iPhone to Competitors: Can’t Touch This
All signs are pointing to some new iPhone hardware come this Monday at WWDC. Even if the upgrades are all internal and minor such as memory, CPU, and storage bumps – the iPhone is poised to stay on the top of the hill regardless of what Palm, RIM, or HTC may bring to the table.
In a article posted on Wired.com, Roger Entner, an analyst at Nielsen Mobile had the following to say:
“I think the Pre holds up very well compared to the current second-generation iPhone 3G. But the third-gen iPhone will most likely up the ante again…. If you only follow Apple, you will never catch up.”
Whether you like it or not, Apple has a firm hold in the consumer market. Back in July 2007, Apple introduced us to iPhone, that forever changed the smartphone market. In July 2008, Apple launched the App Store and once again altered the mobile landscape. Since then, many companies have tried to follow in Apple’s footsteps, only to fail.
We are curious to see what you, our readers, think about Apple’s competition. Can Apple be overthrown by the likes of RIM, Palm, or HTC? Or does Apple hold a death grip on the rest of the industry? It seems they can do no wrong no matter how small or large they update the iPhones hardware. With WWDC — and a next generation iPhone — only days away, is there anything Apple could do to seriously disappoint?
June 4th, 2009 at 11:23 am
first!
and nope
June 4th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I believe that Apple does indeed hold the death grip on smart phones. Yes yes, we know Crackberry “sold more”. But in terms of touch screen smart phones, I don’t see myself straying from Apple.
I do firmly believe that other companies are trying to out do Apple by creating pretty much clones of iPhones. I think they need to be more innovative.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I agree apple set the pace in this long marathon of being the best smartphone. Apple should just create there own cellular network or atleast by out a few
June 4th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Apple is clearly in control of their own destiny. Everyone else is playing catch up. Many other companies are trying to play catch up, but the problem is their software engineers are not even in the same league and have no clue how to innovate (RIM, Samsung etc.). Then you have Palm. Palm is being run now by Ruby and a bunch of former Apple people. The Pre is clearly the closest thing to the iPhone. They basically took a look at the iPhone and played on what the media love/hated and then added a few of their own creations (synergy). They are the only company that is in the same league as Apple, but Apple has the advantage. Palm will force Apple to innovate even more, and I am really really excited to see what the show us on Monday and what they show us in 2010 because these to releases, I think will be the most important and can cement Apple as the king of the hill.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:37 am
What Apple has above any other competitor is the brand awareness. Everyone knows what an iPhone is. Not just because of the commercials, but because of the large success of the iPod and the growth of the Mac. The iPod holds over 70% of the MP3 market and has become a household name like windex to clean windows. The iPhone built on that and has become the best mobile phone on brand alone. I would be first to admit that the iPhone is not the best smart phone out there, as the iPod is not the best MP3 player, but it is the easiest, sexiest and has the largest cool factor among all.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I think one competitor already touch this. The Palm Pre OS is superior to the Iphone interface. Design wise it may not be a breakthrough but the WebOS idea is as much of a game changer as the Iphone was when it was introduced to the smartphone market. If you can’t see it than you are just a blind fanboy. WebOS will even trump Iphone OS 3.0. The ability to use multiple apps, slide to other ones, organize “cards”, all while uses minimal battery and memory is a gamechanger.
Apple better take the Pre seriously or this thing could blow up and fast.
” There are a couple of areas where the Pre outshines the iPhone. Its ability to run multiple programs at once — a talent the iPhone lacks — is probably the most hyped, but there are others.” CNN Bigtech
While the iPhone has set the standard for future smartphones, Palm’s WebOS delivers two important improvements that the iPhone can’t yet match: true multitasking between applications, and a subtle notifications system that doesn’t interrupt your train of thought. CNN.com
David Pogue, New York Times:
“The Pre, which goes on sale Saturday, is an elegant, joyous, multitouch smartphone; it’s the iPhone remixed. “
Steven levy, Wired:
“Shaped like a small bar of shower soap, the dense, ebony Pre matches many (if not all) of the features of its chief competitor, the iPhone. But in one key aspect, the Pre does the iPhone one better.”
“So webOS makes the iPhone look clunky, which is stunning in itself… Now, webOS comes along and does multitasking right.” – Associated Press
June 4th, 2009 at 11:37 am
It will soon be losing to the other brands only if they don’t keep on upgrading their OS and hardware every year. But everything will come to a stop.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:48 am
@Truth: “minimal battery and memory”? Please do your homework b4 being a blind fanboy yourself lol
June 4th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Every review I’ve read of the Pre points out the Battery as one of its weakest aspects. At the end of the day Palm is driving innovation in this industry and for that the consumer wins.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:58 am
@melwan
I’m not a blind fanboy, I have an iphone 3g that I enjoy but the battery sucks, I have to exit an app then go to the homescreen to use another one, notifications are terrible and obtrusive, apps have no type of organization, 3g is overrated, the browser tends to crash frequently, there is limited customization.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
@melwan
Now if your Iphone has the cure to all those problems please let me know where I can get one.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
If apples computers weren’t so expensive they could take over the pc market too via the iPhone success
June 4th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Cases for Apple retaining the title indefinitely: - Buzz, marketing, and core competency in the user interface: Apple has all these in spades - HTC has minimal brand recognition, and people are hesitant to pay for a “no name” phone; (Unless you’re in the biz, you haven’t heard of HTC, unless you’ve browsed a carrier’s online store, and thought, “Wow, that looks cool… and expensive. Who the heck is HTC, again?” - RIM is too corporate, and their “cool consumer phones” can’t shake the image (i.e. STORM) - Palm is too archaic in their hardware
Opportunities to dethrown Apple: - HTC licenses their H/W designs to bigger name players (i.e. BBerry, LG, etc) - Palm lets somebody else do the hardware– Think HTC doing a phone, using Palm Web OS - BBerry hires an outside firm to design external hardware and another firm to do the UI - App coders get organized and get behind one (or two) of Apple’s competitors, instead of RIM, Palm (old and new), Android, Windows Mobile, etc
The problem with Apple is that they are locking themselves into a single product. Sure, you have different flavors, but and iPhone 4GB is the same as an iPhone 8GB as an 16GB, etc. And, they’re all on AT&T.
BBerry has several different flavors on several different carriers. Palm looks to make it onto different carriers.
Of all of them, I think RIM is the only one that has the brand clout to challenge, if they can break from their corporate reputation, and get a better UI.
Beyond that, unless you get a well-known consumer corp, like Sony, that comes out with a PSP Go with built in Cellular, and a beefed-up OS, I think Apple will continue to take over the lead.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Minor changes??? upping the CPU and Memory will be big time (and welcomed) changes, and if the iphone does get some form of multitasking, game over.
BTW everyone has been saying the pre will actually come with copy and paste, but it sucks, you can only use it where you can type, meaning you cant copy to clipboard from the browser or received messages only from areas where you can actually type. OS 3.0 allows copy to clipboard from anywhere.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
SOS..got early shipment of PRE I ordered from Best Buy Reward Zone last night. Been playing with it thru the nite. This phone SUCKS. It will take months to customized this gadget. Needs a lot manual reading. Im beginning to hate it. The keyboard are too small designed for kids with small finger. But kids and high schooler cant afford this expensive phone. The techies might not like it either cause most of them has large thumb/finger. It is frustrating. Im having second taught. SORRY IPHONE. I sincerely believe that your still the best. Ease of use, simplicity, best UI, etc. For those of you thinking about buying this phone, wait till the full review of this phone comes out. In perspective, this phone fails and really really frustrating. Ill be in line this saturday at best buy to return this.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
The iPhone holds a good part of the smart phone market, the consumer market. Let’s face it , the iPhone doesn’t really appeal to business users as black berrys do. The iPhone is targeted to a completely different group of users. Apple over all is targeted to the consumers , not businesses.
That’s my personal opinion. There are Macs in schools and some business use iPhones but RIM will always appeal to business users as long as they do what they know best. . I think RIM should continue with business because the storm failed as a consumer device since it was directly competing with the iPhone , a consumer device.
I think each company should focus on their own market.
I don’t know where the android is targeted , I guess consumers as well.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Anyone who believes that leads last forever had better look up General Motors in Wikipedia. Technologies change and leads disappear over time. Apple has the lead today but 3 years is no eternity.
Palm was successful in bringing some fresh concepts to the table. They should be commended. They still have some things to fix and some improvements to make before they live up to their promise. The multitask feature of WebOS is terrific as are the notifications platform. Synergy so far is a dud given the promise of having all of my data in one place. It would be if I used Google contacts or Facebook. I recently added my contacts to Google as a test but I like how the data presents when I sync with the Mac. I recently signed up for Facebook but use LinkedIn for way more stuff. Yet, as of launch, there is no ability to sync my 500+ LinkedIn contacts on the Pre. I’m sure over time this will change but now that the gauntlet is thrown down whose to say that Apple doesn’t get there first?
While Palm has shown that it can create it still has to prove that it can follow through and execute beyond a 1.0 release, take leadership and separate from the pack. Plus, software development will only get them so far. They have to manufacture quality (something they were not known for in the past) and differentiate through marketing. To this day I still view the Pre as a me too product, not something that has carved out its own niche like RIM in business or Apple with consumers. This is going to be the real battle because while we are technorati and fanboys/fangirls here the masses are where this war is going to be won. If they don’t understand what a Pre is then that will spell trouble for Palm.
Finally, there is the balance sheet issue. Palm now has officially 1 product to generate revenue for them. What’s next? Do they bring the Folio out of mothballs to compete in the Netbook market? They have spoken about other products and they are going to need it. There’s about $20 billion reasons why Apple is ahead today and they add another $1 billion or so every quarter. And what happens if a Dell or HP comes along and buys Palm? The culture and strategy will change (especially if it’s Dell) and their one shining moment may be over before it started.
Apple is going to be difficult to displace at the top, but impossible? No, that word should not be used.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Adding an external keyboard would be awful. I would never get it. The iPhones fake keyboard is soooooo much easier. Sure you mess up a lot but it’s autocorrect system is amazing. And also it’s faster cause there’s no buttons and no tiring. And an external keyboard just makes it thicker. A unibody iPhone would be cool too. Kind of just like the MacBook air design (the screen only) just sized down to iPhone size. I think that would be an awesome design. But I wouldn’t give up battery and memory for thinness.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
werd … lol
June 4th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
@PRE
You’re full of ****. You didn’t get it off Best Buy RZ’s because that’s not even how you get one. You have to go in store sign a new contract and buy a new phone with activation for $200. And since it has not been released yet, you don’t have one.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
@truth Dont spread lies you dummy. All you have to do is make a phone call to best buy to verify it. Ok so shut up you little cry BABY.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
As it has been stated, Apple is currently a leader, we all know that. They took the Blue Ocean route (not at all different from the Nintendo/Wii/DS scheme) and cashed in on it. Making a simple hardware for the “simple minded”. Also, as one commenter stated, it’s Apple. They have the “i” marketing so strung up it’s not funny. iPod is as common as “Google” for search, “YouTube” for video. But as far as being the forever ruler and everyone copying..lets get things straight. Everyone copies…everyone steals. If you believe Apple is not guilty of this…you need to grow up.
As Oscar Wilde said: “Talent borrows, Genius steals”
The thing is Apple had the ingenuity to take it, brand it, and market the hell out of it.
But as far as Apple taking over the business…it’s not happening as far as smartphone and global recognition.
Blackberry and Windows will always be the major players in business, no matter what. That’s a given. Worldwide…it will always be Nokia/Symbian. No matter what you say…limitations will only stunt them. Symbian is on so many phones it’s not funny. Same for WinMo. And Blackberry is synonymous with business. That’s something fancy UI’s and **** hardware won’t win you. Their OS is set on one device and will never leave that device. It’s a win/lose for them. But mainly win because they’ll make money any way it goes. But as a study showed awhile back…most people who need a “real” smartphone has a iPhone and [insert your preference of business phone here].
There’s no doubt iPhone/Mac OS X mobile is amazing hardware and software. But mind you…especially if you’re a tech geek…beyond apps, the iPhone is nothing above “visual” marvel. There are plenty of phones that outdoes the iPhone (read: Snapdragon and Tegra). But the iPhone is just he most simplistic and visually appealing handset out there with a name backing it all. That’s what sells first…name! Any business man knows that.
With that said…expect Google, Apple, and yes…Palm to be swinging hard. And with Snapdragon and Tegra equipped WinMo hardware supplementing WinMo7 and even 6.5…there will be some major play going on in this upcoming year. Best believe it.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
@truth
There have been plenty of favorable comments about the Pre, and rightly so; but there are shortcomings, too, which have been listed in review after review.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that the Pre sucks. Far from it. But to call it a “game-changer” just like the iPhone is overreaching, to say the least; and to come out with a statement like “if you can’t see it then you are just a blind fanboy” is completely unjustified.
Has the Pre put Palm back in the game? Maybe, but even that’s not certain. Apple has a two-year head start and could ramp up the pressure on Palm as early as next week. Blackberry is firmly entrenched in the enterprise, where the Pre will also face an uphill struggle to gain acceptance.
The Pre has made Palm relevant again. Game changer? Puh-lease.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
@mystic Minus the sliding complaint, keyboard, iTunes syncing (for obvious reasons), isn’t that the same way the first iPhone was released =/
I’m not trying to dog the iPhone, but at the same time…using that to say it’s not a “game changer” would be to state that the iPhone wasn’t a game changer for same reasons.
And the apps taking 8-9 seconds…from the Engadget review (who normally are iPhone lovers) stated that’s not really a big thing since once it’s open, it’s easy to switch between, close said app, then open it back up from the saved state unlike the iPhone.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Looking foward to upgrading my 8gb first gen iPhone to third gen 32gb and 3.0. Will be like a whole new phone all over again.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
This statement is true (by definition).
But until the iPhone version 3 (Gawd it will be nice to have an official name for this come monday) we don’t know if the above statement really reflects the state of the market.
PRE is version 1, running WebOS version 1.0.2. (Barely post-beta). Do not expect WebOS, or Android to stay where they are. Think forward 1 year and imagine what they will bring to the table.
Remember how limited the iPhone 3G was when it first came out? Remember all the coolness and new features that came with each new Software release? Remember when there was NO APP store?
Modern smartphones are built with software. The plastic bits are just the wheels and chassie. The interface is just the paint. The OS is the engine.
Android and WebOS needed a reasonable foundation to even enter the race. They have that now.
Apple has lead the way up to this point, and they are still way ahead. But this is no normal race, and it has no clear finish line. The others do not need to go thru the growing pains Apple did. They can learn form Apple’s trials and tribulations and avoid the pitfalls.
I welcome the PRE, not because I intend to buy one.
I welcome PRE because it is close enough to Apple’s heels to spur Apple forward in development of new features, new phones, and, hopefully, a better attitude toward its customers, and greater end-user freedom.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I truly hope Apple doesn’t have the pretentious attitude that no one can touch them. I’m sure they see that a great deal of the smartphone/PDA’s on the market spec-wise are more advanced than the iPhone, even if they don’t have the mass appeal, so I hope they’re using their competition to improve their products and not just smirk at them.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
@truth/false Go to best buy today and signed up for VIP CLUB and ill guarantee you that you will rewarded recognition and preference as a member. For the mean time, shut up and go to sleep. Your luck of rest deprived you of good thinking and reasoning.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
The Pre being able to multitask like it does makes me interested. The iphone is in desperate need of some form of multitasking. That’s the biggest issue I’m having and I know a lot of other users are as well. I use the MLB app every day to listen to game day audio and it becomes very frustrating when you can’t do other things on the phone. And on other radio apps as well. Also not being able to reply to a text while in an application and having to exit out is hurtful. It just plain sucks. I certainly hope apple steps up and does something about this in the near future or my apple days are numbered.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
@Sean:
Try to get over your personal preferences here. At least admit that keyboard fans have a valid point of view. One reviewer said they easily achieved 40 words per minute on the PRE. Try that with the iPhone. If you were a text-aholic (like all the teens and twentys I know) this would be a big draw.
More importantly, this thread is about broad directions and future expectations. Lets not get hung up on this or that feature, which all too often is a simple personal preference and which shouldn’t be stated in the definitive terms you used in your post.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I see BB and Android phones as the only competitor as of now. Palm Pre is a phone that’s only usable in the usa as it is. So why should devs jump on it to develope for it. Also palm doesn’t have the financial background to be a true contender. The Pre is a nice effort, but unless someone solvent buys the company, Palm won’t succeed. And I am not talking Dell here – that would be a marriage made in hell.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
@icebike:
Well said!
June 4th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
@Thoughtful
They already have GSM versions made for overseas. And it’s been stated ATT and Verizon will be getting WebOS equipped devices plus Pre. So lets not count Palm out yet.
If all else fails, they can pull out some of their patents and sue a few companies, LOL
June 4th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
@PRE:
And your lack of education is depriving you of an intelligent post.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
@iDavey
The difference between the iPhone and the Pre is that the iPhone was clearly a game changer. Even without 3rd party apps. It literally shook the whole phone industry. Then addition of 3rd party apps and the app store triggered another shockwave which disrupted the games industry, too.
If you really think the Pre falls into the same category, then I have to disagree.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
@iDavey you’re right not to count them out yet. But it feels like they are at the bottom of the ninth with two out and one home run won’t be enough. I’m sure many consumers will love the pre. I just guess that won’t be enough. Besides there is almost no pre hype in europe. I don’t think it will do well over here.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
@Mystic
Well the way I look at it…a game changer can be anything that motivates another to get up off their butts and do something. If this spurs Apple, Google, RIM, or WinMo to push it even further (I’m looking at you RIM and WinMo) then it technically is a game changer.
But as far as iPhone still holding that title. It’s no longer there for real. The first one, it was a game changer. But the same way most are playing catch up to Apple in the visual/presentation aspect. Apple is playing catch up in the function department. These features being added to 3.0 are features which, in my eyes, should have been included in the first “do all phone”.
Right now, as it stands…Apple has mad a dent. But this really puts them nowhere as far as people see. When you think business, specially with a phone that is global. You have to think global. Outside the US, specifically Japan and sorts, it’s a nice item because it’s Apple. But hold it up to phones that have been out for ages…it can not hold a candle hardware wise, and only the apps holding it up software wise. Apple has been slacking the same as the other companies…only difference is Apple had the room to, but now with Android and WinMo being backed by both Snapdragon and Tegra chipsets, and nicer devices coming out with app distribution and simpler Cloud-based storage. Apple needs to kick it in gear. Android is already making it’s on dent with one handheld and being ported past just phones. with 18-20 handsets being released this year and Android 2.0 coming also, WinMo 6.5 and 7 coming, new slew of better looking BB, and WebOS…the ante is being upped.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
@Thoughtful
Oh…you’re in Europe. I envy you so much! LOL How are those free phones on contract, lol
But I digress, you’re right…Palm has a big goal ahead of them. But if this Pre business goes right even just a little bit and they can hold out til Eos gets pushed out to ATT and such. They can pull it off. And then once Pre gets pushed to ATT and Verizon, I guarantee you it will soar.
But the one thing that gets me is the Pre and iPhone being sold side by side. I just wonder how that will play out. It’d be good for ATT, but will Apple be happy with eyes being taken off of the prize handset of ATT.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
@Thoughtful:
I see the only competitors to iPhone being Android and PRE.
I see Blackberry quaking in their boots. PRE will eat Blackberry’s lunch, and have Android for desert.
I don’t see PRE making a big dent in iPhone market share until the GSM/HSDPA/LTE version arrives.
Also, regarding Financial strength, bear in mind that different business models allow for PRE to ramp up without the major investment that Apple chooses to use. Palm has always been more into sub-licensing than Apple.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
@iDavey:
Two can play that game. There a lot of carriers waiting in the wings.
I would LOVE to see all carriers handling All phones (Which won’t happen till we get a common network standard like LTE). That way, they compete on price and features and we can start lobbying Congress to outlaw these abusive locked phones.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
@icebike
Really…all I want to see is them implementing free phones on contract like those nice English folks across sea. When I saw Xperia (when I actually wanted one) for free there, yet we pay $400 for a Touch Pro…I feel so gipped!
June 4th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
@mystic
It may have shook the industry but WebOS offers a revolutionary idea that is better than any of WM or Apple’s plans for multi-tasking.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
@IDavey:
Post 37 (above) is a great post. Everyone should re-read it.
We are iPhone users here and tend to think its the best, and until yesterday, you could be confident in stating it was indeed the leader.
But those maddening omissions and restrictions MADE AN OPENING for Palm and Android. Apple did this to themselves. Their Paranoia and Jobs “Just Say NO” attitude allowed these contenders to get a toehold on Apple’s turf.
Google, with no phone experience, and Palm, on deaths door, are now thundering up from behind ONLY because Apple was wasting their leadership position.
I’m not convinced Apple has the best engineers, as Mike A. stated in Post #4 above.
In fact, I think the iPhone development staff is small. You can tell this by the SLOOOOOOOW pace of rollouts of features long promised, and long ago achieved in the Jailbreak community.
After dissing cut and paste, MMS, Video capture, (etc) for TWO successive hardware versions, its going to be interesting to see how Apple now sells and hypes these prodigal features, as NEW and EXCITING, when in fact, they are two years LATE!
June 4th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
@icebike
Best post all day. That is exactly how I feel.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
@Icebike
Why thank you, LOL But I’d have to say I’m an Android user, but an admirer of Apple’s business stylings. So I can appreciate what they’re doing.
But as both you and I have said, they do need to pick it up. I like that Apple have raised the bar, but now they others are raising it again. And Apple has to keep up also. I too will like to see how they will tout the old features as “new.” But then again, seeing as the majority of iPhone consumers (past the tech heads, lol) are just your average joe who don’t even know what a smartphone technically is…I don’t think they’ll have to do much. But with Palm being in it’s first version (as a poster said earlier), Android 2.0 sporting some nice features AND companies like HTC adding their own flare to it, and WinMo stepping into the visually appealing and finger friendly with 6.5/7…Apple will have to stop doing this “one step at a time” and hit hard. We all know they have the brains and tech to do so.
But sidenote: I had this conversation with an iPhone owner before…but even as an Android owner, does any other iPhone owners hope that somehow Snapdragon and Tegra will find it’s way into an iPhone.
If you know not of these chipsets, I urge you to look them up. Snapdragon boasts 1Ghz speeds, support for CDMA and GSM networks, integrated bluetooth and GPS, and supports 1080p playback. Tegra supports lower processor speeds (about 750 I think) but give hardware accelerated Flash and wonderful 3D graphic interfaces. Far outclassing the iPhones graphical capabilities.
If you haven’t seen a demo of Tegra check here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p69T3cWHBs
June 4th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
The two biggest problems with the Iphone are not technical. Most important is the AT&T pricing. If they offer a voice only plan then a lot of people who would buy the Touch would get an IPhone. Second if the Iphone becomes available on Verizon at a reasonable priceand time frame then it is game over. Everyone gets an IPhone
June 4th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
@ Al
AT&T would never do this. They make a lot of money of the data plans and lose a lot by subsidizing the phone.
Now what they could do is offer more Iphone data packages.
1GB data + 450 text messages – $15 2 GB data + 1000 text messages – $25 Unlimited Data (no tethering) + Unlimited Text – $35 Unlimited Data + Tethering + ???? (telenav, at&t tv, sat radio, etc) + Unlimited Text – $55
Hell I don’t know. Allow us to customize our plans to fit our needs. They could also offer some EXCLUSIVE individual and family plans. There is a lot they could do but will they? I doubt it.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
@Al:
Apple doesn’t want to sell iPhones without data plans. Which btw is a smart move, as an iPhone without a data plan is just a mediochre phone with a slick interface and built-in media player. Give it an unlimited data plan and it’s a different story…
June 4th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
This with Apple and iPhone not being for business. I think that’s in everybodys mind. I beg to differ. We have changed from PCs to Macs and basically it just works. Cad people and business system uses PC still, no one else. The same with iPhone. Now at WWDC I think they will try to brak RIMs mess server thing as well as MS Exchange. They will – besides new iPhone stuff show and link with Leopard Server. Having mail, calendar and contact server functinality added to Leopard and iPhone will be a killer. And business will fall to the ground if they try. We will!!!
June 4th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I find myself more these days spending the majority of my time reading the comments rather than the posts. I have to say, aside from the “unintelligent” posts or the flaming one another every now and then, this is honestly the best open discussion I have seen.
Now with that said, I have to agree overall with both sides of the discussion. I know thats a neutral place to sit and one should just pick a side. I don’t feel I can do that without becoming biased in my opinions.
As noted before, the first iPhone was a game changer. And, yes it rocked the market place. Now with many people saying, the iPhone lacked in features, ie MMS. Really they did in the essence the omitted it, however you have to also realize they intended you to get away from MMS and start using emails. This is honestly the way things will go in the future in my mind. Hence why I never complained, and the factor was if I wanted MMS I needed to add it to my plan, pay an extra dollar amount. No Thanks. Im happy with my 6GB at $30 a month thanks, Ill just send it in an email. I mean c’mon, who doesn’t have an email today, thats okay maybe 20% or less of the technology worlds population. Hell most people dont even realize that their carrier actually gives them an SMS email address too, that you can view and send normal emails with.
So that aside, I don’t think in Apple’s business plan, they really did a bad job in omitting. Video recording, I rarely ever used such a feature unless I was at a concert or something, but even then I had to cut the audio out because it just had the crapiest mic ever.
Before I stray off, I have to say in the likes the pre is a game changer, but not in the same caliber. As has been said it will keep all the other manufacturers on their toes to keep pushing instead of sitting. It changes that game, it does give the opp for Apple to not stay on top if they dont keep to their innovativeness.
As for apple slacking, ya okay, I can agree, but remember a lot of these other devices, thats ALL THE MAKE… Apple is so much bigger than that, as is windows (yuck), we will always have a reason to bash anything, but hey its time for something new to shake things up again. Its a compelete competition for apple. I dont think so. But again, thats just my opinion. Could it get bigger? Well Palm was one of the first mobile handheld devices of any sort really, so who knows what they will do, and as was said the team of ex apple devs and Ruby, well we’ll just have to wait and see what they come up with.
All I can say in the end, is this plus the 3.0 release and potential v3 release I am excited.
June 4th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
@iBamse
I really dont think apple cares if it has a data plan or not, because well, thats not apples call. I somewhat agree but have to disagree on that point that its apple who cares. Its money in apple’s pocket regardless!
June 4th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I would like to see Apple incorporate the ability to sync to more than 1 Exchange account like the Pre does. All in all however, I’ll stick with Apple. I’m glad the Pre is pushing the envelope. I hope it causes Apple to continue to innovate. Competition is good. The better the Pre is, the better the iPhone will be.
June 4th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
@Richard:
Regarding Apple wanting to get away from MMS, and Video:
Let’s not revisit that argument or repost those old Convenient Rationalizations.
Apple tried to sneak that by the customer base and got a huge smack-down in the press and their own suggestion box.
The market has spoken, and even Apple is not offering up that lame excuse anymore. (And lets face it, it was, is, and always will be lame). Its settled. Apple caved.
June 4th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I have a free unlimited data plan on O2 pay and go in the Uk. I feel blessed when I hear about data plans on ATT and Rogers.
But it’s true what it stated by many above. The iPhone needs to step up now. We all now it, and I hope they know it.
The way I measure the strenght of other competitors agAins the iPhone is when I think about actually trying out a new phone. I love my iPhone, but for example BB messenger service has made me look at BB handsets a lot. The pre sounds good with multitasking and synergy.
The other phones have things that allure costumers, the only way for apple to really ‘beat them’ is by taking those things and put them on the iPhone. I still don’t understand why the iPhone does not have a iPhone messanger app! Like BBM. Maybe iChat and push fill that hole. I certainly hope that this week iPhone had something amazong up theor sleeve!
June 4th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
@icebike
I agree apple caved would rather say changed but, I’m not suggesting we revisit the past. But that was their business plan, and I agreed with it. That was my opinion to which I am entitled to have. Thats all I will say on that matter.
June 4th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
what was the original post? I forgot what we were talking about. all I know is I am very excited about monday!
June 4th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
the pre is the best phone period. im a iphone users but playing wit it for 4 hours convinced me.
June 4th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Apple can only be beaten if it fails badly. I don’t know how, but I think it’s the only way, since I don’t believe other brands can beat Apple by themselves.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
@Totte
Have you really lost your mind?? LOL Have you looked at market shares lately. Windows is still crushing, I’m sorry. Simply for the fact Windows (like Apple and MP3 players) have THE name in computing. Apple with computing is niche market at best. And believe it or not, it’s far easier to exploit Mac OS X than it is Windows (it’s been shown to be hacked within 2mins). So Apple taking over the PC…no. Most likely not in OUR lifetime.
But luckily that is definitely not to be said for MP3 sector and now the phone. But as it’s been said all day, Apple can still be beat if they dont pick it up.
June 5th, 2009 at 1:59 am
@iDavey
No – I’m not out of my mind. Indeed Apple so far has their success in areas close to consumers. However, looking into what they talk about since at least last years WWDC and since Leopard Server (with work groups, bolgs, wikis and so on) they are eagar to move on business. And the oportunity is there.
1) Windows Server is expensive and not very easy to manage. With or withour viruses. But it’s common and thus Apple does license nessesary parts to be compatible. But look into Leopard and upcoming session on WWDC and the traces for a complete messaging platform based on Mac OS X Server is there! They have tried and developed the technology with their MobileMe-offers!
2) In these gadget blogs we often forget to look into Blackberys total offer, which includes secure messaging based on a BB-developed and sold back end solution. That’s also important for their success so far!
3) Messaging within a business is important and over the years several solutions to enable this simple, stable and secure has been offered. And companies ar prepared to invest in such solutions seperate from other server and workstation platforms. Because Exchange (the BIG fellow here) is not cost effective and percieved as unsecure. They just need to be resonbale compatible.
It will not be tha cash cow for years, but if on leg for success with for example iPhones is business – Apple will take a deep look into making Mac OS X Server a trusted, simple but powerful and cost effective corporate messaging platform.
Can be a big thing!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 11:42 am
@Totte:
As the thread wanders further and further afield…
I don’t see this happening for many many years.
Before Apple can make any significant inroad into the Corporate Server Market several things have to happen:
1) First Microsoft has to FAIL in a huge and massive way. Win7 will be a good release, and the server versions to follow will also be very good.
2) Apple Servers would have to be cheaper and easier to manage in large installations than Windows server. Not likely to happen. On the scale we are talking about here windows is LIGHT YEARS ahead. You can sit in your Chicago office and push all sorts of changes to every field office in the country with one mouse click in Windows enterprise servers. Apple has nothing to compare.
3) Linux has to go retrograde and get harder to install and manage. Currently the large Server versions of Linux, (RedHat, Novel-Suse, Ubuntu server) install EASIER than windows server, and they are pushing into corporate server farms at astounding rates.
No, Apple server will probably ONLY find traction in those installations that are already Apple Centric, such as graphic design studio shops (etc) and Mac development shops, and such.
Mac in the large corporate work place is STILL an oddity. Dramatically out numbered, usually sitting on the desk of the recent graduates that did nothing but Mac all their life. You have to wait till these folks are a majority.
June 5th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Bring us back into topic, The New York Times has an article on this issue of Apple’s leadership position:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/technology/companies/05apple.html?_r=2&ref=technology
June 9th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Apple has a long history of inventing amazing products that, dare I say, “revolutionize” the industry. This being said, they have an equally long history of tossing that lead into the trash. Even my most die-hard apple friends will whole-heartedly admit this.
Interestingly enough, Palm also has a history of creating very solid products that push the envelope on the mobile industry as well as slipping up.
Both companies are poised to continue to do well, but what it looks like what Palm learned with the Pre is that you constantly have to want to bring something new. Apps are great, but why did it take Apple so long upgrade their hardware. I’m guessing that their new hardware maybe begins to compete with what the Pre has under the hood – and the fact that Palm decided to go with Texas Instruments’ OMAP3 platform speaks volumes.
I know Apple is all about software leading hardware, and their App Store will carry them far, but their hardware had limited what those apps could do for so long. Moreover, Pre’s OS is, simply put, really tight. Their UI is unbelievably smooth and opens a door that Apple chose to ignore.
As the smartphone industry progresses, it won’t be about who creates a great product – it will be about who continues to reinvent their product to push the concept of what a smartphone can do. As of late, it looks like the iphone is falling into the same rut as all Apple products between the late eighties and ‘97 when Jobs came back.