“Ever since my January keynote on handset design at the big annual 3G event in Tokyo I’ve mentioned the iPhone in every public presentation. And almost every time I’ve made the point that June 2007 marks a watershed moment in time. Much like the Western calendar marks time from before and after Jesus Christ, and how the computer world changed totally by the Macintosh – remembering that Windows is Microsoft’s copy of the Mac operating system – I am certain that the mobile telecoms world will count its time in two Eras. The Era BI: time Before the iPhone, and the ERA AI: time After the iPhone,” Tomi T. Ahonen blogs for Communities Dominate Brands.
“What will change? Pretty much everything,” Ahonen writes.
“Lets start with the obvious. From June all handset makers will get their first tests of the iPhone. Then Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, SonyEricsson, LG, and the dozens of second and third tier manufacturers will all see what they are up against. Not the outwardly form factor – yes, the iPhone is cool and slick and sexy – but the more important internal software. How do they make it so user-friendly? This is Apple’s strong suit. More so than even stunning outwardly design, is the internal software on user interface. The iPhone for most of its parts will definitely be the best phone out there. Yes, it probably will not be perfect at all, not the very first version (although it might be that too) but certainly in most major features, making calls, listening to voice mail, sending and receiving most messages, accessing the web, consuming music and videos – the iPhone will be supreme,” Ahonen writes.
“So from June all reviewers around the world will compare all new high-end phones with the iPhone. How near do they arrive in being ‘almost as good as the iPhone.’ This is the phrase we will see in most reviews of smartphones. And the yardstick in usability will from now on – and my prediction is that for the fore-seeable future of mobile phones – the latest iPhone. A clear watershed moment in the industry. For the first time a major handset device which was designed from the start to be both a multipurpose smartphone and yet easy to use,” Ahonen writes.
Full article, with much, much more – very highly recommended – here.
It’s certainly going to help push the US cellular market out of the dark ages…
This guy might be smart, but he writes like an imbecile. “More so than even stunning outwardly design, is the internal software on user interface.” Outwardly design? Internal software on the user interface?
“And the yardstick in usability will from now on […] the latest iPhone.” Huh?
There are plenty of great articles about Apple that aren’t written by cavemen. Let’s keep our focus on those, shall we?
He’s Sveedish remember…
(I think..!)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; in the future, AAPL stock will be refered to as either ‘BI’ or ‘AI’. This is a turning point on a monumental scale. Apple rewrites the book on telecom.
TV will be next.
Is this another MDN rumor du jour?
Really, there’s too much hype over the iPhone. I can’t wait either (won’t buy one) but mobile internet is really revolutionary in North America. Countries like Japan have had it for years and its integration with transit payment, SMS, maps, shops, etc, etc, is amazing. I think iPhone will be most revolutionary from an ease-of-use and touch interface standpoint. Everything else is decent. Glad to see iPhone released from Apple but really, let’s keep a level head; it’s still unreleased.
‘plenty of great articles about Apple that aren’t written by cavemen’
“That’s my mother calling. I’m putting her on speakerphone”
-Caveman
evolution fight!!!
It is my contention that the iPhone is not even on the same plane as all these so called “smart phones”. June 2007 will see the dawning of something entirely new: the intelligent Phone.
(That’s what the little ‘i’ stands for…)
please stop the hype: ” it’s still unreleased.”
This is true and will remain true for a few more weeks. At the end of June when I get my grubby little hands on a shiny new iPhone I’ll post my review of it and we can see who’s hyping.
MDN word “brown” as in brown would be a great word for an article on the Zune but this is an article on iPhone..
“June 2007 will see the dawning of something entirely new: the intelligent Phone.”
Only if it’s smart enough to know a user is driving and shuts itself off.
“You are endangering lives. The phone is shutting down now.”
Calling all Applelytes, allow these journalists to make some money hypothesising over the iphone, they need it in order to buy one when the time comes.
Look at the hand holding the iPhone on the Picture. It’s huge!
It must be a basketball player or a Andre the Giant
I think the factor with the most potential for impact is the consistency of the form-factor. As it stands right now, the mobile industry is disparate. Very few people own the exact same phone as their friends or family or even coworkers. Even if they own the same phone, if they are on different networks, the phones may act completely different.
The iPhone is going to level the palying feel. It will allow for more people to build a sense of community. They can compare s to s, if you will!! This will undoubtedly build the ecosystem around it, like the iPod, because suddenly, one size truly does fit all.
This will also bring to the forefront, the most crucial platform war we’ve ever seen. Forget Mac vs Windows, this is going to be against everyone else for what looks to be the largest consumer group ever seen in any market other than maybe food. Too bad they didn’t plan ahead.
What a stupid article. Only on MDN could this kind of BS be embraced.
AI Bitch
I like what he had to say about the iPhone, but I’m discouraged by what he said about the mobile market. The fact that messaging is an 80 billion dollar a year business for example, shows that the phone companies are ripping off their customers. No matter how easy it is to do, I don’t want to pay between $20 and $75 on top of the $60 per month for 900 minutes just to use it. Any plan that costs over $100 per month is the price of an iPhone in less than six months.
Let’s hope AT&T gets their pricing right, and soon.
I have to say that I was at an IBM websphere portal training course last week and the instructor made a point several times to mention that “We all know iPhone is coming and WAS Portal makes it easy for you to get your data onto devices such as the iPhone”. It was most unexpected given the circumstances. Just thought I’d share. iPhone is already everywhere….even where you’d least expect it.
From Please stop the hype:
“mobile internet is really revolutionary in North America. Countries like Japan have had it for years and its integration with transit payment, SMS, maps, shops, etc, etc, is amazing”
Why have the local service providers kept us from having these same features?
Why did it take to get us these great things? Now all of a sudden MOTO is going to give us real internet browsing.
Screw those other guys, is going to force there hands and I’m buying .
Most of the people here and in the country have had cell phones for years and now we will get what we want as far as service goes.
What the F took all the others so long.
@ An English Speaker
Oh fine, now you compare me to an imbecile. I have a frikkin BA in business management, asshole. Guess you think I can only spell “ugh”.
Jerk.
-c
Damn. Even a Caveman could build a site that let you edit posts. Stupid opposable thumbs.
-c
iMoan for those people that love to bitch
Imagine if it was released on the world !
sorry couldn’t resist.
New from Microsoft Labs: the iDon’tGiveAShit.
You won’t either.
my verizon phone is so hobbled by the mothership that sometimes i feel like James Caan stuck in the house with Kathy Bates and she’s just chocked and blocked my ankles. oh NO! here she comes with that big wooden mallet!!! She’s about to not let me use my own sounds as RINGTONES!!! Gaaaah!
MW = sound
But… Verizon is your number one fan.
@ Macaday.
he is probably from Finladnd, like the great ski jumper with the same name.
Finland is Nokia country.