Jim Dalrymple, writing for Digit Online, takes a closer look at some of the more frequently asserted Apple iPhone opinions.
“Closed system? Users of traditional smartphones often add third-party apps to the devices that augment the phone’s features — everything from utilities to document management tools. But some analysts seem to be interpreting Apple’s reticence to talk about third-party opportunities as a sign that developers will be shut out of the iPhone system,” Dalrymple writes.
“However, it’s not clear that’s necessarily the case. Jobs did tell the New York Times that Apple would ‘define everything that is on the phone.’ But that’s not the same thing as preventing third-party developers from creating any sort of iPhone add-on,” Dalrymple writes. “Instead, what Apple might do is keep a tight lid on the iPhone through its initial launch, giving developers more opportunities as the phone gains greater footing.”
“Too expensive? Priced at US$499 for a 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB configuration, the iPhone will not come cheaply. And that has some analysts throwing up their hands,” Dalrymple writes.
“In the case of the iPod, after rolling out the initial device, Apple began dropping prices and adding features. These days, you can buy an 80GB colour-screen iPod that not only plays music but also videos and photo slideshows for $349 — $50 less than the original iPod,” Dalrymple writes. “It’s not inconceivable that the iPhone will follow a similar path — attract early adopters who will pay the $499 price tag right out of the gate while expanding to a wider audience as time goes by.”
“iPhone [could gain] a toe-hold in the market, analysts say — by bringing Apple’s typical ease of use and simplicity to existing capabilities,” Dalrymple writes. “And that may be enough to allow Apple to reach its modest sales goal for the iPhone’s first year — sell 10 million units, or 1 percent of the number of mobile phones sold around the world last year, in 2008. ‘While Apple is no threat to Motorola in the broader sense, they will make an impact in the industry because the iPhone will be the gold standard as to what a smartphone should be,’ said Tim Bajarin, president of high-tech consulting firm Creative Strategies. ‘It will send a lot of companies back to drawing board.'”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple’s iPhone user interface “is the result of years of research and development” and “boy, have we patented it.” – Apple CEO Steve Jobs, January 09, 2007
Related articles:
Microsoft caught off-guard, beaten badly by Apple’s iPhone innovations – February 13, 2007
Palm CEO: ‘We don’t want to follow design fads’; Nokia CEO challenges Apple over iPhone – February 13, 2007
RIM co-CEO doesn’t see threat from Apple’s iPhone – February 12, 2007
Apple’s soon-to-be iPhone rivals sound just like iPod rivals circa 2001 – February 01, 2007
O2, Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile battle for exclusive rights to Apple iPhone in UK – January 26, 2007
Rogers to offer Apple iPhone exclusively in Canada – January 25, 2007
FUD Alert: Apple iPhone ‘isn’t very practical’ and a ‘security risk’ for business – January 24, 2007
Research in Motion downgraded due to Apple iPhone competition – January 23, 2007
Microsoft CEO Ballmer laughs at Apple iPhone – January 17, 2007
RealMoney: Apple just blew up the whole damn mobile-phone supply chain with its new iPhone – January 11, 2007
The massive FUD campaign against Apple’s iPhone ramps up – January 10, 2007
eWeek: Apple iPhone fallout: ‘They must be crying in Nokia-ville and other telephony towns today’ – January 10, 2007
Jefferies downgrades Motorola on fears of market share loss to Apple iPhone – January 10, 2007
The massive FUD campaign against Apple’s iPhone ramps up – January 10, 2007
Time: ‘iPhone could crush cell phone market pitilessly beneath the weight of its own superiority’ – January 09, 2007
Analyst: Apple iPhone should be given its own category – ‘brilliantphone’ – January 09, 2007
Apple debuts iPhone: touchscreen mobile phone + widescreen iPod + Internet communicator – January 09, 2007
