Comments on: Three reasons why the iPhone won’t be as mega as some think http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone Web 2 and Social Media News and Reviews Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:50:56 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Marc http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-1#comment-74708 Marc Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:21:27 +0000 #comment-74708 funny to read that now that the iphone is such a success. funny to read that now that the iphone is such a success.

]]> By: Kevin P. Riley http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-1#comment-49558 Kevin P. Riley Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:47:42 +0000 #comment-49558 Wow. I'm sure glad this is still floating around the ether. Surprised, too. Allen Stern, eater of crow. -KPR Wow.
I’m sure glad this is still floating around the ether.
Surprised, too.
Allen Stern, eater of crow.
-KPR

]]> By: Greg Bulmash http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11674 Greg Bulmash Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11674 While Cingular isn't heavily promoting it, they are rolling out their EVDO 3G competitor, HSDPA (High Speed Data Packet Access). It's supposed to be faster than EVDO (based on the spec), though apparently it's only running at EVDO'ish speeds right now. If Cingular can have a broader roll-out of HSDPA by June, have the speeds up in the higher ranges it's supposed to support, and offer a decent rate plan for HSDPA access, that could combine with the iPhone to create a fairly attractive package for road warriors, particularly if they're not cutting people off for "excessive use" on an unlimited use plan. Yes, the price is high, but so were early prices on the Treo, and that's had pretty good adoption. I think it will start high, but come down within 6 months to a year after early adopters have picked it up, fallen in love with it, and created "social proof" buzz for its wonderfulness. Honestly, though, I would have preferred it to have a 1.8 inch hard drive like the 30-80 gig iPods, rather than a 4 or 8 gig flash drive. While Cingular isn’t heavily promoting it, they are rolling out their EVDO 3G competitor, HSDPA (High Speed Data Packet Access). It’s supposed to be faster than EVDO (based on the spec), though apparently it’s only running at EVDO’ish speeds right now.

If Cingular can have a broader roll-out of HSDPA by June, have the speeds up in the higher ranges it’s supposed to support, and offer a decent rate plan for HSDPA access, that could combine with the iPhone to create a fairly attractive package for road warriors, particularly if they’re not cutting people off for “excessive use” on an unlimited use plan.

Yes, the price is high, but so were early prices on the Treo, and that’s had pretty good adoption. I think it will start high, but come down within 6 months to a year after early adopters have picked it up, fallen in love with it, and created “social proof” buzz for its wonderfulness.

Honestly, though, I would have preferred it to have a 1.8 inch hard drive like the 30-80 gig iPods, rather than a 4 or 8 gig flash drive.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11675 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11675 i don't think those 3 reasons won't matter too much. if you look back at when the iPod first came out there were plenty of naysayers. It too was the most expensive player. It was "locked in" with the Mac. Subscription models for "buying" (aka renting) songs were all the rage. Apple managed to make good deals with the infamous Music Industry, and more recently the Movie Industry. Google and Yahoo are making strides to provide free city-wide wireless through the US (though such a service probably won't be free for roaming devices). That can only be awesome for the iPhone's future. The number 1 reason why the iPhone won't work for me is because I don't want/need all those features together in one device. I hope Apple continues to develop the video iPod separately. i don’t think those 3 reasons won’t matter too much. if you look back at when the iPod first came out there were plenty of naysayers. It too was the most expensive player. It was “locked in” with the Mac. Subscription models for “buying” (aka renting) songs were all the rage. Apple managed to make good deals with the infamous Music Industry, and more recently the Movie Industry. Google and Yahoo are making strides to provide free city-wide wireless through the US (though such a service probably won’t be free for roaming devices). That can only be awesome for the iPhone’s future.

The number 1 reason why the iPhone won’t work for me is because I don’t want/need all those features together in one device. I hope Apple continues to develop the video iPod separately.

]]> By: Josh http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11676 Josh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11676 I mostly agree with Anonymous there. Though I think the Cingular thing is more of a stumbling block than anything else. Yes, the first iPods were locked to Mac, but Apple didn't sign an exclusive deal with itself and pretty soon iPods were available to PC users. There's no Verizon iPhone on the horizon. I posted a more detailed rebuttal on my blog ... click my name to read it (this post seems similar to one Allen made on TechCrunch now ;)). I mostly agree with Anonymous there. Though I think the Cingular thing is more of a stumbling block than anything else. Yes, the first iPods were locked to Mac, but Apple didn’t sign an exclusive deal with itself and pretty soon iPods were available to PC users. There’s no Verizon iPhone on the horizon.

I posted a more detailed rebuttal on my blog … click my name to read it (this post seems similar to one Allen made on TechCrunch now ;)).

]]> By: Dan http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11677 Dan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11677 I do not believe that price is an issue as Apple has been able to charge people way too much for their products and basically get away with it. The fact they are locked into Cingular is a big issue and you are correct about the plans as well. But as we all know Cingular is on the way out and AT&T is in (weren't they a cell provider player before?) I think their biggest downfall is time to market and think that they are behind the times to join the telecommunications game... Personally I think their biggest win will be with the Apple TV. But it is not 100% there yet but they are going down the right path going after the streaming market for TV's. As I said before I want an HTPC solution just like my Tivo that doesn't have a monthly fee and has lots of cool features. Although Apple TV is not a HTPC it is going in the correct direction and I look forward to seeing them develop that product. I do not believe that price is an issue as Apple has been able to charge people way too much for their products and basically get away with it. The fact they are locked into Cingular is a big issue and you are correct about the plans as well. But as we all know Cingular is on the way out and AT&T is in (weren’t they a cell provider player before?) I think their biggest downfall is time to market and think that they are behind the times to join the telecommunications game…

Personally I think their biggest win will be with the Apple TV. But it is not 100% there yet but they are going down the right path going after the streaming market for TV’s. As I said before I want an HTPC solution just like my Tivo that doesn’t have a monthly fee and has lots of cool features. Although Apple TV is not a HTPC it is going in the correct direction and I look forward to seeing them develop that product.

]]> By: Michael.NET http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11678 Michael.NET Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11678 It's about entering the ultra mobile computing market. Once people use their iPhone for everything from calls to music, to movies, to whatever else can be done on OSX, they'll want it to sync up with their other computers...and what better way then with a Mac? It’s about entering the ultra mobile computing market. Once people use their iPhone for everything from calls to music, to movies, to whatever else can be done on OSX, they’ll want it to sync up with their other computers…and what better way then with a Mac?

]]> By: Terry http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11679 Terry Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11679 Reason 1 and 3 are essentially the same...and are quite obvious to ppl...but does US lacks riches? no. It's a HIGH END...think about Nokia 8801 whiched started with $1,000...and guess how rational the price of this is. Hehe. Reason 1 and 3 are essentially the same…and are quite obvious to ppl…but does US lacks riches? no. It’s a HIGH END…think about Nokia 8801 whiched started with $1,000…and guess how rational the price of this is.

Hehe.

]]> By: AG http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11680 AG Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11680 A lot of people paid a premium for the Moto Razr when it first came out and the iPhone makes it and everything else available today look like a beige PC. This is going to sell big time. A lot of people paid a premium for the Moto Razr when it first came out and the iPhone makes it and everything else available today look like a beige PC.

This is going to sell big time.

]]> By: Charles http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11682 Charles Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11682 Why wouldn't it be possible to buy an unlocked version of the iPhone in the same way you can buy unlocked versions of any other phone (?). Sure you pay more for them (full retail), but personally I've only ever purchased unlocked phones which I can take with me to any network. Why wouldn’t it be possible to buy an unlocked version of the iPhone in the same way you can buy unlocked versions of any other phone (?).

Sure you pay more for them (full retail), but personally I’ve only ever purchased unlocked phones which I can take with me to any network.

]]> By: centernetworks http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11683 centernetworks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11683 <p>Sorry Charles but here in the states you are not considered the norm... the average person does not have an unlocked phone. </p> Sorry Charles but here in the states you are not considered the norm… the average person does not have an unlocked phone.

]]> By: centernetworks http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11684 centernetworks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11684 <p>Greg - thanks for the data overview - interesting stuff!</p><p>But I must disagree on one of your points. The iPhone is not a competitor to the Treo or the BlackBerry. A Fortune 100 company is not going to replace their BB/Treo devices with the iPhone. Nah.</p><p>This is a device for the macheads and for those with disposable cash. I am sure we will see a Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton edition within a few months of launch.</p> Greg – thanks for the data overview – interesting stuff!

But I must disagree on one of your points. The iPhone is not a competitor to the Treo or the BlackBerry. A Fortune 100 company is not going to replace their BB/Treo devices with the iPhone. Nah.

This is a device for the macheads and for those with disposable cash. I am sure we will see a Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton edition within a few months of launch.

]]> By: Michael Johnston http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-1#comment-11688 Michael Johnston Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11688 Allen, if even only 2% of current ipod users bought iPhone in the first year & a half, that would represent a huge initial success! To enter an established space as a newcomer, and rack up the numbers that 1 or 2 % of ipod owners represents in that space would be huge. Allen, if even only 2% of current ipod users bought iPhone in the first year & a half, that would represent a huge initial success!

To enter an established space as a newcomer, and rack up the numbers that 1 or 2 % of ipod owners represents in that space would be huge.

]]> By: Paul Stamatiou http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11691 Paul Stamatiou Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11691 Ignoring the price, the iPhone is perfect for the college student with WiFi access anywhere on campus, forgoing the need for a data plan. However, if I get the iPhone I'm sure I'll be stuck on getting the data plan as well. The thing about most people with Treo's/Blackberry's is that it's paid for by their company so anything goes. Unfortunately I don't think the iPhone is as "business-oriented" as the others and unlikely to become the phone for business people. Ignoring the price, the iPhone is perfect for the college student with WiFi access anywhere on campus, forgoing the need for a data plan. However, if I get the iPhone I’m sure I’ll be stuck on getting the data plan as well. The thing about most people with Treo’s/Blackberry’s is that it’s paid for by their company so anything goes. Unfortunately I don’t think the iPhone is as “business-oriented” as the others and unlikely to become the phone for business people.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.centernetworks.com/three-reasons-why-the-iphone/comment-page-#comment-11692 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-11692 Unfortunately at my university, St. John's in Queens, NY, you can't gain access to the internet unless authorized. Every student at St. John's is given a laptop which is authorized for internet usage. When I tried to use my own laptop, however, I was unable to connect to the network. I had to take my laptop to the computer center in order to gain access. I wonder how this thing will work with such a closed network. Also, yes Cingular's data plans suck. They're horribly overpriced. I would pay $20/mo. for unlimited date (web, SMS messaging, Instant messenger support, e-mail, etc) but Cingular charges separately for a lot of those things so realistically you can be dropping at least $120/mo for a service that utilizes everything the iPhone offers. I would love it if Cingular reworked its pricing a bit. Unfortunately at my university, St. John’s in Queens, NY, you can’t gain access to the internet unless authorized. Every student at St. John’s is given a laptop which is authorized for internet usage. When I tried to use my own laptop, however, I was unable to connect to the network. I had to take my laptop to the computer center in order to gain access. I wonder how this thing will work with such a closed network.

Also, yes Cingular’s data plans suck. They’re horribly overpriced. I would pay $20/mo. for unlimited date (web, SMS messaging, Instant messenger support, e-mail, etc) but Cingular charges separately for a lot of those things so realistically you can be dropping at least $120/mo for a service that utilizes everything the iPhone offers. I would love it if Cingular reworked its pricing a bit.

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