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Re: What the iPhone Needs to Keep the Android Hordes at Bay
Posted by: Chris Maxcer 2009-10-30 05:47:54
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A couple of days ago, a friend was trying to key my email address into his aging feature flip cellphone. He was muttering about how painful the process was and how stupid the phone was, and he remarked that he was getting a new phone for his birthday -- can't wait. Me, being the tech-curious guy I am, asked him what he wanted. "I don't know," he asked. "What do you recommend?" "Who's your service provider -- AT&T, Verizon ... ?" "Verizon." And here's where my answer deviated from an iPhone 3GS recommendation to the new Motorola Droid.
iPhone should be carrier agnostic and support every protocol
Posted by: osx junkie 2009-11-03 07:21:32 In reply to: Chris Maxcer
This article is spot on. I would go even farther to say that iPhone should simply be carrier agnostic. They should ship a version so that they can live on every network and every carrier worldwide. Even older standards like CDMA should be supported. Keep the phone simple but let the customer choose the network, even if that means making and support multiple SKUs. Apple is a big company and can handle a few versions of the iPhone.
@cashgap
Not everyone can switch carriers so it really doesn't matter if the author went to the trouble of suggesting that. Its just an example.
The iPhone should not depend on an army of iPhone users acting as sales people to push the device. It should simply be on every carrier and when someone is in the market for a new phone she can go to her carrier retail site or wherever she likes to shop and find an iPhone for the same carrier she is currently using, or at least make a side-by-side comparison between the iPhone and the other options. Anything less and Apple is missing an opportunity. No reason for that.
@cashgap
Not everyone can switch carriers so it really doesn't matter if the author went to the trouble of suggesting that. Its just an example.
The iPhone should not depend on an army of iPhone users acting as sales people to push the device. It should simply be on every carrier and when someone is in the market for a new phone she can go to her carrier retail site or wherever she likes to shop and find an iPhone for the same carrier she is currently using, or at least make a side-by-side comparison between the iPhone and the other options. Anything less and Apple is missing an opportunity. No reason for that.
Are you thinking about an android phone?
Posted by: tonys3 2009-10-31 14:48:57 In reply to: Chris Maxcer
Now that Android phones will be available through all major cell phone carriers, will you get one?
http://www.polladium.com/poll.php?poll_id=374&location_id=1
Take a sec and vote anonymously.
Cheers
http://www.polladium.com/poll.php?poll_id=374&location_id=1
Take a sec and vote anonymously.
Cheers
Interesting Idea and Clarifications
Posted by: CMaxcer 2009-10-30 21:01:22 In reply to: Chris Maxcer
Hey chano1--
Now that's an interesting idea -- Apple becoming its own mobile service provider. I would guess that Apple would avoid the risk in favor of focusing on its core competencies surrounding OS, hardware device, and data delivery (iTunes, App Store).
I tend to look at cellular service as heading toward the land of commodity -- less and less real differentiation among the carriers (for most consumers) moving forward -- voice and data plans. Apple, on the other hand, I think tries to produce products that buck the trend of commodities -- which is why Apple has ignored netbooks.
Still, if Apple could provide service at a competitive price, I'd happily switch.
Hey CashGap--
My friend is not a hypothetical person -- he's a real guy. Also, he does NOT want to switch to AT&T. I didn't write that in to save space and get to the point faster. In retrospect, I can see where a reader could wonder. Sorry about that.
As for the new Droid, I said "look" at the new Droid. If someone doesn't know what they want, they should at least hold and test a device before buying it. Will the guy end up with a Droid phone? Maybe, maybe not.
I disclosed that I haven't held a new Droid yet. That didn't stop me from realizing it's worth checking out. If I were on Verizon, I'd check it out. You make a fantastic point about the "Instinct, Storm, Pre" . . . no one but me knows that if we were able to rewind to their release dates, my response to my friend would have been different -- "uh, you're on your own, sorry" -- because I never felt that any of those phones were particularly interesting, or that their _potential ecosystems_ could evolve fast enough to be compelling for everyday consumers.
As for the rest, I get the impression that you think I'm trying to say that the new Droid will turn into a horde and overwhelm the iPhone because the new Droid phone kicks butt and takes names. That's not what I was trying to say.
For clarity, here's the short version:
1. Android is shaping up to be an operating system and ecosystem worth paying attention to.
2. The Droid is worth looking at.
3. The iPhone is still the best device, and it has the best ecosystem -- hands down -- and it will continue to for some time.
4. Eventually, as smartphone devices and their OSes become more and more capable, Apple's successful iPhone will face stronger competition -- in numbers. A horde.
5. If Apple can remove the single largest limiting factor to user adoption -- the service provider -- Apple's iPhone will gain massive market share, even in the face of an Android horde (even with Windows Mobile and RIM allies).
Best,
--Chris
Now that's an interesting idea -- Apple becoming its own mobile service provider. I would guess that Apple would avoid the risk in favor of focusing on its core competencies surrounding OS, hardware device, and data delivery (iTunes, App Store).
I tend to look at cellular service as heading toward the land of commodity -- less and less real differentiation among the carriers (for most consumers) moving forward -- voice and data plans. Apple, on the other hand, I think tries to produce products that buck the trend of commodities -- which is why Apple has ignored netbooks.
Still, if Apple could provide service at a competitive price, I'd happily switch.
Hey CashGap--
My friend is not a hypothetical person -- he's a real guy. Also, he does NOT want to switch to AT&T. I didn't write that in to save space and get to the point faster. In retrospect, I can see where a reader could wonder. Sorry about that.
As for the new Droid, I said "look" at the new Droid. If someone doesn't know what they want, they should at least hold and test a device before buying it. Will the guy end up with a Droid phone? Maybe, maybe not.
I disclosed that I haven't held a new Droid yet. That didn't stop me from realizing it's worth checking out. If I were on Verizon, I'd check it out. You make a fantastic point about the "Instinct, Storm, Pre" . . . no one but me knows that if we were able to rewind to their release dates, my response to my friend would have been different -- "uh, you're on your own, sorry" -- because I never felt that any of those phones were particularly interesting, or that their _potential ecosystems_ could evolve fast enough to be compelling for everyday consumers.
As for the rest, I get the impression that you think I'm trying to say that the new Droid will turn into a horde and overwhelm the iPhone because the new Droid phone kicks butt and takes names. That's not what I was trying to say.
For clarity, here's the short version:
1. Android is shaping up to be an operating system and ecosystem worth paying attention to.
2. The Droid is worth looking at.
3. The iPhone is still the best device, and it has the best ecosystem -- hands down -- and it will continue to for some time.
4. Eventually, as smartphone devices and their OSes become more and more capable, Apple's successful iPhone will face stronger competition -- in numbers. A horde.
5. If Apple can remove the single largest limiting factor to user adoption -- the service provider -- Apple's iPhone will gain massive market share, even in the face of an Android horde (even with Windows Mobile and RIM allies).
Best,
--Chris
A good article Chris. Although observations made by others have some merit too.
Yes Apple does need to broaden its service provider base in the US, as it has done/is doing elsewhere.
But there is another intriguing possibility for a company with almost $34 billion in cash or near-cash on its Balance Sheet. It could enter the market as an SP itself in the way of major investments in an existing provider or in partnership. Is there any reason why this is out of the question? Surely the cost of entry today, is much less than it was 20 years ago. And unlike manufacture of computers and phones, as with CD players and DVD players, the SP game will be here forever. Would that not overcome the only obstacle to Apple owning the whole of its phone widget - as least in the US?
Yes Apple does need to broaden its service provider base in the US, as it has done/is doing elsewhere.
But there is another intriguing possibility for a company with almost $34 billion in cash or near-cash on its Balance Sheet. It could enter the market as an SP itself in the way of major investments in an existing provider or in partnership. Is there any reason why this is out of the question? Surely the cost of entry today, is much less than it was 20 years ago. And unlike manufacture of computers and phones, as with CD players and DVD players, the SP game will be here forever. Would that not overcome the only obstacle to Apple owning the whole of its phone widget - as least in the US?
There are lots of "Droid will dominate because it would be so cool if Droid dominated" articles, and this seems to be another.
"If a customer doesn't have AT&T and doesn't want to switch, the iPhone might as well not exist." Hmm, did that happen in this case? Why, no, it did not... the hypothetical person NEVER said they didn't want to switch. They said they were on Verizon and you ASSUMED that meant they would NEVER consider another carrier. Sloppy.
Introduce the guy to a typical iPhone 3g or 3gS user. You know, the folks who would probably agree to use the United States Postal Service as a carrier if that were the only way to get an iPhone. As you know... it's just that good.
"I haven't held one yet, but it's already stacking up to be an impressive device." Nice quote. Would have applied well to the Instinct, Storm, Pre, or any number of other disappointing devices in the heady days when they were the presumptive "iPhone Killer". Maybe you'd want to hold one before declaring it destined to dominate.
The article is somewhat more nuanced than a 2007 Dvorak "Apple should kill iPhone now, it's doomed" piece... but not by much.
"If a customer doesn't have AT&T and doesn't want to switch, the iPhone might as well not exist." Hmm, did that happen in this case? Why, no, it did not... the hypothetical person NEVER said they didn't want to switch. They said they were on Verizon and you ASSUMED that meant they would NEVER consider another carrier. Sloppy.
Introduce the guy to a typical iPhone 3g or 3gS user. You know, the folks who would probably agree to use the United States Postal Service as a carrier if that were the only way to get an iPhone. As you know... it's just that good.
"I haven't held one yet, but it's already stacking up to be an impressive device." Nice quote. Would have applied well to the Instinct, Storm, Pre, or any number of other disappointing devices in the heady days when they were the presumptive "iPhone Killer". Maybe you'd want to hold one before declaring it destined to dominate.
The article is somewhat more nuanced than a 2007 Dvorak "Apple should kill iPhone now, it's doomed" piece... but not by much.
