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AT&T to Target iPhone to Business Customers?
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that craaazy microsoft!!
if *I* owned $150 million in a company's stock, i sure as hell wouldn't talk smack about that company! i think i'd want them to be successful so my stock would go UP!
if *I* owned $150 million in a company's stock, i sure as hell wouldn't talk smack about that company! i think i'd want them to be successful so my stock would go UP!
1 key app for business users -- exchange integration
That's what it all comes down to, and that's why those horrible RIM devices are so popular. The average corporate drone has no choice on their email -- they have to use their company's exchange server. If the iPhone has seamless integration (with calendars, meeting invites, all that crap) business users will flock to it. If it doesn't they can't and won't. It's that simple.
Seeing as Apple doesn't have that sort of integration on their full-size computers with their full-size OS, do you really think they'll debut that on this little device?
Of course that could tie in interestingly with the rumors that apple is looking into combining mail, calendar, and address book apps together in OSX...
That's what it all comes down to, and that's why those horrible RIM devices are so popular. The average corporate drone has no choice on their email -- they have to use their company's exchange server. If the iPhone has seamless integration (with calendars, meeting invites, all that crap) business users will flock to it. If it doesn't they can't and won't. It's that simple.
Seeing as Apple doesn't have that sort of integration on their full-size computers with their full-size OS, do you really think they'll debut that on this little device?
Of course that could tie in interestingly with the rumors that apple is looking into combining mail, calendar, and address book apps together in OSX...
I see where you're going and I 'kinda agree.
I'm immersed in Mac hardware and software so it really doesn't bother me. I'll be a happy camper if the iPhone syncs with iCal and Address Book. That said, it does render it less desireable to non-Mac users who run different PIM software. Actually, a lot of Mac users run other PIM software. Hmmm.....
If this is true it may make for a bit of an awkward period of time post iPhone release/pre-Leopard release.
This is a huge deal to a guy like me. I own a small company and the abiltiy to have access to my complete customer datablase and calendar without lugging around a laptop is huge. I get 20-30 calls a day and when I'm out in the field without my laptop it is a bit of a hassle that usually requires a return phone call.
Microsoft bought that (2%?) of Apple many years ago, and sold it later for a tidy profit. Good on themthat craaazy microsoft!!
if *I* owned $150 million in a company's stock, i sure as hell wouldn't talk smack about that company! i think i'd want them to be successful so my stock would go UP!
ps. Apple is worth 40 times as much now, than when MS bought in (I think)
I agree with you, but maybe a more important question is "how many people buy a Pocket PC device because they THINK they'll use that feature?" I think 50% of Pocket PC's early wins over Palm were because of that feature. And you're right, they ended up not doing it at all.
There's going to be loads of external battery packs available for these emergencies. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say we will see something from Belkin since there are external battery packs available for iPods today.
Funny, it's acceptable today for the thousands of large companies that allow access to their email systems through Blackberry Enterprise Server or through GoodLink.
It's as simple as this: Unless and until Apple strikes as deal with RIM or Good (now Motorola - hah!) to bundle their software in the iPhone, it won't be an option for most corporate users.
It's as simple as this: Unless and until Apple strikes as deal with RIM or Good (now Motorola - hah!) to bundle their software in the iPhone, it won't be an option for most corporate users.
Microsoft is right about
- exchange/blackberry/office compatibility, it is essential for business users.
At the other hand the iPhone change the way we work with Smart phones.
Apple only aims at 1% of the market next year.
Apple never said it is a closed system. (they will certify the 3rd party software, to avoid instability).
In the beginning iPhone may have some incomplete solution, but I'm sure this is solved by year end, just at period the logical thinking business man starts to recognize this iPhone.
I'm also a commercial guy, when I start to talk too much about my competition, it means I'm worried about them. Also I always loved when my competitors told people that our technology didn't work, then I showed my secret trick ....
Also you can be sure that Microsoft and others will try to play copy machine to catch up with Apple invention.
- exchange/blackberry/office compatibility, it is essential for business users.
At the other hand the iPhone change the way we work with Smart phones.
Apple only aims at 1% of the market next year.
Apple never said it is a closed system. (they will certify the 3rd party software, to avoid instability).
In the beginning iPhone may have some incomplete solution, but I'm sure this is solved by year end, just at period the logical thinking business man starts to recognize this iPhone.
I'm also a commercial guy, when I start to talk too much about my competition, it means I'm worried about them. Also I always loved when my competitors told people that our technology didn't work, then I showed my secret trick ....
Also you can be sure that Microsoft and others will try to play copy machine to catch up with Apple invention.
Well seen as practically every consumer on this planet already knows about and kinda wants an iPhone, it seems logically to tell business customers about it too. They could market this thing towards their grandmothers left boob and it would still sell like very hot cakes. Everytime I look at the keynote in iTunes even now, it still fails to disappoint me, it's simply amazing, purly amazing!
Yes.
Quite saggy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac Fly (film)
They could market this thing towards their grandmothers left boob and it would still sell like very hot cakes.
Quite saggy!
Now there's a picture that will haunt me the rest of the day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac Fly (film)
They could market this thing towards their grandmothers left boob and it would still sell like very hot cakes.
It all depends on what AT&T means by "businesses"....
Fortune 150 companies? I don't see a lot of in-roads here. Blackberries sell because they integrate with Exchange servers (no one really cares if they allow anyone to work with Office formatted files, BTW, that is far too painful). But being able to interface with their corporate e-mail while on the road is invaluable.
Now switch the focus. Imagine a commercial where the Fortune 150 executive looking harried in a power suit is using a Blackberry to stay on top of business while waiting at a gate in the airport. You see him squinting and making small pecking motions at his ridiculously small keyboard in order to "seal the deal". During this time, he gets a call, and after he hangs up, you see him cursing under his breath as he tries to locate his incomplete his e-mail.
Meanwhile some young smartly dressed guy sits down next to him with earbuds in enjoying some song and looking relaxed. He gets a call, pulls out his iPhone and answers it. "Oh hi Jerry! <small talk>. You need more detail on that proposal? Hang on, let me see if Bonnie is available". Switches out and conferences in Bonnie. Bonnie answers some questions and agrees to mail him an altered proposal. "The man cuts in and says go ahead and mail it directly to me, I'll approve it and pass it along.".
While he's still on the original call, he gets the mail from Bonnie, adds his 2 cents, and forwards it along to Jerry. "You should see it in the next couple of minutes.". They talk a little more small talk, setting up a chance to do dinner or something (maybe bouncing out to a web browsing app to find a good place to eat), when Jerry gets his e-mail, says it's exactly what he was looking for, and seals the deal on the phone. When he hangs up, the music resumes.
Meanwhile, power-suit guy finally finishes his e-mail. He calls the person he sent it to, finds out it was accepted, but he may need a few small alterations, and ends the call looking more like he crossed the finished line after a long race, than anything.
The point is, is that the small entrepeneuers may not need Exchange server support or Microsoft Office document support, but they still need to be able to work from the road. The iPhone is the tool for the small business owner that uses tools like Yahoo small business e-mail, but still needs to stay connected.
Fortune 150 companies? I don't see a lot of in-roads here. Blackberries sell because they integrate with Exchange servers (no one really cares if they allow anyone to work with Office formatted files, BTW, that is far too painful). But being able to interface with their corporate e-mail while on the road is invaluable.
Now switch the focus. Imagine a commercial where the Fortune 150 executive looking harried in a power suit is using a Blackberry to stay on top of business while waiting at a gate in the airport. You see him squinting and making small pecking motions at his ridiculously small keyboard in order to "seal the deal". During this time, he gets a call, and after he hangs up, you see him cursing under his breath as he tries to locate his incomplete his e-mail.
Meanwhile some young smartly dressed guy sits down next to him with earbuds in enjoying some song and looking relaxed. He gets a call, pulls out his iPhone and answers it. "Oh hi Jerry! <small talk>. You need more detail on that proposal? Hang on, let me see if Bonnie is available". Switches out and conferences in Bonnie. Bonnie answers some questions and agrees to mail him an altered proposal. "The man cuts in and says go ahead and mail it directly to me, I'll approve it and pass it along.".
While he's still on the original call, he gets the mail from Bonnie, adds his 2 cents, and forwards it along to Jerry. "You should see it in the next couple of minutes.". They talk a little more small talk, setting up a chance to do dinner or something (maybe bouncing out to a web browsing app to find a good place to eat), when Jerry gets his e-mail, says it's exactly what he was looking for, and seals the deal on the phone. When he hangs up, the music resumes.
Meanwhile, power-suit guy finally finishes his e-mail. He calls the person he sent it to, finds out it was accepted, but he may need a few small alterations, and ends the call looking more like he crossed the finished line after a long race, than anything.
The point is, is that the small entrepeneuers may not need Exchange server support or Microsoft Office document support, but they still need to be able to work from the road. The iPhone is the tool for the small business owner that uses tools like Yahoo small business e-mail, but still needs to stay connected.
Well, maybe Microsoft should stop being so hypocritical and open their "closed" technologies BEFORE they bash on Apple for making a "closed" iPhone.
I've never had to replace or carry a spare battery (Samsung E900) and my phone gets some serious usage in a day (calls, texts and surfing) - it will still go 3-4 days before running low so I think the replacable battery complaint is not really valid as yet... see how long it lasts, otherwise plug it in to charge while at work/or get a car charger!
Do business customers include government? Most government agencies I have came into contact with, don't allow phones with cameras on the premises if there is classified data around. Which is why Nextel/Sprint is very popular, who else offers a whole line of phones with no camera?
Shoot we all know how the government spends money on not needed things, it would be an easy target for Apple as long as it supports certificates (for signed and encrypted email), can have mail from Exchange pushed to it (replacing blackberry) and has no camera.
Shoot we all know how the government spends money on not needed things, it would be an easy target for Apple as long as it supports certificates (for signed and encrypted email), can have mail from Exchange pushed to it (replacing blackberry) and has no camera.
Early adopters first
I don't know why everyone is getting so bent out of shape. If things go as they appear, you simply won't be able to get an iPhone for a while while the early adopters line up to fork over their money. Apple can move pretty fast (especially since we are mostly talking about software here), and so I would expect the next generation iPhone to come out within six months. This may indeed be a more business oriented phone, but right now Apple will be fine with getting this thing out the door as currently promised.
If it works as advertised, then they will sell a ton and be well set up for the long term. They don't need to solve every problem right now, they just need to not screw up this one big chance.
I also don't see why so many are saying that people won't give up their Blackberries. This is a very recent addiction it seems to me. Blackberry helped to define the current market space, but it is new enough that it can be done better/differently and be quickly swept off the scene (see Osborne portable computers).
I don't know why everyone is getting so bent out of shape. If things go as they appear, you simply won't be able to get an iPhone for a while while the early adopters line up to fork over their money. Apple can move pretty fast (especially since we are mostly talking about software here), and so I would expect the next generation iPhone to come out within six months. This may indeed be a more business oriented phone, but right now Apple will be fine with getting this thing out the door as currently promised.
If it works as advertised, then they will sell a ton and be well set up for the long term. They don't need to solve every problem right now, they just need to not screw up this one big chance.
I also don't see why so many are saying that people won't give up their Blackberries. This is a very recent addiction it seems to me. Blackberry helped to define the current market space, but it is new enough that it can be done better/differently and be quickly swept off the scene (see Osborne portable computers).
Right, and almost every other phone OS requires some form of testing before they'll allow it installed.
S60 (now) needs the majority of applications to be signed (even freeware) which requires testing. End users can still install such applications though.
Brew (v.common in US and Japan) is even more restrictive, requiring over-the-air downloads, IINM.
Don't know/care about MS Windows...
Even Samsung bans camera phones at work!
http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2004-01-12-phones_x.htm
"Some major employers are banning camera phones on the job amid growing fears the high-tech gadgets pose serious threats to workers' privacy and company secrets.
The phones, which average about $150, allow users to take pictures and transmit them globally.
Companies fear employees will use the phones to send images of new products or other company information, or else to take pictures of unsuspecting co-workers in locker rooms or bathrooms."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2004-01-12-phones_x.htm
"Some major employers are banning camera phones on the job amid growing fears the high-tech gadgets pose serious threats to workers' privacy and company secrets.
The phones, which average about $150, allow users to take pictures and transmit them globally.
Companies fear employees will use the phones to send images of new products or other company information, or else to take pictures of unsuspecting co-workers in locker rooms or bathrooms."
I think your dead on with regards to 3rd party support.
Knowing now that they cannibalized the Leopard team to work on iPhone, they probably didn't want to deal with 3rd party support while building the initial product. Its tough enough finding / fixing your own bugs, but having to research 3rd party bugs was probably too much for them to handle. I'm sure they didn't want the bad back-channel press either.
Once the platform stabilizes, I think you'll see an SDK show up. You can bet that the Hacker community will be going nuts to crack this thing open.
Compatibility with Exchange will be the No. 1 factor for MANY businesses. No matter how good the iPhone is, companies are not going to dump Treos and Blackberries that talk to ActiveSync for iPhones that don't.
I'm hoping Leopard's Mail will include much better Exchange integration than Tiger.
We have these policies too, I've never seen them enforced though. We've had these policies before there were camera phones.
How many companies (non-gov't) enforce the policy?