“Apple’s iPhone is ‘pretty useless’ and sales in Germany have not dented new customer numbers for E-Plus, the German mobile unit of KPN, said Ad Scheepbouwer, chief executive of the Dutch telecoms company,” Michael Steen reports for The Financial TImes.
MacDailyNews Take: We own Apple iPhones. They’re about the most useful devices we own. Of course, we’re not facing the prospect of trying to compete against them like Mr. Scheepbouwer.
Steen continues, “However, speaking after KPN reported fourth-quarter results in line with expectations and an upbeat outlook, Mr Scheepbouwer also said KPN would be interested in selling the iPhone in the Netherlands, where it has yet to be launched.
“‘I had one and I thought it was a pretty useless phone, to be quite honest,’ he told the Financial Times. ‘The battery ran out in no time. I didn’t like the touch screen,'” Steen reports. “‘We’d be more than happy to sell it,’ he added. ‘We have half the market in the Netherlands and we hope we will be the party of choice.'”
MacDailyNews Take: iPhone’s battery does not “run out in no time.” Everyone we meet is enthralled with the iPhone’s multi-touch screen. Scheepbouwer’s statements simply do not match reality. Now, what kind of businessman thinks a product is “pretty useless,” but has no problem trying to sell it to his customers? Answer: A sleazy salesman who has no respect for his customers. If you think iPhone is “pretty useless” why would you want to sell it, Mr. Scheepbouwer? We can only conclude that you either do not believe that iPhone is “pretty useless” and are therefore lying to The Financial Times or you have no respect for your customers and will try to sell them “useless” products? Which is it, genius? Oh, and don’t hold your breath for a deal with Apple. On second thought, do.
Steen continues, “KPN’s E-Plus unit in Germany competes against Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile, which has exclusive rights to market the phone there. But Mr Scheepbouwer said the 70,000 iPhones sold since November in Germany was ‘not a particularly impressive number’ compared with the 700,000 net new customers E-Plus gained in the fourth quarter, its fastest growth since 2000.”
Full article here.
This Scheepbouwer character sure has a funny way of laying the groundwork for a deal with Steve Jobs – or anybody, for that matter. “Your product sucks. Where do I sign so I can sell it?” That’s an, uh, interesting strategy. For some reason, we’re doubtful it’ll work.
What is the definition of “usefulness”?
So, in less than two months the iPhone sold 10% of their total sales for the quarter. Not bad.
Crimeny, what an idiot.
What a fool!!
@Hype only holds out so long..
“Hmmm… that “bloodbath” is pretty slow-flowing. I’m sure I’ll have an iPhone someday, but only when they’re free with a 2-year contract.
At the rate things are going, my guess is we’ll be there pretty soon.”
If you cared to back your claims, Apple sold more phones than Motorola or Windows Mobile, so you could say that Moto and MS are donating their blood for Apple to bath on. So if you don’t like Apple, no problem because you are as insignificant as your opinion.
Well, I dond’t want to defend the guy, but until we see the 3G iPhone he’s got a point. KPN doesn’t have an EDGE network anymore, does it? It’s a moot point anyway, as T-Mobile is probably getting it here as well as in Deutschland.
3G
A whole 20% faster than Edge….. Reduces battery life by 40%.
3G – lovely tits on a beautiful Boar….. Let’s all clamor for it! Hurray!
3G – waaaaaaaaaay slower than Wifi…. Just like Edge. But soooooo different, too! Like twin idiots, but ONE twin is smarter! Wow!
Did I hear someone say, “Over-rated”?
Clamor away. I can’t stop you.
“lovely tits on a beautiful Boar”
The one running for President?
And what’s the difference between GPRS and 3G again?
Remember, no edge in the Netherlands means you get gprs speeds. Pls correct me if I’m wrong.
@mindpower.
Having every feature imaginable in a phone is not what I want in a smartphone. I have learned my less on well from the Palm 700P that has a list of features a mile long. Trouble is all but a few of them are useless because they don’t work, crash the phone or are so clumsy to use they make you want to pull your hair out. The iPhone, as with most things Apple, isn’t the most feature-laden product on the market. But it one of the most well thought out and USABLE phones on the market. And the day my contract is over with Verizon I will have one of my very own.
Thats it… no more KPN for me.
to mindpower
you must be correct, guess zero iPhones will sell in Japan.
Want to place a small wager?
We may all remember KPN as one of the Telcos that crashed the hardest due to poor management in the early part of the century.
Looks like they never got rid of enough management.
Closed loop, controlling, dominating, poor customer service company decides offering choice, pleasure and aggressive pricing aren’t in their wheelhouse. What a surprize. Love to see their stock crash again, only to fire this guy. Idiots don’t belong at the top.
I see nothing, I know nothing.
I wouldn’t sweat KPN, when I was living in the Netherlands I was forced to use their phone/internet service and it was terrible!
Put it this way, KPN doesn’t have a good feel for customer service.
@Missy Pants
How can you compare my statement about futuristic phone features like fingerprint locking with a pc serial port? God you’re thick. 😀
And to the many other people going on about how they don’t need the features in Japanese phones, all I can say is you have NO imagination. And you’re pretty stupid if you can’t see how a feature like GPS is way, way better than the iPhone’s crappy “locate by wireless” feature.
Finally, none of you can honestly make a comment about how the iPhone is more “useable” than Japanese smartphones until you’ve actually USED those Japanese phones. And I’m talking the proper Jap phones, not something made in Japan for the US market.