Caltorguy

State of the iPhone: Strong. Very Strong.

I still remember the scene from Sex in the City where Samantha hands Carrie her iPhone and she looks at the multicolored screen and says, somewhat hysterically, "I don't know what to do with this". There will continue to be a market for the squares or non-technophile, non-fashion victims and RIM fills this pretty well. Their boring enough for big-business yet pretty secure, reliable and functional. Apple will continue to do really well, but it will never have 50 or 60% of the market because it doesn't want that; it wants to be a top-right, niche product for those get it and appreciate the leading design, technology and seamless interface.

Research in Motion Knocked Down, Not Out

I agree - I think RIMM and AAPL will end up in a sort of duopoly for high end data phones. The iPhone is great but they'll need to figure out some sort of data compression technology to get around the wireless capacity issues. Companies pay for wireless data so I have a tough time believing that they'll provide a multimedia device "iTunes enabled" for staff when they really just want them to be able to check email on the road.

Research in Motion Takes Hit from Component Costs and Dollar, Hints at New Product

Apparently the new Bold works seamlessly with iTunes so I'm not sure what the music issue is - it will also do great photos and video (can record video too). I still think that the data compression technology is BB's ace in the whole, and the fact that it has a keyboard that for the primary business purpose - email - makes like infinitely easier. The iPhone has apparently, after only 3 months, tapped out all of AT&T's 3G capacity - this would not be the case with the Bold. I also wonder if big business is going to be happy about providing staff with what even the AAPL fanboys acknowledge is primarily a multimedia device with a a phone attached. Companies pay for data too.

Nokia Gets No Respect Against Apple, RIM

The bigger question is whether the smartphone market will come to dominate the overall wireless market. An analyst I like made the comment that most aren't willing to see their wireless bill double (or more here in Canada where you can lease a Hyundai for about the same price as it costs to have an iPhone...) to have a mobile internet interface that the iPhone offers. You can't use it while driving or being mobile in general (and whether most airlines adopt wifi is an open question). I think you're dreaming in technicolor if you thing AAPL will get 70% of the overall wireless market, or even of the smartphone market. RIM was making smartphones 2 years before anyone even heard of an iPod, and to this day has a product that better meets the day to day use requirements of most business users, has huge loyalty, and is getting better every day. The iPhone is certainly more technically savvy, but history is littered with such "better" products that ultimately failed to win over the marketplace.

Nokia Gets No Respect Against Apple, RIM

The problem is that AAPL's 'tech dominance' has never, with the exception of the iPod (which is not an expensive product), translated into market share. How is it that the company got creamed again and again by inferior products? I think it may have to do with market positioning. Owning an Apple product says I am a tech-savvy, creative, early adopter type, which isn't a message that the mass majority cares to make about themselves. I think the iPhone will do well but it is the Cadillac in a world where most are content with Hondas and Chevys.

Citigroup Test-Drives Blackberry Bold

Well I guess since RIM invented the smart phone 9 years ago and this is about their zillionth model, it isn't that big a deal.

Apple: Great Company with Lofty Valuation - Due for Pullback

"Yep; it will be for a pull back from $300 in 2010" Interesting comment although I figure that the share price of any big bank that survives the current turmoil will probably double by 2010 as well - and pay dividends in the meantime.

Apple: Great Company with Lofty Valuation - Due for Pullback

My prediction: Apple will control 100% of every consumer electronic product category within 12 months; their stock will trade at $25,000 per share - hurry before it is too late! I mean Apple has such a great track record of turning innovation into market share...how can I be wrong?

The kind of frothy hysteria I am parodying here makes me sure AAPL is due for a pullback. Certainly its a good company and inspires fanatical loyalty among its followers but nothing goes up for ever. Anedotally I think that many of the things that worked for Apple as a leading niche innovator may work against it, culturally, as a global technology hegemon that everyone here seems to believe it will become.

Research In Motion's Blackberry Bold Launch Should Calm Investors

I tend to agree with last comment. The iPhone has a great browser but I question whether most big companies would even see that as a benefit - hell a lot of companies actually block webmail because they want the security of having all email go through their (and RIM) servers. There is also the cost of data which the other poster alludes to - it aint free so why give give staff devices that encourage people to use it like crazy? RIM certainly won't beat Apple on any consumer smartphone but it has establihed itself as the business smartphone brand, and businesses being conservative, that could pay big dividends for a long time to come.

Appetite for Risk? Buy Some RIMM

But isn't the benefit of RIM servers enhanced security? Isn't this a key reason business prefers RIM? And how many businesses out there will want to support both smartphones? (I'm not a tech expert but I think this would be cumbersome). My belief is that it will take some time for the iPhone to seriously penetrate business users, the way that it has/is taking a long time for Apple to penetrate business computing (outside creative industries). I don't doubt that Apple makes better products but standardization, security and cost are probably the most salient considerations of business users / IT depts today. So Apple and RIM are still targeting different markets to some degree - and RIM still has a lot of product in the pipeline (as do every other device maker). Projecting out a monthly or qtrly trend tends not to be successful way of seeing the world in 3 to 5 years. We will indeed see what happens.

Appetite for Risk? Buy Some RIMM

I think that while the iPhone is a marvel that is exactly the reason most businesses outside creative/tech oriented ones, will stay with the tried and true BB which may not do as many things but is extremely effective and simple to use as a data and voice communications device for business (and way more efficient in data use which gets the communcations cos onside). I also have trouble with this notion that Apple which has never been a communications or cell phone company can come take over the world in a year or two. They contracted out every aspect of the iPhone except the interface and device design. Apple has built a better computer for 20 years but still only has 6% of that market (up from 4% woohoo!)