“On March 6, Apple unveiled a software development kit, or SDK, for third-party developers to build applications for the iPhone, and support for Microsoft Corp.’s Exchange ActiveSync that will give the iPhone features such as push email and other capabilities,” Rex Crum reports for MarketWatch.
“In a report Monday, Toni Sacconaghi of Bernstein Research called the moves ‘positive developments’ for Apple and the iPhone, but questioned whether the efforts will be enough to help the company reach its goal of selling 10 million iPhones this year, or have much of an impact on the device’s position in the handset market,” Crum reports.
Crum reports, “Sacconaghi said the SDK is ‘critical to Apple’s maintaining the iPhone’s [market] positioning,’ but that it won’t necessarily make the iPhone more attractive to enterprise users. ‘We note that many mobile enterprise applications likely to be available on the iPhone (such as Salesforce.com) are already available for other wireless devices,’ he wrote.”
“Sacconaghi believes that architectural differences between ActiveSync and the BlackBerry service already “present a barrier for many corporate IT systems.” Because of that, Sacconaghi said he doesn’t expect the iPhone to became a standard-issue device at many large corporations. The device is more likely to find a niche with smaller business that will offer support for employees personal iPhones,” Crum reports.
Crum reports, “He said that the biggest stimulus to iPhone sales will probably be a price cut, or new models with lower prices than current devices.”
Full article here.
In related news, Sacconaghi pranced around his Bernstein office proclaiming his belief in the Tooth Fairy while expressing serious doubts about the wetness of water. Later he confided, “I really don’t know anything about all this cellphone stuff, but those nice bears keep signing my checks, so…”