Apple Now 'More Flexible', 'Less Arrogant' Reports France Telecom CEO

MacRumors · Feb 25, 2013, 05:11 PM

Speaking at an event with reporters, France Telecom-Orange CEO Stephane Richard said that Apple was "more flexible", "paying more attention to everyone else" and "a little less arrogant" than they had been in the past, reports AllThingsD.

Quote:

"Apple has (become) more flexible, paying more attention to everyone else, probably a little less arrogant than they used to be," France Telecom-Orange CEO Stephane Richard said during a dinner with reporters in Barcelona on Monday. Characterizing today's Apple with the same company under Steve Jobs, Richard said, "I think they are probably a little more under pressure, and it is quite nice."

Richard went on to talk about the some other issues affecting the telecom industry, including the "very difficult" time Windows Phone will have competing with entrenched operating systems like iOS and Android, particularly because the platform doesn't yet have a "'wow' effect".

Article Link: Apple Now 'More Flexible', 'Less Arrogant' Reports France Telecom CEO

SSD-GUY · Feb 25, 2013, 05:12 PM

The end is nigh?

Feed Me · Feb 25, 2013, 05:12 PM

I love French whine and cheese.

joejoejoe · Feb 25, 2013, 05:15 PM

I never thought I'd see "less arrogant" as a negative.

phillipduran · Feb 26, 2013, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joejoejoe

I never thought I'd see "less arrogant" as a negative.

Is it arrogance in the first place?

Imagine an iPhone with carrier bloatware all over it. Imagine an iOS device forcing you to a carrier's landing page every time you opened up Safari. I think Apple knows what it want's in its products and they stick to their guns. That can be mistaken as arrogance, I think they just know what their product is and they know how to deliver it. They look for partners to help with this, but with some things they will not bend and they are willing to to walk away from those that do not help them promote their product their way.

Look at the release of the iPhone. How many carriers told Apple no they aren't going to carry the iPhone because Apple is asking too much. One carrier, AT&T decided to give Apple what they asked. How well did it work out for AT&T? I think Apple knows how to deliver quality and are confident enough in their products to shoot down the bad ideas of marketers, salesman and partners.

LordJohnWhorfin · Feb 25, 2013, 05:15 PM

And he knows something about becoming a little less arrogant, seeing all his customers flee to Free mobile. Orange is as despicable and evil as AT&T, I hope they choke on a ham sandwich and die.

.Asa · Feb 25, 2013, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordJohnWhorfin

And he knows something about becoming a little less arrogant, seeing all his customers flee to Free mobile. Orange is as despicable and evil as AT&T, I hope they choke on a ham sandwich and die.

I prefer salami

wkadamsjr · Feb 26, 2013, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordJohnWhorfin

And he knows something about becoming a little less arrogant, seeing all his customers flee to Free mobile. Orange is as despicable and evil as AT&T, I hope they choke on a ham sandwich and die.

I'm curious as to if you actually have personal experience with both, or are just going off of public opinion on one or the other (or both).

The AT&T comments always amuse me. Verizon is just as bad, if not worse. Try upgrading your iPhone 4 to an iPhone 5 on Verizon and keeping your unlimited plan. Hope you have about $700 ready.

jnpy!$4g3cwk · Feb 26, 2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wkadamsjr

I'm curious as to if you actually have personal experience with both, or are just going off of public opinion on one or the other (or both).

The AT&T comments always amuse me. Verizon is just as bad, if not worse. Try upgrading your iPhone 4 to an iPhone 5 on Verizon and keeping your unlimited plan. Hope you have about $700 ready.

Jumping in here, I have lots of experience on all the U.S. carriers. Sprint and T-Mobile have always treated me best, by far, compared to Verizon and AT&T. I was very disappointed that Apple initially went with AT&T, then AT&T and Verizon.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillipduran

Is it arrogance in the first place?

Imagine an iPhone with carrier bloatware all over it. Imagine an iOS device forcing you to a carrier's landing page every time you opened up Safari. I think Apple knows what it want's in its products and they stick to their guns. That can be mistaken as arrogance, I think they just know what their product is and they know how to deliver it. They look for partners to help with this, but with some things they will not bend and they are willing to to walk away from those that do not help them promote their product their way.

Look at the release of the iPhone. How many carriers told Apple no they aren't going to carry the iPhone because Apple is asking too much. One carrier, AT&T decided to give Apple what they asked. How well did it work out for AT&T? I think Apple knows how to deliver quality and are confident enough in their products to shoot down the bad ideas of marketers, salesman and partners.

I agree that you do have an important point here. Apple did get what it wanted from AT&T, and, in some ways it did benefit customers. But, not in the pocketbook, not in coverage at the time, not in customer service.

ProVideo · Feb 25, 2013, 05:16 PM

I guess we can deduce that he was a member of Jobs' Bozo list.

iphone495 · 10:43 PM

"Less Arrogant"? Now Steve would never let that happen.

This joke never gets old.

Squilly · Feb 25, 2013, 05:17 PM

I only had to read the first paragraph for this

Apple isn't supposed to hop on the bandwagon. They're supposed to start it.
And.... Orange. Wonder where they got that idea from

Potus · Feb 25, 2013, 05:19 PM

Is that the same as "less cutting edge" and "in the fast race toward mediocrity"?

SmileyBlast! · Feb 26, 2013, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squilly

I only had to read the first paragraph for this

Apple isn't supposed to hop on the bandwagon. They're supposed to start it.
And.... Orange. Wonder where they got that idea from

I wonder when someone will start a company called Banana?

3N16MA · Feb 25, 2013, 05:19 PM

So many CEOs are happy that they now have to meet with Tim instead of Steve. Steve probably made them feel like fools no matter what their status. Of course it was that arrogance that turned Apple around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio

The French have won more wars than most countries have including the USA.

But go on make fun of the French.

Is anyone supposed to be impressed that a country like France which is much more mature than a country like the U.S. has won more wars? Especially when they existed in an era where war was quite common?

IJ Reilly · 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3N16MA

So many CEOs are happy that they now have to meet with Tim instead of Steve. Steve probably made them feel like fools no matter what their status. Of course it was that arrogance that turned Apple around.

Gosh, and I thought it was great products that turned Apple around. Seems they really only needed an exaggerated sense of their own importance.

petrucci666 · Feb 25, 2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3N16MA

Especially when they existed in an era where war was quite common?

Great point.

Four oF NINE · Feb 25, 2013, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProVideo

I guess we can deduce that he was a member of Jobs' Bozo list.

I don't know about Steve Jobs, but he's on mine.

aleksoctop · Feb 25, 2013, 05:29 PM

That's a ****** remark to make. What a jerk.

Tymmz · Feb 25, 2013, 05:30 PM

i just hope not being flexible & arrogance doesn't pay off in the end.

i'm all positive for Apple's upcoming products...they are already brilliant. hard to screw things up so bad that everything falls into pieces.

i'm just very curious to see their next "wow"!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feed Me

I love French whine and cheese.

what an unnecessary comment.

Shrink · Feb 25, 2013, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Four oF NINE

I don't know about Steve Jobs, but he's on mine.

And I'm sure, knowing that, he is now sitting in a warm bath opening his wrists.

keysofanxiety · Feb 25, 2013, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feed Me

I love French whine and cheese.

How true. I didn't actually know Orange were a French company. I thought the only colour France did was white.

BC2009 · Feb 25, 2013, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feed Me

I love French whine and cheese.

Yeah no kidding... this dude sounds arrogant.

Lancer · Feb 25, 2013, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSD-GUY

The end is nigh?

Is that a pig I see in the sky?

NT1440 · Feb 25, 2013, 06:50 PM

Flexibility means that they are allowing telecoms greater say. Exactly what we need, masters of access to information telling me how I can access said information (such as charging for tethering while not boosting the data cap at all, I paid for the data, it doesn't cost you a ****ing dime to allow me to use that data on another device).

Feb 25, 2013, 05:12 PM	#3
Feed Me Banned Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Location Location	I love French whine and cheese.
	21

Feb 25, 2013, 05:17 PM	#11
iphone495 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2012	"Less Arrogant"? Now Steve would never let that happen. This joke never gets old. Last edited by iphone495; Feb 25, 2013 at 10:43 PM.
	23

Feb 25, 2013, 05:19 PM	#13
Potus macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2002	"Less Arrogant" Is that the same as "less cutting edge" and "in the fast race toward mediocrity"?
	4

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Feb 25, 2013, 05:12 PM	#2
SSD-GUY macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012	The end is nigh?
	0

Feb 25, 2013, 05:15 PM	#4
joejoejoe macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2006	I never thought I'd see "less arrogant" as a negative.
	3

Feb 25, 2013, 05:15 PM	#6
LordJohnWhorfin macrumors member Join Date: May 2002	And he knows something about becoming a little less arrogant, seeing all his customers flee to Free mobile. Orange is as despicable and evil as AT&T, I hope they choke on a ham sandwich and die.
	9

Feb 25, 2013, 05:16 PM	#10
ProVideo macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2011	I guess we can deduce that he was a member of Jobs' Bozo list.
	20

Feb 25, 2013, 05:17 PM	#12
Squilly In Time-Out Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: PA	I only had to read the first paragraph for this Apple isn't supposed to hop on the bandwagon. They're supposed to start it. And.... Orange. Wonder where they got that idea from
	1

Feb 25, 2013, 05:29 PM	#19
aleksoctop macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2011	That's a ****** remark to make. What a jerk.
	4

Feb 25, 2013, 06:50 PM	#25
NT1440 macrumors G3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hartford, CT	Flexibility means that they are allowing telecoms greater say. Exactly what we need, masters of access to information telling me how I can access said information (such as charging for tethering while not boosting the data cap at all, I paid for the data, it doesn't cost you a ****ing dime to allow me to use that data on another device).
	1