While this is the common wisdom, it isn't necessarily true. Business competition, in and of itself, is, like the competition of natural selection, essentially goalless.
I'm not sure this really means anything. When a successful company competing in an industry is threatened by another company they will do whatever they can to retain their position. In the case of a product which is competitive with theirs, they will try to retain their advantage by adding or improving features and capabilities so their product remains dominant. There are exceptions, such as established brands who don't need to be competitive because they control an industry, but a competent opponent (e.g. Apple entering both the music player and phone industries) can turn these companies on their heads. Same goes for Apple. Android's success will continue to drive and motivate them to heights they may never have reached before.
Fundamentally, the observation you put down holds sound truth.
All this aside, I do doubt Amazon's ability to compete in certain industries like the phone market.
Yeah, good luck with that. Better bet is to outsource to HP, and brand their Palm OS "device" a Kindlephone, which would have to use little ink cartridges in order to make the screen work (that's the only way HP can make money these days). I love my E-ink Kindlephone (sounds like something you'd buy your toddler for Christmas).
wouldn't be a bad idea, all in all. It would give the whole WebOS thing a lot of content that the hardware needs to drive popularity, and it would let Amazon focus on content delivery and maybe making design reference models to bring to HP. It could work!
2 years minimum, assuming that the corporate cultures didn't clash and there was solid long-term commitment on both sides.
Also, look for HP to expand their use of WebOS in to their hardware footprint, with the rise of corporate virtual desktopping they could leverage Microsoft's cloud appoach to undermine the Windows installed desktop space with Microsoft's own "Office in the Cloud" initiative on dumb microtowers running WebOS. Microsoft would take a hit on the desktop side, but with licensing for Cloud Office apps, would probably prefer that anyway - fewer physical configs to have to think about.
Still waiting for this is expand beyond the US. Apple took a year, I think, to open the iTunes store beyond America; Amazon's had 3, with no progress in sight. This applies to Android too: it's a global marketplace, and provincialism is going to hurt.
What on earth are you on about? Amazon's music store is available in the UK, drm free and less than half the price of iTunes on the most popular songs and cheaper overall on all music. What's more you don't have to download a crappy bit of bloated apple software - i.e iTunes to use it! You lot are so wrapped up in your fan boy fantasies.
Also loving all these 'bring it on' comments.... You lot sound like you think you're all soldiers in apple's holy war for god's sake! Surely if amazon come out with some super phone that is objectively thought of as anything better than what apple has to offer (hypothetically, in no way do I think this will ever happen...) then surely you should buy the amazon phone!
the difference is Apple uses content as a means to sell hardware, while Amazon is trying to use devices as a means to sell content. The better margins and profits are in Apple' approach.
Exactly.
Plus I don't want to carry a eReader, a browser blah blah multiple devices. That is why I would rather buy the iPad than Amazon's eReader.
Plus Amazon as a high-tech company - no thank you.
True, however the world does not need another smartphone operating system.
Today there are already six major ones: iOS, BlackBerry, Android, Windows, webOS, and Symbian. Realistically, the smartphone ecosystem can support three or four in regard to manufacturing, marketing, technical support, third-party application development and end user experience. My guess is in the next five years, one of these operating systems will evaporate and one will be virtually stagnant.
It's true. Being objective about it, it's hard to pick which one or two will fail because of the six you list they each have their own strengths, each represents a lot at stake for the companies involved and perhaps with the exception of webOS are widely distributed. It might as you say be as much about marketing and third party development as any other factor because a great technical platform for an phone OS is really only the beginning.
Amazon should just buy a book publisher, so they can control some of the content they sell. Going into phone business is a straight path to bankruptcy.
eBook readers will soon be free. Maybe "buy 10 eBooks and get a reader gratis" or something.
Even for free, I don't want one. I don't want another device to carry, charge, etc?especially if it's a rather limited one trick pony. I'm sure others feel the same way. What does it say about a business model where people don't even want your free electronic gadgets?
Amazon should just buy a book publisher, so they can control some of the content they sell. Going into phone business is a straight path to bankruptcy.
Erm, Amazon has around 30,000,000 listed items under their books section. Buying a publisher wouldn't really have a dramatic effect on what they sell.
And Apple hasn't done too shoddy a job with the phone business.
It's true. Being objective about it, it's hard to pick which one or two will fail because of the six you list they each have their own strengths, each represents a lot at stake for the companies involved and perhaps with the exception of webOS are widely distributed. It might as you say be as much about marketing and third party development as any other factor because a great technical platform for an phone OS is really only the beginning.
I think that third-party applications and access to content will be a very important factor to which platforms succeed. Nurturing a good marketplace where developers and content creators get paid appears to be a key concern.
Also, I believe that platforms that diversify beyond smartphones will have a better chance at succeeding. Right now Apple sells two iPod touches for every three iPhones. It appears that they are on target to sell ten million iPads this calendar year since the April launch.
While I am no expert on the industry, I don't see anything shipping in volume that competes with the iPod touch from a competitor. Lots of people claim to be working on iPad competitors, but again, I don't see anything shipping in volume yet.
I would really like to see other companies step up to the plate concerning iPod touch-like personal media players and media tablets.
Amazon, as with all of the other wanna-bees including RIM, Google, Nokia and so on, don't seem to understand that you need to have a solid ecosystem in place before you can compete with Apple. The short answer: No chance.
Amazon, as with all of the other wanna-bees including RIM, Google, Nokia and so on, don't seem to understand that you need to have a solid ecosystem in place before you can compete with Apple. The short answer: No chance.
Exactly: Amazon has no experience selling music, books, or anything else.
Load of crap. Who wants an E-Inc smartphone? The only thing I can think of is a deal with Google to make amazon the default music and books provider for their android devices.
There's no way this will happen. It doesn't fit Amazon's business model, and it would be a foolish decision.
Indeed. I'm calling BS on this. Particularly on the Headline claim that Amazon would be doing it to "compete with Apple". In the (unlikely) event Amazon offered their own Smartphone[s] and/or MP3/MP4 Player[s] they would be incredibly foolish to pitch them headfirst into a head-on battle against iPhone/iPod, entrenched successes. Especially since Amazon's goal would ostensibly be opposite to Apple's (Namely, Amazon would be using Hardware to sell Content, Apple does the opposite). The more logical approach would be to take on the budget media players and phones, such as those offered unbranded by Chinese companies. The margins would be small, but the low prices would drive volume which would ultimately be better for Amazon's efforts to sell content
Comments
Papermaster is available.
Papermaster and Hurd.
While this is the common wisdom, it isn't necessarily true. Business competition, in and of itself, is, like the competition of natural selection, essentially goalless.
I'm not sure this really means anything. When a successful company competing in an industry is threatened by another company they will do whatever they can to retain their position. In the case of a product which is competitive with theirs, they will try to retain their advantage by adding or improving features and capabilities so their product remains dominant. There are exceptions, such as established brands who don't need to be competitive because they control an industry, but a competent opponent (e.g. Apple entering both the music player and phone industries) can turn these companies on their heads. Same goes for Apple. Android's success will continue to drive and motivate them to heights they may never have reached before.
Fundamentally, the observation you put down holds sound truth.
All this aside, I do doubt Amazon's ability to compete in certain industries like the phone market.
Yeah, good luck with that. Better bet is to outsource to HP, and brand their Palm OS "device" a Kindlephone, which would have to use little ink cartridges in order to make the screen work (that's the only way HP can make money these days). I love my E-ink Kindlephone (sounds like something you'd buy your toddler for Christmas).
wouldn't be a bad idea, all in all. It would give the whole WebOS thing a lot of content that the hardware needs to drive popularity, and it would let Amazon focus on content delivery and maybe making design reference models to bring to HP. It could work!
2 years minimum, assuming that the corporate cultures didn't clash and there was solid long-term commitment on both sides.
Also, look for HP to expand their use of WebOS in to their hardware footprint, with the rise of corporate virtual desktopping they could leverage Microsoft's cloud appoach to undermine the Windows installed desktop space with Microsoft's own "Office in the Cloud" initiative on dumb microtowers running WebOS. Microsoft would take a hit on the desktop side, but with licensing for Cloud Office apps, would probably prefer that anyway - fewer physical configs to have to think about.
they have no business going into the Hardware business.
Still waiting for this is expand beyond the US. Apple took a year, I think, to open the iTunes store beyond America; Amazon's had 3, with no progress in sight. This applies to Android too: it's a global marketplace, and provincialism is going to hurt.
What on earth are you on about? Amazon's music store is available in the UK, drm free and less than half the price of iTunes on the most popular songs and cheaper overall on all music. What's more you don't have to download a crappy bit of bloated apple software - i.e iTunes to use it! You lot are so wrapped up in your fan boy fantasies.
Also loving all these 'bring it on' comments.... You lot sound like you think you're all soldiers in apple's holy war for god's sake! Surely if amazon come out with some super phone that is objectively thought of as anything better than what apple has to offer (hypothetically, in no way do I think this will ever happen...) then surely you should buy the amazon phone!
There's no way this will happen. It doesn't fit Amazon's business model, and it would be a foolish decision.
Quoted for truth.
Excellent! When there is more competition, the consumer wins. It'll be interesting to see if Amazon actually produces other desirable gadgets.
How do you when? By sheer choice and/or a drop in price?
Whatever.
If Amazon does do a phone you really think it'll be anything other than Android?
It'll be an Android device, probably not even sold in America and built by any number of over seas tech folk.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!
the difference is Apple uses content as a means to sell hardware, while Amazon is trying to use devices as a means to sell content. The better margins and profits are in Apple' approach.
Exactly.
Plus I don't want to carry a eReader, a browser blah blah multiple devices. That is why I would rather buy the iPad than Amazon's eReader.
Plus Amazon as a high-tech company - no thank you.
True, however the world does not need another smartphone operating system.
Today there are already six major ones: iOS, BlackBerry, Android, Windows, webOS, and Symbian. Realistically, the smartphone ecosystem can support three or four in regard to manufacturing, marketing, technical support, third-party application development and end user experience. My guess is in the next five years, one of these operating systems will evaporate and one will be virtually stagnant.
It's true. Being objective about it, it's hard to pick which one or two will fail because of the six you list they each have their own strengths, each represents a lot at stake for the companies involved and perhaps with the exception of webOS are widely distributed. It might as you say be as much about marketing and third party development as any other factor because a great technical platform for an phone OS is really only the beginning.
eBook readers will soon be free. Maybe "buy 10 eBooks and get a reader gratis" or something.
Even for free, I don't want one. I don't want another device to carry, charge, etc?especially if it's a rather limited one trick pony. I'm sure others feel the same way. What does it say about a business model where people don't even want your free electronic gadgets?
Amazon should just buy a book publisher, so they can control some of the content they sell. Going into phone business is a straight path to bankruptcy.
Erm, Amazon has around 30,000,000 listed items under their books section. Buying a publisher wouldn't really have a dramatic effect on what they sell.
And Apple hasn't done too shoddy a job with the phone business.
Now it's pre-announcing vaporware.
What's next? Recalling vaporware?
It's true. Being objective about it, it's hard to pick which one or two will fail because of the six you list they each have their own strengths, each represents a lot at stake for the companies involved and perhaps with the exception of webOS are widely distributed. It might as you say be as much about marketing and third party development as any other factor because a great technical platform for an phone OS is really only the beginning.
I think that third-party applications and access to content will be a very important factor to which platforms succeed. Nurturing a good marketplace where developers and content creators get paid appears to be a key concern.
Also, I believe that platforms that diversify beyond smartphones will have a better chance at succeeding. Right now Apple sells two iPod touches for every three iPhones. It appears that they are on target to sell ten million iPads this calendar year since the April launch.
While I am no expert on the industry, I don't see anything shipping in volume that competes with the iPod touch from a competitor. Lots of people claim to be working on iPad competitors, but again, I don't see anything shipping in volume yet.
I would really like to see other companies step up to the plate concerning iPod touch-like personal media players and media tablets.
Amazon, as with all of the other wanna-bees including RIM, Google, Nokia and so on, don't seem to understand that you need to have a solid ecosystem in place before you can compete with Apple. The short answer: No chance.
Exactly: Amazon has no experience selling music, books, or anything else.
(no, really, I welcome competition!)
There's no way this will happen. It doesn't fit Amazon's business model, and it would be a foolish decision.
Indeed. I'm calling BS on this. Particularly on the Headline claim that Amazon would be doing it to "compete with Apple". In the (unlikely) event Amazon offered their own Smartphone[s] and/or MP3/MP4 Player[s] they would be incredibly foolish to pitch them headfirst into a head-on battle against iPhone/iPod, entrenched successes. Especially since Amazon's goal would ostensibly be opposite to Apple's (Namely, Amazon would be using Hardware to sell Content, Apple does the opposite). The more logical approach would be to take on the budget media players and phones, such as those offered unbranded by Chinese companies. The margins would be small, but the low prices would drive volume which would ultimately be better for Amazon's efforts to sell content