysts and technologists have a handle on the iPhone sales, functionality and limitations. That's leading to a round of hesitation and hope by some, but it likely won't affect sales.

Two stories caught my attention on Thursday. The first, as the Wall Street Journal, talked about what's holding some buyers back. The second, at Information Week, under the label of a Buyer's Guide, pointed out all the things that the iPhone doesn't do. The theme of both these articles is that the iPhone is now well understood by the community that covers technology, and they're starting to realize what's holding some people back and what the next generation iPhone could offer.

This is all part of the evolution of a technology. At first, there is a lot of wonder and excitement. Then writers fuss about technical specifications that are poorly understood. Then they wonder about sales: is the darn thing going to be a market success? Finally, when the device is well understood after three months, the next question is, what can we hope for next? Could the iPhone be unlocked? What will the next generation have that will ease some concerns? Maybe it's time to wait and see what Apple does next.

The problem is that few of the customers pay any attention that all that fantasizing. On Wednesday, Gene Munster reported that iPhone sales are at 27,000 per day and that Apple may sell another 1.5 million before the end of the year. As a result, while a few technology writers are in a position to digest the past and fantasize about fixes to perceived limitations, the customers are out there buying an iPhone that solves their problems.

That's what it's all about. The current iPhone solves problems for people and gives them a great user experience. Few care that it doesn't have native support for MS Exchange or that it doesn't have a GPS. It just works, and it makes them happy and productive.

That's why, for the next few months, we'll see a lot of articles about how the iPhone isn't for everyone. We should wait, see what the next generation brings. Meanwhile, posing somewhat of a mystery to those writers, the iPhone will continue to set sales records.

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JulesLt said:

member since 06 Jul 2005 with 136 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:16 pm

Enterprise support :

This is a funny one. It sounds useful BUT most Enterprise IT policies forbid the storage of personal copyright media on work machines. Many also have restrictions about personal devices connecting to work networks. Basically very few firms would allow a user to have a single device where their work and personal email / media mix.

What I think is needed for the Enterprise market is actually the opposite of an iPod touch - i.e. an iPhone without the iPod. And maybe with a slide-out keyboard.

But the Enterprise Smartphone market is a tiny niche market compared to the existing iPhone market, so why bother?

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:20 pm

Well, the price drop sort of makes a difference for me.

I have an idea for an iPhone app. I would love to develop it. However, spending $600 for a phone for which I can't develop applications is a bit more money than I would like to spend.

$399? I'm a bit more tempted, even if I can't develop my app for it (heck, I think I paid somewhere in that area for my tiny motorola phone back in 2001 or so...)

<I>"But the Enterprise Smartphone market is a tiny niche market compared to the existing iPhone market, so why bother?"</I>

To me, this is why Apple should open it up to third parties.

For example, my iPhone app needs to talk to external hardware via bluetooth so I can't develop it as a webpage. And while I and some of my friends might be interested in it, I doubt I'd sell more than a few thousand copies. It's a niche application related to a "hobby" of mine.

There's no way that Apple would bother with this. And I don't necessarily blame them. But, heck, I wouldn't might picking up a few extra thousand dollars developing this thing...

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:48 pm

"Are you nuts!"

This phone even at a reduced price and with the carrier that Apple chose is far from appealing to many.

Since most all the shortcomings are out and more complications are surfacing daily, everyone is learning to wait on this one. And Enterprise ready it's also far from. Many major companies have openly proclaimed that this phone will not be allowed on their networks, is an IT Managers Nightmare and rightly so. What with the crack down on calling and driving, I am thoroughly amazed that it does not have Voice Activation. Of any phone on the planet that needs your attention as you dial this is it and should be the first to have voice interactive operation to be safe and legal. Missed the ball on that one Apple. Or are you that new to the market to not have noticed important things like that. Even crappy inexpensive phones have voice dialing and the like. And let's talk not even in a SmartPhone league. Neat toys, but not business worthy.

Apple needs to set up to the SmartPhone market and make the iPhone the phone we were all hoping for (expecting) and didn't get. Why else a reason for a price reduction. Well there are a lot of reasons. If it were worth its salt, no price reduction would be necessary. Increase logical, if it was the phone we expected. But now not until a lot of work is done on it.

I'm waiting for the real (Gen 2 or 3) Apple SmartPhone. I'll wait until they are done playin' around and get it real.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:41 pm

When the article says "Finally, when the device is well understood after three months..." I was taken aback.

Of all the things that are true of the Iphone, being "well understood" is not one of them.

The comments to the article, the WSJ piece, are proof of a very special Iphone reaction; people want more, want different, and insist on judging it against some mythical "other phone" and will not accept iphone for what it is.

Some say...its not a "real smartphone" others say Apple should open up development, still others say they want the phone without ATT as a provider.

The iphone is what it is. And its beautiful and ballsy, its ATT's for five years, its an Ipod mated to a phone,with a dash of digital assisant and some web browsing thrown in.

It isnt a smartphone, it may never be.

It isnt a bussiness phone, it will never be.

It is GSM because everywhere else in the world uses GSM as the dominant standard, I can see no reason for Apple to make two phones. No Verizon, No Sprint.

It is a phone which can have significant changes through its software update; those waiting on 2nd gen should probably realize until ATT can give nationwide 3g service, there is no reason to come out with a 2nd gen phone ( unless its for Europe/Asia). Which is not to say the phone will stay the same. Consumers are just beginning to realize what Software Updates can do for better/further functionality.

I for one salute those who have taken a chance on the iphone, like those who tooled around with the early horseless carriages, we call them pioneers.

They chose change, not because new technologies are perfect, but because they move us a little further from mundane towards the realization of dreams.

That is why people will continue to buy the iphone, and ignore those naysayers, because having wishes fulfilled....its a gas.

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