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Apple execs disclose options for boosting iPhone market share - Page 2

post #41 of 95
5/15/09 at 6:36pm
I've got to agree with Apple on the case in Australia. The iPhone is taking considerable market share over here by comparison to other smartphones. In fact its getting to the point where I can't jump on a train without seeing a few of them come out. So much for it only being for the rich - over here you can get one free on a $60 plan - thats $40 US.
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post #42 of 95
5/15/09 at 6:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud View Post

How does the iPhone grow from infancy if it eventually stalls at some point unless it is made available to mutiple carriers in the USA?

300 million USofA verses billions world wide.

"TRAVEL is Fatal to Prejudice,Bigotry,Narrowmindedness"mt

TRY IT!

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"TRAVEL is Fatal to Prejudice,Bigotry,Narrowmindedness"mt

TRY IT!

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post #43 of 95
5/15/09 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post

"iPhone is still in its early days and could gain share by: providing more functionality; lowering prices; growing geographically; or segmenting the market with different models."

Wow, did Apple really reveal such top secret thoughts? Astounding! I am shocked. More functionality? I never would have thought.... Lowering prices? Holy cow! There's an original idea! Growing geographically and segmenting the market with more models? This really is major newsworthy stuff. These guys must have been lurking here at the these (top secret) AI forums over the last 12 months.
Well, I am glad I read this article. Now I know more about what Apple might do if they want to gain market share. Obviously they may choose not to and just stay with the present 3G. Until 5 minutes ago that's what I thought they'd do. now I just don't know.
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post #44 of 95
5/15/09 at 6:55pm
not all socialists are saints, either
I APPLE THEREFORE I AM
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I APPLE THEREFORE I AM
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post #45 of 95
5/15/09 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin Huber View Post

DrJJones edited his original post rather than respond directly. If you think Europe is pure socialism and the U.S. is pure capitalism you're incredibly naive. Both have some of each. Most Americans are very happy having "socialist" institutions like social security, medicare, police, fire departments, public schools and colleges, and the military. Yes, we could privatize them all, but most Americans would resist that with great vigor. There are limits to what profit motive can deliver. I like capitalism in my business sector--its the best system. But unregulated or under-regulated capitalism, including the "piggish" greed that led to the mortgage meltdown, are the result. No system is the perfect answer for everything. It takes a balance. Telling people to who don't see it your way to leave the country is un-American. It reminds me of those who were hawks during the Vietnam war putting bumper stickers on their cars saying "America: Love It Or Leave It." The right may not have a monopoly on "Knownothing-ism" but they sure have their fair share of it. I am a Vietnam vet--did two tours of duty in the war zone so don't play the I'm more patriotic than you card.

EU pure NOT, USofA pure NOT. Piggish greed causing mortgage meltdown were/are the general public wanting something for nothing. "There's a sucker born every minute". Over regulation is Socialism, Hello are you reading, hearing the news.

"TRAVEL is Fatal to Prejudice,Bigotry,Narrowmindedness"mt

TRY IT!

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"TRAVEL is Fatal to Prejudice,Bigotry,Narrowmindedness"mt

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post #46 of 95
5/15/09 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Psych_guy View Post

It probably wouldn't have been the success that it has been to date had they gone with Verizon.

Get your iPhone, with V CAST Music, Photo & Video!

iTunes? Not allowed. iPhoto syncing? Sorry. YouTube? Nope.
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post #47 of 95
5/15/09 at 7:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NOFEER View Post

not all socialists are saints, either

Really? Get outta here!
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post #48 of 95
5/15/09 at 8:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post

According to sites that measure such things, i.e., Analyst Performances, Shaw Wu has quite a history* for his accuracy, in particular re Apple.
* http://biz.yahoo.com/a/6/61497.html

That's nice to know. Thanks.
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post #49 of 95
5/15/09 at 9:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by paxman View Post

Wow, did Apple really reveal such top secret thoughts? Astounding! I am shocked. More functionality? I never would have thought.... Lowering prices? Holy cow! There's an original idea! Growing geographically and segmenting the market with more models? This really is major newsworthy stuff. These guys must have been lurking here at the these (top secret) AI forums over the last 12 months.

The author does not claim that ideas are new or breakthrough. This is the first time Apple talks about their options in a way that makes them public. The ordering of the options is also important.

Regarding the ideas on this forums, there are tons of ideas here and there is hardly any chance that you may come up with something nobody thought it was a possibility. If Apple comes with a tablet, those who started speculating or sharing "rumors" of an Apple tablet 5 years ago will say Apple listened or pretend that there was some credibility to the rumors.

There is lot's of BS on these forums as well. So many people know what Apple should do better than Apple's management. Many of the ideas just show total misunderstanding of Apple's strengths and long term strategy. Apple licensing the OS and abandoning the HW business anyone?
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post #50 of 95
5/15/09 at 10:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NOFEER View Post

not all socialists are saints, either

In general, I expect that most humans aren't saints (for the lack of a more appropriate word), regardless of ideology or political leanings. I suspect that there is almost no correlation, people are people, I don't think holding or saying certain beliefs equates to being a good person.

Sometimes it's easier to expect that the people that claim to have a higher moral ground to be the most suspect, but that may be because they're at risk of a bigger fall.
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post #51 of 95
5/15/09 at 10:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shadow View Post

There is lot's of BS on these forums as well. So many people know what Apple should do better than Apple's management. Many of the ideas just show total misunderstanding of Apple's strengths and long term strategy. Apple licensing the OS and abandoning the HW business anyone?

No one is infallible, that includes Apple's management, but a lot of what we see here is wishful thinking based on what we want, not necessarily on what's in Apple's best interests.
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post #52 of 95
5/16/09 at 2:09am
Isn't it interesting. Sorry, Apple managers: this is all but hot air and won't stimulate ANY growth unless you start addressing your "taboo issues". So there are two very simply points to be done:

1. Stop limiting iPhone use to only one national carrier per country and start selling mobile phone contract subsidised phones like everybody else does.
2. Open up the App Store, stop this ridiculous nonsense of banning some apps while allowing others.

Both very simply steps can even be boiled down to one big sales measure:

Stop paying lip service to AT&T!

This is your real growth problem. Not the phone models or features.

Example: Why can't I for example user tethering on my iPhone with a German T-Mobile contract while ALL other data capable German T-Mobile phones have that on board and T-Mobile is happy selling data packages that allows tethering? Is it because maybe AT&T in the United States is so technically behind to fear they could not live up with the bandwidth demand? Apple is paying lip service to AT&T the full way (and AT&T have profited SOOO much from the iPhone that the real question might be: what is REALLY behind that deal)

This is just one personal example. But THAT is the problem, Apple. Apple IS a bunch of really clever people but corporate governance seems to be holy, so holy even that the number one factor for boosting sales doesn't even seem to be slightly considered!
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post #53 of 95
5/16/09 at 3:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post

Man, it must be nice to hide behind anonymity.

According to sites that measure such things, i.e., Analyst Performances, Shaw Wu has quite a history* for his accuracy, in particular re Apple. Otherwise Apple would not welcome his presence, or for that matter be on their preferred list of invitees to their financial conference calls.

* http://biz.yahoo.com/a/6/61497.html

LOL... You must be Shaw or one of his friends. Here's Shaw's record regarding Apple predictions:
http://guides.macrumors.com/Shaw_Wu_(Analyst)

He's about as unreliable as they come. The drunk on your local street corner could do a better job at predicting upcoming Apple products.
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post #54 of 95
5/16/09 at 4:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by john2 View Post

LOL... You must be Shaw or one of his friends. Here's Shaw's record regarding Apple predictions:
http://guides.macrumors.com/Shaw_Wu_(Analyst)

He's about as unreliable as they come. The drunk on your local street corner could do a better job at predicting upcoming Apple products.

Two different metrics. The original link was just regarding predicting stock prices and profits, not what a given company might actually do.
They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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post #55 of 95
5/16/09 at 4:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Panatlantica View Post

Isn't it interesting. Sorry, Apple managers: this is all but hot air and won't stimulate ANY growth unless you start addressing your "taboo issues". So there are two very simply points to be done:

1. Stop limiting iPhone use to only one national carrier per country and start selling mobile phone contract subsidised phones like everybody else does.
2. Open up the App Store, stop this ridiculous nonsense of banning some apps while allowing others.

Both very simply steps can even be boiled down to one big sales measure:

Stop paying lip service to AT&T!

This is your real growth problem. Not the phone models or features.

Example: Why can't I for example user tethering on my iPhone with a German T-Mobile contract while ALL other data capable German T-Mobile phones have that on board and T-Mobile is happy selling data packages that allows tethering? Is it because maybe AT&T in the United States is so technically behind to fear they could not live up with the bandwidth demand? Apple is paying lip service to AT&T the full way (and AT&T have profited SOOO much from the iPhone that the real question might be: what is REALLY behind that deal)

This is just one personal example. But THAT is the problem, Apple. Apple IS a bunch of really clever people but corporate governance seems to be holy, so holy even that the number one factor for boosting sales doesn't even seem to be slightly considered!

I can't make heads or tails of any of that. AT&T is controlling German T-Mobile? The app approval process is a major growth constraint? What?
They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.
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post #56 of 95
5/16/09 at 5:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2 View Post

I think that you're probably right about that but I hold out a tiny possibility that they might make a nano-ish version. When I was talking about smaller I was mostly referring to the fact that over time they will all of course shrink down to be as close to a simple screen as possible. You only have to handle the 2.0 iPod touch to all of a sudden realise how bulky the current iPhone 3G is and imagine it as an even smaller more svelte device.

I continue to hope that they come out with a 6x9 tablet soon. The keyboard on the iPhone is fantastic, but if it were just a little bit bigger it would really fly.

Remember that the iPod nano was given a smaller screen than the Classic but Steve insisted to mention that it had the same resolution.

My guess is that the Touch will move to HD since it is used for movies and games a lot AND Zune is rumoured to be introducing such a machine this fall and Apple would be happy to cut that down early.
The iPhone Nano will be 2/3 of the 3G with same resolution (saving developers headaches)
Apple will figure out a way to scale the software based UI components to simplify use of machine on a smaller screen. The beauty is that all that stuff is in APIs the coder need not worry about as much.

My 2 cents.
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post #57 of 95
5/16/09 at 5:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by john2 View Post

LOL... You must be Shaw or one of his friends. Here's Shaw's record regarding Apple predictions:
http://guides.macrumors.com/Shaw_Wu_(Analyst)

He's about as unreliable as they come. The drunk on your local street corner could do a better job at predicting upcoming Apple products.

Perhaps you should do a little due diligence to understand what financial analysts do and to whom they service. Then read their entire reports, (which by the way you won't find unless you subscribe to them), before you make such asinine comments.
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post #58 of 95
5/16/09 at 6:41am
Umm, here in Australia (it's like Austria with an 'al' in it but a lot further away) all three main national carriers have iPhone's so your first point is wrong.

Take it up with your government if they allow restrictive practices.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Panatlantica View Post

Isn't it interesting. Sorry, Apple managers: this is all but hot air and won't stimulate ANY growth unless you start addressing your "taboo issues". So there are two very simply points to be done:

1. Stop limiting iPhone use to only one national carrier per country and start selling mobile phone contract subsidised phones like everybody else does.

"The cobbler's children have no shoes", is a saying that applies a lot to companies who provide products and services. -KDarling on Google Search.

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"The cobbler's children have no shoes", is a saying that applies a lot to companies who provide products and services. -KDarling on Google Search.

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post #59 of 95
5/16/09 at 7:15am
Couching American politics as a battle between Capitalism and Socialism is stupidity of the highest order. I thought we had got past that.
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post #60 of 95
5/16/09 at 7:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by P L View Post

EU pure NOT, USofA pure NOT. Piggish greed causing mortgage meltdown were/are the general public wanting something for nothing. "There's a sucker born every minute". Over regulation is Socialism, Hello are you reading, hearing the news.

If by news you mean television, then just stop talking. Some people still buy into that BS.. I believe Fox is down to about 4 million viewers, CNN down to about 12 million.

Most people realized that was BS, advertising, and propaganda a long time ago.

How did people who were too dumb to know what they could afford, also design a system that gives large loans to people who can't afford them? Hmmm.

That's right...they didn't. It was designed to take advantage of them, not BY them.
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post #61 of 95
5/16/09 at 8:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

Multple carriers are out of the question at this point, where it can be, due to the ecosystem controll that Apple needs.

Though true, it should have better been put following way: carriers in 80 countries distribute iPhones. In France, for instance, all 3 major carriers distribute iPhones. The point on exclusive contracts is of no more interest in regards to iPhone maturity.

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People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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post #62 of 95
5/16/09 at 8:22am
OK, now it's about getting China in. And that's all, which Apple can juice out of "geographic expansion hopes".

Go corporate, Apple. Kick the shit out of RIM, that's where keys of success are.

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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We mean Apple no harm.

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post #63 of 95
5/16/09 at 8:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01 View Post

Though true, it should have better been put following way: carriers in 80 countries distribute iPhones. In France, for instance, all 3 major carriers distribute iPhones. The point on exclusive contracts is of no more interest in regards to iPhone maturity.

France and a couple other countries have laws that don't allow exclusivity. They fought it where they could, but the resolution is just to make the subsidization option with the select carrier much more attractive than the other carriers by making the unsubsidized price outrageous.

But what about all those other countries they added on. The iPhone already proved itself in the US so why even do those contracts with all those countries that are exclusively GSM-based. Why has Apple often gone for the 2nd largest carrier in many of these countries? The answer seems simple, they need the carrier to grant them certain access that a Ronin cellphone doesn't have access to.

With their supposed negotiations with China's 2nd largest carrier this does not seem to be changing.

The only way I can see Apple selling a free for all iPhone is by offering a smaller device that is mainly just a phone and iPod without the 3.5" screen, the App Store or excellent utilization of the internet. Then most of the reasons Apple needs the carrier tie in goes away, for that device, but I don't see that happening at least until the current iPhone has reached its saturation point.
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post #64 of 95
5/16/09 at 8:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01 View Post

OK, now it's about getting China in. And that's all, which Apple can juice out of "geographic expansion hopes".

Go corporate, Apple. Kick the shit out of RIM, that's where keys of success are.

There are a few relatively simple changes that Apple could make to Mail and iCal to make the iPhone much more corporate friendly, but I doesn't look like they care too much.

The physical keyboard issue will continue to haunt the iPhone for many potential users, but I expect some slick looking flip keyboards to appear within a year. Perhaps a simple and secure add-on that will flip the keyboard up over the spot where the virtual keyboard would be and then you can flip it down to use the entire screen and use a stylus on the backside of the keyboard, too.

RiM has been selling more devices, partially because of the smartphone interest the iPhone has created, but those sales won't sustain them. Their real revenue is from their corporate services and and server-side HW, but their Push email has become antiquated over the years. It's still relevant, but companies will decide that can get rid of their RiM server and not pay $100 per BB user to receive their email. I think we'll seeing RiM cut cost their costs within a year.

PS: I wish the iPhone had dual displays. One for personal and one for business. There is another device that has it, I think it's a Nokia.
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post #65 of 95
5/16/09 at 10:11am
Well SHAZAMMM!

Apple revealed nothing new. The options the say they are considering all fall under normal business practices that every manufacturer of a product manipulates for maximum proft. I would be surprised if Apple were not considering changes in pricing, models, features and bigger markets to make more profit on their great product.

Roger Mercer
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post #66 of 95
5/16/09 at 11:13am
I got an idea.... make a ******* CDMA iPhone (or use a dual-mode chipset in the new iPhone) for the 135 million Verizon and Sprint customers! And open the iPhone to Tmobile as well!

With over half of all unit sales occurring in the US, clearly it is very popular here and so the rest of the cellphone users in the USA not with AT&T are a very important market -- probably the most important market worldwide. Screw AT&T's crappy coverage! I can't even get 2G coverage in many areas along the primary highway in my state! WTF!
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post #67 of 95
5/16/09 at 11:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by winterspan View Post

I got an idea.... make a ******* CDMA iPhone (or use a dual-mode chipset in the new iPhone) for the 135 million Verizon and Sprint customers! And open the iPhone to Tmobile as well!

With over half of all unit sales occurring in the US, clearly it is very popular here and so the rest of the cellphone users in the USA not with AT&T are a very important market -- probably the most important market worldwide. Screw AT&T's crappy coverage! I can't even get 2G coverage in many areas along the primary highway in my state! WTF!

As I've asked before, if half the sales are outside the US and pretty much all these other countries are entirely GSM/WCDMA using the same frequencies that the iPhone already has, why have they not opened up the iPhone too all those carriers in all these 80+ countries? Surely the iPhone was able to prove itself after the impressive AT&T launch so the idea that they needed a carrier to get off the ground is a moot point. Until that is answered, i can't see how having Apple create a new device for T-Mobile, and for Verizon/Sprint makes any sense.
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post #68 of 95
5/16/09 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

France and a couple other countries have laws that don't allow exclusivity. They fought it where they could, but the resolution is just to make the subsidization option with the select carrier much more attractive than the other carriers by making the unsubsidized price outrageous.

My point still holds. All that has absolutely nothing to do with iPhone's maturity as a product. There are just customary and legal concerns. iPhone itself does work in plural sandboxes, proved. This is no more crucial to look after it to the tiniest baby stains. Beta testing phase is over.

Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

But what about all those other countries they added on. The iPhone already proved itself in the US so why even do those contracts with all those countries that are exclusively GSM-based. Why has Apple often gone for the 2nd largest carrier in many of these countries? The answer seems simple, they need the carrier to grant them certain access that a Ronin cellphone doesn't have access to.

With their supposed negotiations with China's 2nd largest carrier this does not seem to be changing.

I have my own theory about "number twos". Let's put it frank, no one thought the first phone ever of Apple would be a hurricane success. Number-ones had their self-esteem and market share, number-twos had the motivation to negotiate it right and to work to make it successful.

Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

The only way I can see Apple selling a free for all iPhone is by offering a smaller device that is mainly just a phone and iPod without the 3.5" screen, the App Store or excellent utilization of the internet. Then most of the reasons Apple needs the carrier tie in goes away, for that device, but I don't see that happening at least until the current iPhone has reached its saturation point.

No, I'm not so pessimistic. It's already 3rd generation of iPhone that looms in the doorway. I'm quite sure iPhone will stand gloriously absolute majority of networks.

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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post #69 of 95
5/16/09 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01 View Post

I have my own theory about "number twos". Let's put it frank, no one thought the first phone ever of Apple would be a hurricane success. Number-ones had their self-esteem and market share, number-twos had the motivation to negotiate it right and to work to make it successful.

But why go with an exclusive carrier at all with all those other all-GSM/WCDMA countries. Apple could have just set up a retail price and let the carriers duke it out. But they didn't. The took a successful and established (albeit new) product and inked exclusivity contracts that gave access to 1/5 to a 1/3 of the countries current subscriber-base when they could have opened up the device to the entire country.

I understand that people want x-device with x-carrier, but I don't understand why there is a refusal to look at Apple's business model and understand that what is wanted is not going to happen if a more obvious solution along that path has not yet occurred. As Sylar would say, it's illogical.
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post #70 of 95
5/16/09 at 11:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

There are a few relatively simple changes that Apple could make to Mail and iCal to make the iPhone much more corporate friendly, but I doesn't look like they care too much.

Absolutely. It's a piece of cake technically to bring iPhone onto acceptable level as a corporate business phone. One can even speculate about existing iChat with existing videoconference capabilities and about already existing KeyNote with all its power. The key point is marketing. I'd say Apple's people declared the interest to enter that world during each of their last media events. To me they may be being interested, it just not so easy to infiltrate.

Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

The physical keyboard issue will continue to haunt the iPhone for many potential users, but I expect some slick looking flip keyboards to appear within a year. Perhaps a simple and secure add-on that will flip the keyboard up over the spot where the virtual keyboard would be and then you can flip it down to use the entire screen and use a stylus on the backside of the keyboard, too.

It's anyway useless all those phone keyboards. Show me a businessman, which types readily on the phone keyboard. That's not a case when you need to prove you can do it for your girlfriend Tethering? Virtual keyboards?



Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

RiM has been selling more devices, partially because of the smartphone interest the iPhone has created, but those sales won't sustain them. Their real revenue is from their corporate services and and server-side HW, but their Push email has become antiquated over the years. It's still relevant, but companies will decide that can get rid of their RiM server and not pay $100 per BB user to receive their email. I think we'll seeing RiM cut cost their costs within a year.

That's it. Apple has very strong marketing. They only never were in corporate world. They have to find the door.

Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

PS: I wish the iPhone had dual displays. One for personal and one for business. There is another device that has it, I think it's a Nokia.

Unnecessarily complex.

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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post #71 of 95
5/16/09 at 11:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01 View Post

Unnecessarily complex.

Let me rephrase that. Dual UI interfaces, like setting up Spaces for a business setup and a personal setup. Not physical displays. The one I saw could be very useful.

You pic of that laser keyboard is cool, but some people just want a physical keyboard. I type much faster on my iPhone than I ever did on the phone keyboards, but I have to be looking at it when I do it, which makes me miss the days of replying without looking.
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post #72 of 95
5/16/09 at 11:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

But why go with an exclusive carrier at all with all those other all-GSM/WCDMA countries. Apple could have just set up a retail price and let the carriers duke it out. But they didn't. The took a successful and established (albeit new) product and inked exclusivity contracts that gave access to 1/5 to a 1/3 of the countries current subscriber-base when they could have opened up the device to the entire country.

I understand that people want x-device with x-carrier, but I don't understand why there is a refusal to look at Apple's business model and understand that what is wanted is not going to happen if a more obvious solution along that path has not yet occurred. As Sylar would say, it's illogical.

As you absolutely correctly stated, it was necessary when iPhone made its first steps.
Now it's just a tradition and reusing successful business model. It worked before and it still does.
I believe, it would change after SFR and Bouygues have got the right to sell iPhones (however, it's no more hurricane, frankly, they don't know now, what exactly to do with that iPhone )

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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post #73 of 95
5/16/09 at 11:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

Let me rephrase that. Dual UI interfaces, like setting up Spaces for a business setup and a personal setup. Not physical displays. The one I saw could be very useful.

The farthest I agree to go with this is to make it configurable in iTunes (or whatever would be future syncing software). And I'd prefer factory configuration of these options.

Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

You pic of that laser keyboard is cool, but some people just want a physical keyboard. I type much faster on my iPhone than I ever did on the phone keyboards, but I have to be looking at it when I do it, which makes me miss the days of replying without looking.

Just make cool BT hardware keyboard, tether it to iPhone. NP.

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

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post #74 of 95
5/16/09 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01 View Post

As you absolutely correctly stated, it was necessary when iPhone made its first steps.
Now it's just a tradition and reusing successful business model. It worked before and it still does.

I've never thought of Steve Jobs doing anything for tradition sake. It's all about the money, but for Apple it's all about the money in the future. Their plans have shown to be thought out far ahead of other companies who just look at the upcoming quarter, which is why many will play catch up when something obvious overtakes them.

So why continue with the carrier exclusivity after two years when the device already proved itself and would sold a considerably higher number of units to all those non-US countries that use the exact GSM/WCDMA radios found in the iPhone? Why the talks with various Chinese carriers now? Why do other cellphone makers offer exclusivity with carriers if it's just about unit sales?

If it serves Apple no purpose then any future countries added to the list will not have any carrier exclusivity. But it does serve Apple's purpose and helps them grow the brand the way they want it to grow. They get control over the App Store and over the technical support and over the carriers (to an extent). This is invaluable to Apple and they are obviously looking at this from more than the shortsided position of selling as many units as possible in as little time as possible.
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Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
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post #75 of 95
5/16/09 at 12:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01 View Post

The farthest I agree to go with this is to make it configurable in iTunes (or whatever would be future syncing software). And I'd prefer factory configuration of these options.

iTunes already needs an iPhone homescreen configuration page. Using the device to move around 9 pages of apps is not user friendly.

Quote:
Just make cool BT hardware keyboard, tether it to iPhone. NP.

That is an option that I think will come fairly shortly after the v3.0 software is released now that 30-pin connector and BT APIs are available to developers.
Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
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Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
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post #76 of 95
5/16/09 at 12:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

I've never thought of Steve Jobs doing anything for tradition sake. It's all about the money, but for Apple it's all about the money in the future. Their plans have shown to be thought out far ahead of other companies who just look at the upcoming quarter, which is why many will play catch up when something obvious overtakes them.

Oh, I don't agree. I, on the contrary, view SJ as a huge traditionalist. Which saved many times Apple's design philosophy. (iPhone Cut-n-Paste is rather exceptional case, no. ) And we all should admit, this particular iPhone related custom still pays. There's no loss, there's thus not much to worry about.

Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

So why continue with the carrier exclusivity after two years when the device already proved itself and would sold a considerably higher number of units to all those non-US countries that use the exact GSM/WCDMA radios found in the iPhone? Why the talks with various Chinese carriers now? Why do other cellphone makers offer exclusivity with carriers if it's just about unit sales?

If it serves Apple no purpose then any future countries added to the list will not have any carrier exclusivity. But it does serve Apple's purpose and helps them grow the brand the way they want it to grow. They get control over the App Store and over the technical support and over the carriers (to an extent). This is invaluable to Apple and they are obviously looking at this from more than the shortsided position of selling as many units as possible in as little time as possible.

Khm... This theory is not proved, you know. The experiment was conducted in France. In practice it turned out to become customer dissatisfaction in carriers (not in iPhone). And it is the only remarkable result of all that. This is the fact. The game is not too much worth playing (yet, Apple counts new earnings, sure).

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

Reply

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

Reply
post #77 of 95
5/16/09 at 12:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

iTunes already needs an iPhone homescreen configuration page. Using the device to move around 9 pages of apps is not user friendly.

I'd say sidebars of many applications need the group "Devices", where iPhone may appear and be peacefully synced. It's odd to sync calendar entries and email accounts via iTunes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism View Post

That is an option that I think will come fairly shortly after the v3.0 software is released now that 30-pin connector and BT APIs are available to developers.

Possibly so.

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

Reply

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

Reply
post #78 of 95
5/16/09 at 12:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01 View Post

Just make cool BT hardware keyboard, tether it to iPhone. NP.

How about a blue tooth one?
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post #79 of 95
5/16/09 at 12:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by paxman View Post

How about a blue tooth one?

positively.

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

Reply

We mean Apple no harm.

People are lovers, basically. -- Engadget livebloggers at the iPad mini event.

Reply
post #80 of 95
5/16/09 at 12:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ivan.rnn01 View Post

Khm... This theory is not proved, you know. The experiment was conducted in France. In practice it turned out to become customer dissatisfaction in carriers (not in iPhone). And it is the only remarkable result of all that. This is the fact. The game is not too much worth playing (yet, Apple counts new earnings, sure).

There is no theory, there is only proof. Apple has not chosen to sell subsidized iPhones to all major carriers in any country. You mention France, which it appears you are from, as an experiment. There was no French experiment, there were only laws governing the ways companies can do business. Apple sells the subsidized iPhone to Orange and the unlocked, unsubsidized iPhone to everyone else for an outrageous price. French laws, as I'm sure you know, have restricted locking to no more than 6 months since 1998.

Hop over to Germany. Where Vodafone sought an injunction to not allow T-Mobile to be the only provider of the iPhone. Apple sold the handset for $1,481 USD to discourage sales (remember this was EDGE only at the time). That doesn't sound like an experiment, but a way of circumventing the law while still being within the letter of the law. German iPhones get unlocked after 2 years.


I still gotten a viable answer as to why Apple would continue to make carrier lock-ins if their only focus was to sell as many units as possible in the shortest amount of time.
Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
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Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
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