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Does anyone know if there is an initiative by any major company, a new product development, on a way to compete with iPhone?
It appears to me that the IPhone trend is unlashed and we are going to see more products that will go that direction combining even more functionalities and features of other gadgets into a phone-like product, don’t you think?
I would be interested in taking with people that understand the design connotations and business models to discuss some alternatives of doing it in the old fashion way – better, smaller, cheaper faster; and of cause outsourcing; do you know anyone interested in a venture like that?
Good Answers (3)
Sam L
Managing partner
Best Answers in: Engineering (2), Product Design (2), Business Analytics (1), Corporate Governance (1)
The real uniqueness of iPhone is not the technical one. Its really about interaction with the markets, and giving a profile for a product. Apple has more than succeeded in creating huge hype - for a product which as such is not that special compared to already existing alternatives. But it has a marvellous product marketing wrap around.
The lessons learned for major handset companies is to reach a whole new level of market interaction, whole new product presentation. THIS is where Apple is competing. Not the product per se.
Robert F
Team Lead at IBM Internet Security Systems
Best Answers in: Staffing and Recruiting (1), Option Markets (1), Software Development (1)
There are/will be plenty. Have a look at the Meizu M8.
iPhone, in my opinion, has the potential to bring about a shift in the market place by creating the desire to have applications that can effectively make use of multi-touch technology.
The implication of the above would be manufacturers clamoring to enter the display / input market for multi-touch.
From a software development perspective, applications that do not employ a lot of moding on their UIs would be able to quickly take advantage of this.
Nevertheless, the interaction of the existing UI / widgets on the UI, the task as a whole (as to whether it is amenable to multi-touch) would have to be examined.
Examples of applications that could make use of multi-touch would be a music players, image manipulation tools, and virtual key boards.
Apple has made sure that its patent's claims in the music arena are iron-clad by detailing every small interaction.
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More Answers (5)
HTC the same folks who brought you the CIngular 2125 and 8125 are supposed to have or be working on one for later this year.
There are already several handset mfgrs that have a product in place. Check out the "Cyon" (shine) from LG. It will be half the price and have better fxns than that of the iPhone which is only GPRS/Edge and NOT UMTS/HSDPA.
I'm sure I've seen a similar device by Creative Zen.
Stéphane M
Author and Chief Propagandist
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1) iPhone doesn't bring any disruption. It just adds apple to a large list of manufacturers - including SonyEricsson and many others with some notions of music. apple are in the same position as Microsoft a couple of years ago : big players don't want to boost iTunes just like they didn't want to help Windows make it in the mobile arena. apple will do good business but this is no bed of roses, and Cupertino's war chest is by no means as big as Redmond's Fort Knox.
2) Regarding the functionalities : ten years ago, conventional wisdom said handsets would become Swiss army knives and universal remote controls. Actually, you can already use some devices as your key, wallet, camera, mosquito repellent and many other things, but most people use only a few functionnalities, some prefer better devices for specific applications, and the all in one concept doesn't rule (ie personal networks of devices with earsets, new screens, personal vaults...). Yet, mobile phones remain the main personal device and a key driver for many innovations. With 3 billion users changing phones every 18 months and emerging markets bringing millions of new users every month, even a fraction of the market means a lot (ie the biggest market for digital cameras). In saturated markets, mobility penetration rates count less than penetration rates of each functionality / techno on the mobile.
4) the market is so huge all niches are taken, including the ones you mention. all major manufacturers do volumes on "dumb phones" for emerging markets ("dumb" compared to top items in richer countries, but much smarter than what used to be considered top not so long ago, and definitely much smarter than a Vertu sans concierge). Still, if you can provide disruption one way or the other (including the processes), people will listen.
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The Nokia N95 has features that absolutely crush the iPhone in every way- 5MP camera, GPS, TV-Out, dedicated 3D chip, etc etc. It's the most convergent smartphone I've ever seen, and I think it signifies the beginning of a trend of smartphones and portable computers coming together.