Comments on: The Apple iPhone: a revolution for mobile user experience? Part I of III http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/ Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:11:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Zara Evens http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/#comment-11 Zara Evens Fri, 12 Jan 2007 22:24:17 +0000 http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/#comment-11 Actually, as I had suspected, the pre-mature announcement was not really a marketing ploy at all, rather a last chance opportunity before the FCC made the clearance application public knowledge. Fortune's Peter Lewis says: "In the end, Apple decided to reveal the iPhone several months ahead of its official June launch because it could not keep the secret any more. Apple has to file with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the permits needed to operate the iPhone, and once those public filings are made, Apple has no control over the release of that information. So, Jobs said, he made the decision to have Apple tell the world about its new phone, rather than the FCC." <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/10/commentary/lewis_fortune_iphone.fortune/index.htm" rel="nofollow">Link to full article.</a> Actually, as I had suspected, the pre-mature announcement was not really a marketing ploy at all, rather a last chance opportunity before the FCC made the clearance application public knowledge. Fortune’s Peter Lewis says:

“In the end, Apple decided to reveal the iPhone several months ahead of its official June launch because it could not keep the secret any more. Apple has to file with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the permits needed to operate the iPhone, and once those public filings are made, Apple has no control over the release of that information. So, Jobs said, he made the decision to have Apple tell the world about its new phone, rather than the FCC.”

Link to full article.

]]> By: Joe Pemberton http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/#comment-9 Joe Pemberton Thu, 11 Jan 2007 01:02:46 +0000 http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/#comment-9 True Joe, that it's unique in the mobile world, but Apple is known for announcing everything (whether it's shipping or not) at either MacWorld or at their World Wide Developer's Conference (WWDC). I do wonder if US phone sales in the +$200 category will slump for 6 months in anticipation. I bet iPod sales will see a drop off also. True Joe, that it’s unique in the mobile world, but Apple is known for announcing everything (whether it’s shipping or not) at either MacWorld or at their World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC). I do wonder if US phone sales in the +$200 category will slump for 6 months in anticipation. I bet iPod sales will see a drop off also.

]]> By: Joe Michiels http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/#comment-8 Joe Michiels Wed, 10 Jan 2007 22:20:17 +0000 http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/#comment-8 I find the most interesting strategy revealed by Apple to be one I haven't seen discussed much in the press: pre-announcing the launch. Unlike Apple's other consumer devices, cellphones are devices that consumers usually are contractually tied to. While Apple may chalk up FCC clearance as the main driver for revealing the phone, it's hard to ignore the benefit of giving consumers a 6-months lead time to let their existing contracts expire; allowing them to sign the required 2 year commitment that comes with the iPhone. One could imagine the alternate scenario where they launch the product on the same day it's announced, while some lucky Cingular customers would rush to the stores and then a slow trickle of expiring contract customers would roll in for the next few months, by pre-announcing the phone Apple has almost guaranteed an immediate frenzy of contract-free-customers that will make the furby/tickle-me-elmo shopping mobs pale in comparison. I find the most interesting strategy revealed by Apple to be one I haven’t seen discussed much in the press: pre-announcing the launch. Unlike Apple’s other consumer devices, cellphones are devices that consumers usually are contractually tied to. While Apple may chalk up FCC clearance as the main driver for revealing the phone, it’s hard to ignore the benefit of giving consumers a 6-months lead time to let their existing contracts expire; allowing them to sign the required 2 year commitment that comes with the iPhone.

One could imagine the alternate scenario where they launch the product on the same day it’s announced, while some lucky Cingular customers would rush to the stores and then a slow trickle of expiring contract customers would roll in for the next few months, by pre-announcing the phone Apple has almost guaranteed an immediate frenzy of contract-free-customers that will make the furby/tickle-me-elmo shopping mobs pale in comparison.

]]> By: stater http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/#comment-7 stater Wed, 10 Jan 2007 20:19:33 +0000 http://idlemode.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone-part-i/#comment-7 One of the first things I considered when I saw the iPhone was the "smudge factor". I have a hard enough time with my little flip-phone trying to remove smudges... but how bad would it get if had to touch the screen with my fingers? Do we think that Apple considered this? Do we think that they did, but knew that people would buy it anyway? Another thing that comes to mind, and this is just me being practical... but will this be another super cool/sexy product from Apple that I'll be forced to conceal in a case because I don't want to scratch it? That's been my only issue with the iPod, that is, what is the point of purchasing such a cool/sexy product if a user will just put it in a rubber case. Does this mean that function truly out-weighs fashion? One of the first things I considered when I saw the iPhone was the “smudge factor”. I have a hard enough time with my little flip-phone trying to remove smudges… but how bad would it get if had to touch the screen with my fingers?

Do we think that Apple considered this? Do we think that they did, but knew that people would buy it anyway?

Another thing that comes to mind, and this is just me being practical… but will this be another super cool/sexy product from Apple that I’ll be forced to conceal in a case because I don’t want to scratch it? That’s been my only issue with the iPod, that is, what is the point of purchasing such a cool/sexy product if a user will just put it in a rubber case. Does this mean that function truly out-weighs fashion?

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