Arnold Reinhold

I Quit the iPhone

Years ago friends introduced me to this great auto mechanic. He did excellent work, charged low prices and if he spent hours on your car only to find the problem was a simple one he should have spotted sooner, he'd just charge for the time he should have spent. He was great.Only problem was he went out of business. The most important thing a company can do for its loyal customers is to stay in business. Here's a hint for iPhone developers, big and small, if you have a great idea for an app that just happens to undermine Apple or ATT's business model, don't waste your time writing it.

$1.2 Billion in iPhone Apps? Not Likely.

The $10 in sales per iPhone user per year may be a gross underestimate. Yes, there will be a lot of free software, but Apple's easy distribution mechanism and modest 30% cut will convince a lot of independent developers to try charging for their efforts. And the $9.99 price point for a new game or handy app is a very easy impulse purchase.

New BlackBerry, New Fund: Is RIM's Moat Wide Enough?

The real question is what phones will primarily be used for in the future:generating text or viewing information. The RIM, with its mechanical keyboard is better for the former, the iPhone with its large screen and touch interface is better for the latter, whether it entertainment or business data. Third parties will provide miniature Bluetooth keyboards for iPhone users who must have one. And when Apple is ready to administer the coup de grâce, it can simply introduce a model with a fold out/slide out keyboard.