“Sun Microsystems Inc and Samsung Electronics Co are jointly developing a mobile phone to challenge Apple Inc’s iPhone, a South Korean newspaper reported yesterday, quoting Sun chairman Scott McNealy,” The Associated Press reports.
“McNealy said on Tuesday in Seoul that the companies were working on a “Java phone” that would surpass Apple’s iPhone in functionality and cost less, the mass-circulation JoongAng Ilbo reported,” AP reports.
“Spokespersons for Sun in South Korea and the US could not immediately be reached for comment,” AP reports. “Samsung spokeswoman Lee Soo-jeong in Seoul said ‘no decision has been made regarding co-development of the Java phone.’ She said that a meeting has taken place between the two sides “to introduce the idea” but would not elaborate on its timing or any details.”
Full article here.
Good luck with that guys — don’t forget to peruse Apple’s granted and pending iPhone-related patents while you develop your “killer.”
Competition is good. Apple could use some.
The problem with most of the competition out there is they don’t get it. They’re looking at their product development the wrong way. So many companies want to create an iProduct killer. Making this the focus dooms them to failure. Instead of focusing on beating someone, focus on creating a truly useful product. Figure what real people really want, put it in a package people will really use, and stand behind it. This is how a company can successfully compete with the likes of Apple.
More power to anyone who can duplicate the functionality of the iPhone. The pity is that it took Apple to show the way.
The cell companies and phone companies have been so enamored with their own smoke they for get that their customers have brains. So when consumer’s vote with their wallet’s everyone is shocked!
If this gets them moving, that’s great! Maybe they won’t end up like Detroit automakers if they put some real effort into a product…
Here we go again.
Anyone remember the iPod?
remember folks…Sun is not the enemy, they are not a monopoly, they are merely trying to compete fairly, like Apple is, good for them…Microsoft is the abusive monopoly bullying others, trying to force feed their “standards” and products and DRM and license fees upon everyone everywhere.
Interesting how Sun emphasizes “functionality”. There are already several other quite functional, if not more functional, cell phones than the iPhone but it is orders of magnitude better than any of them in terms of usability and design–both very important facets of a product that most companies don’t seem to understand.
1500BC – “Let my people go!”
1215 – The king is not above the law.
1776 – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”
1885 – “Suffrage is the pivotal right.”
1963 – “I have a dream…”
1987 – “Tear down this wall!”
2007 – “Set the iPhone free!!!”
Q: What do you think of Jobs?
A: He’s a great guy. I’ve been dealing with Steve a lot. I think my prior comments fit: He is all about the customer, the customer experience, making sure that what customers get meets expectations. That’s what my mesh has been.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003724582_brier28.html
It’s amazing that a product that’s only been in the market for 3 months needs to be “killed.”
> that would surpass Apple’s iPhone in functionality and cost less
As proven by the iPod over many years, it’s not about how many functions it has or about cost; it’s about elegance and usability. Unfortunately for Apple’s competition, when it comes to iPhone, Apple has the competition beat in every way, including pure functionality and cost.
The iPhone’s success is because Apple spent a great deal of time and energy finding out what a cell phone customer wants and needs with their device and then tried to meet that expectation. It’s as simple as that.
If Samsung and Sun Microsystems can do the same at meeting their customers expectations, then there’s enough room in the marketplace for their device and the iPhone. Remember, Steve Jobs said that he’s only going after 1% of the mobile phone market.
“Spokespersons for Sun in South Korea and the US report that they have fastened a bottle opener to a colour copy of Monet’s ‘Garden Path’. With this increased functionality and projected lower price than Monet’s original painting, Sun is planning on selling a ‘Monet Killer’ later this year.” AP reports.
Claude Monet could not be reached for comment.