iPhone as a 'hub' app
There's not enough profit margin for Apple to build or rebrand phones. Let's think about what Apple could do with software in iPods and Macs, and how that could interplay with phones...
Apple could add features to existing software to leverage Bluetooth from a future iPod or an iBook. It would talk to a Bluetooth phone to:
- dial numbers from the Address Book
- log calls, add new numbers to the Address Book
- bring up contact info for incoming calls
- switch a Bluetooth headset from being used for music to being used for a phone when a call starts, then switch back when the call is done
- store a phone's ring tones, photos etc on an iPod or Mac
An iPhone app on Mac OS X could use VoIP to provide an Internet phone and fax node, using a headset connected by Bluetooth or USB. The Mac would be the user interface for using the phone.
- call other iPhone users over the Internet - free long distance
- iPhone should be a multimedia phone, with video as well as audio. If it supports H.323 it could interoperate with Windows PCs using MS NetMeeting.
- download ring tones, send & receive MMS messages - like having a high-end cell phone but at landline or Internet talk time rates.
If Apple wants to get more radical, it could make an Airport base station that also serves as a 2.4GHz phone, or uses a 2.4GHz phone to access the landline. (802.11b uses the same 2.4GHz frequency). iPhone could also use that line rather than VoIP.
There's not enough profit margin for Apple to build or rebrand phones. Let's think about what Apple could do with software in iPods and Macs, and how that could interplay with phones...
Apple could add features to existing software to leverage Bluetooth from a future iPod or an iBook. It would talk to a Bluetooth phone to:
- dial numbers from the Address Book
- log calls, add new numbers to the Address Book
- bring up contact info for incoming calls
- switch a Bluetooth headset from being used for music to being used for a phone when a call starts, then switch back when the call is done
- store a phone's ring tones, photos etc on an iPod or Mac
An iPhone app on Mac OS X could use VoIP to provide an Internet phone and fax node, using a headset connected by Bluetooth or USB. The Mac would be the user interface for using the phone.
- call other iPhone users over the Internet - free long distance
- iPhone should be a multimedia phone, with video as well as audio. If it supports H.323 it could interoperate with Windows PCs using MS NetMeeting.
- download ring tones, send & receive MMS messages - like having a high-end cell phone but at landline or Internet talk time rates.
If Apple wants to get more radical, it could make an Airport base station that also serves as a 2.4GHz phone, or uses a 2.4GHz phone to access the landline. (802.11b uses the same 2.4GHz frequency). iPhone could also use that line rather than VoIP.