peter02l

Apples to Apples: Will History Repeat Itself as Android Gains on the iPhone?

I don't see how any of your arguments and analogies hold.

Your account of the rise of MSDOS is a bit off. Apple did not have anything like a virtual monopoly. They never had a 90% market share, not even 50%.

Why should we substitute MSDOS with Andriod? Why not with Windows Mobile, or even better, with Symbian? Both are available on smartphones from multiple manufacturers, and both are losing market share. Furthermore, Symbian is now open source and free just like Android. So availability on phones from many manufacturers is not necessarily a recipe for success. Not to mention that both of these existed way before the iPhone. In fact, the only smartphone manufacturer that has been able to hold it's market share even after the release of the iPhone is Research in Motion, which like Apple makes the hardware and the software. So this business model in smartphones seems to be superior.

As for the rubbish camera! You probably have not used the iPhone. It's camera produces superior quality pictures to many smartphone cameras with higher megapixel specs.

If there were a company that is a marketing company first and a technology company second, I don't know how Microsoft slipped your mind. The amount of press they buy, the pre-announcements of upcoming technologies, and the money they spend is notorious. Apple's marketing budget for a company it's size is not anything to brag about. If you mean they know how to successfully spend that money, I agree you are right. But Apple is a technology company first. Their software, hardware, and industrial design are arguably ahead of competitors in using technology to provide solutions that work better and are enjoyable to use.

The iPhone, just as with Andriod based phones is available from multiple carriers in many countries. And those who have not signed any distribution contracts are very eager to do so. So there is no barrier there.

It is amusing that you finally say:

"In terms of range of products they have left every other platform behind. However the business model employed here is easily copied."

This business model is one that ties the software, ecosystem and the hardware to the same company. The only way Google can copy this is to make their own smartphone. I am sure you have heard the rumors, but I don't think there is a chance of that happening.

As for developing for several devices simultaneously, it is not as easy as you think. It's very expensive and code maintenance is a challenge. If it were easy, developers would not have abandoned the Macintosh in the 90s. Most developers find it more cost effective to limit their efforts to the dominant platform. That is the relevant lesson from the MSDOS days.

Palm Pre, iPhone 3GS Snag Sales from RIM

I, on the other hand, had left my iPhone on a piece of bread. Unknowingly, I put some turkey and lettuce on it and ate it. The next day the device was deposited in the bowl in a pile of excrement. But I am happy to report that it still works like new. My old phone was a Blackberry 8300 which suffered the same calamity. However, I cannot attest to the quality of its make as I flushed it by mistake.

The $99 iPhone Is James Bond, The Others Are Joe Schmoe

Don't waste your breath talking to a Motorola i365.


On Jun 29 04:26 PM EJL wrote:

> You have been pumping the Pre well before it was released. Your
> analysis of the plans is accurate, but I can't get on board with
> the notion that the Pre is a better device than the 3G iPhone. I
> had one for a few weeks to test it out and my feeling is that it
> is neither beats out iPhone for a gooey UI and media/web nor does
> it beat out the Blackberry for messaging/core communication. I feel
> like it's stuck in between. The screen on the Pre is a little too
> small and the keyboard is usable at best (if you don't accidentally
> cut yourself on the sharp edge). I honestly felt like it's iPhone
> junior as it basically copies iPhone with the web browser and gestures.
> The finger gestures were usually accurate, but iPhone still has best
> in class touch. Your myth about the iPhone not multitasking is a
> joke. Of course it does, Apple just chooses to control it in the
> name of a great user experience. This will not end up being a persistent
> competitive advantage, especially in light of Sprint/Palm's marketing
> of this feature so heavily.
>
> What is most striking to me is that the feedback I am seeing on the
> 3G and 3GS is that the new software makes the device faster and improves
> usability and the new hardware really makes a difference in speed.
> While I don't agree with your analysis, the good news is that a rising
> tide lifts all boats and Palm will do fine as more users gravitate
> to smarter devices.

The $99 iPhone Is James Bond, The Others Are Joe Schmoe

I am sure he weighed everything!

(ounce for ounce)


On Jun 29 04:11 PM EJL wrote:

> comedy. please support this with facts. other than a few EAS policies,
> what else is there?

The $99 iPhone Is James Bond, The Others Are Joe Schmoe

Just bum a phone. You don't need a rate plan.


On Jun 29 10:58 AM User 389824 wrote:

> Its the Rate Plan, stupid! Even though the consumer gets one heck
> of a deal at $99, they will end up paying hundreds more over the
> term of the AT&T rate contract, compared to Sprint or T-Mobile.
> And the horrible AT&T coverage. The cost of the phone is only
> the beginning. Doubtless, Apple has produced a wonderful handset
> but it is married to a bum!

The $99 iPhone Is James Bond, The Others Are Joe Schmoe

This is the absolute best article I have read in a long while. Perfect characterization!

Palm Pre: Gauging Success Will Take Time

On Jun 07 12:52 PM Aryamehr wrote:

> Geddy, BTW I don't work for Sprint/Nextel, nor do I work for Palm.
> Nor have I ever worked for both these companies, however I do think you quite possibly are working for their competitors. This is America, and what we try to do here is create competition. There is nothing wrong with having a contravening opinion, however it is wrong to misinform the public. I have always advocated "Trust and Verify" or "Never to trust anyone" when it comes to making important decisions.
> Wise people have the ability to trust their own perceptions by extrapolating and making their own conclusions. Again all you need to do is download three different, commonly known websites using the PRE, iPhone and the Storm and the truth will be in front of your eyes. So anyone doubting my claims needs to find a friend, family member or an acquaintance to download these sights simultaneously using these phones. The FACTS will show that Sprint/Pre eats ATT/iPhone alive in download speeds in most metro areas.

First of all, I thought you were deposed in 1979; but that's neither here nor there.

I went to the store today and tested web access speeds for myself. It is exactly the opposite of what you said. As much as I'd hate to say it the iPhone is by far faster, unless of course you decided to compare it with the iPhone set to work on Edge.

I believe you when you say you have never worked for any cell phone provider. I picture you either living in a nice estate in Virginia or handing out samples at Costco. And I really mean this in a good way. I don't mean to be rude in any way.

Good luck with getting the old life back.

Palm Pre: Gauging Success Will Take Time

On Jun 07 06:17 AM Aryamehr wrote:

> The Pre trumps the iPhone on almost every category. The first thing
> I did was test the download speeds of Sprint/Pre against the ATT/iPhone.
> The results weren't even close, the pre downloaded ESPN, CNN &
> ABC at least twice as fast as the iPhone, this was also true against
> the Verizon/Blackberry Storm. The Pre's camera was much clearer
> and displayed colors with more contrast. The battery life was excellent
> contrary to reports I heard on the internet. I loved the Touchstone
> charger, it is intuitive and innovative. Its multifunctioning capacity
> is just unbelievable, it can simultaneously keep over ten websites
> running. The iPhone is limited to one. IMHO the size was perfect,
> contrary to the iPhone, it fits perfectly into the palm of one's
> hand. The phone also has a decent qwerty keyboard, another item
> lacking in the iPhone. The battery can be changed, which the iPhone
> is incapable of doing. It does lack an Application Store of any
> note, however that won't be a problem since its WebOS was designed
> with the purpose of using programming languages familiar to tens
> of millions of developers.
>
> Please use the phone and verify my claims to the Pre's Speed. It
> is going to be near impossible for the iPhone to trump the Pre any
> time into the near future and I don't think anything innovative will
> be coming out of the WWDC this week.
>
> Palm is here to stay and with time they will eat into Apple's territory.
> It is just a matter of time before everyone sees how good this device truly is.

It is impartial, informative, and intelligent comments like this that will make the difference in how good Pre is. And yes, everyone please buy one and switch to Sprint to verify all this for yourself.

On the other hand, financially Palm is in such dire straits that it needs to sell over 700,000 Pre units every quarter just to break even. And once it loses exclusivity in six months it would have to reduce margins, so sales would have to go up even more to accomplish the same result. Also, if Apple reduces iPhone prices or updates them with more memory, and AT&T decides to reduce usage cost to extent its exclusivity beyond 2010 all bets are off.

So please, make the sacrifice, pay the early termination fee, switch to Sprint and buy a Pre. We can't let Elevation Partners to lose all their investments without a fight. Hopefully, a buyer will step in to buy Palm so that Elevation Partners could make a decent profit.

Not!

Does Palm's Pre Have Anything on the iPhone or Storm?

On May 12 11:33 AM Marco Hickey wrote:

> Okay, I apologize for making a couple of typo's... Instablogging
> at 2:30 AM certainly has its downfalls. My article was aimed at getting
> the opinion of the readers... I think if the webOS is a success,
> Palm will have an iPhone competitor in no time... What good does
> it do to get so angry? ;-)

Do you realize how silly your statement is?

"I think if the webOS is a success, Palm will have an iPhone competitor in no time... "

For the WebOS to be a success - as it is only available on the Palm Pre - Pre must sell very well, with sales rivaling the iPhone.

There are other factors that determine whether Pre will sell well however: Will there be a viable infrastructure for putting music and video content on the Pre? Will there be enough developers writing applications and will there be an easy way to purchase and install them? I know there will only be web apps, but how can you monetize them? Developers want to sell their apps. Also, will people dump their Blackberries and iPhones and switch to Sprint?

Palm has enough cash to last a few more months, perhaps not even to the end of 2009. If this thing doesn't sell like hot cakes, they will be in major trouble since they have already given up on all their other products. Pre has to sell at least a couple of million in the next six months for Palm to return to the market share and the revenue they had just two years ago. I think that's a tall order, especially in this economic condition.

By the way RIM is the big dog here. Why does everyone uses Apple as the yardstick.

Does Palm's Pre Have Anything on the iPhone or Storm?

It's attitudes like this author's that run most companies to the ground. Apple doesn't sell a trend. It sells a product that has painstakingly been designed for utility, simple operation, and elegance. It is very hard to make the right compromises for a product to be successful. On top of all that, Apple has taken care to make the negotiations necessary and to build the infrastructure for selling content in a simple straightforward and relatively inexpensive manner. Too much has gone into the iPod and iPhone to simply call them trends.

And if you think having a bimbo handle a product will mean success in the marketplace, I really feel sorry for the guy who takes your advice.

Apple's AT&T Deal Is Costly

jbelkin,

I share your sentiments.

It's difficult for me to understand comments like these here by Mr. Sullivan.
AT&T had to make some concessions speed up their Edge network and implement certain features such as visual voicemail. The agreement has helped both companies.

As jbelkin says, the purchase of phones by people who unlock them and use them in countries where Apple has signed no deals or with unsanctioned carriers speaks volumes about the desirability of the iPhone.

Reports are about 25% of sales are outside the supported networks! That is a million potential customers lost to competing phone manufacturers. And Apple still makes money on every single one of them. And again as jbelkin mentions, for these "customers" Apple is not required to spend a penny on warranty and technical support! Instead Apple enjoys the visibility and awareness for the iPhone provided by these unauthorized users in as yet untapped markets. In addition it cuts into market share of its competitors there.

Consider again what people in China are giving up when they purchase an iPhone: future upgrades, missing feature, no support, etc. Hundreds of thousands of people are willing to buy the Apple iPhone over competing products. Isn't this good news for Apple and bad news for Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and others as well as Symbian and Microsoft?

Just imagine what will happen to Symbian and Microsoft with Google jumps in. And how carriers will be scrambling to provide and/or control features available on their networks.

iPhone: Prelude To An Unlocked Phone Revolution

Very good. Although you might suppose that AT&T will use the next five years to dramatically improve its service and coverage with the added revenue from those leaving T-Mobil, Sprint and Verizon. So in five years Verizon may not be "hands down the best network."