Ok, maybe Jobs is testing the market. Maybe he figures Apple can design a better phone (an expensive undertaking) if this device takes off. However, I think MOT is playing a very smart game here. The battle of convergence has 1 likely winner - what I mean by that is one of the technologies will take the lead. Will it be the cell phone guys, the PDA guys, the handheld gaming guys, the camera guys or the portable music player guys? There are 3 compelling applications: phone, music, pictures. Gaming and PDA are more limited in their appeal. Now, ask yourself who is the ideal target market for these converged devices... the answer is, parents of teenagers. "Dad, buy me an iPod. Mom, I need a digital camera. I gotta have a cell phone!" The parents see these converged devices, with the iTunes/Apple stamp of approval, and they see a way to meet all those "demands" in a single purchase. The kids are happy - they got everything they wanted, and it's Apple so it's cool. The parents are happy because they managed to save a few bucks. MOT is happy because they sell lots of these phones, which, at the high end presumably have nicer margins. Apple, it seems, does not gain anything in the deal other than some market research. Most iTunes purchases are by the over 30 crowd - not teens. Will MOT's lead be too large to overcome? Will iPod sales drop off the table? Risky move on Job's part if you ask me.
I think you are in the minority. Either that or you have alot of pockets and enjoy juggling multiple AC chargers in a feeble attempt to keep all your devices charged and ready should you want to use them. I for one CAN'T WAIT for a decent music phone/camera/PDA. So far the best I have seen is only available in the UK:
http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/handset/orange_ spv_c550/detail/pay_monthly
Dedicated music player buttons! And, they even offer a full-track over-the-air download service. When will stuff like this hit the States?
The best one available in the US that I've seen is the AudioVox 5600, which has been around for awhile. Alas the desktop side of the equation in weak, relying on off-the-shelf Microsoft applications, rather than well-designed, easy to use, applications targeted to the mobile phone/music player user.
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Ok, maybe Jobs is testing the market. Maybe he figures Apple can design a better phone (an expensive undertaking) if this device takes off. However, I think MOT is playing a very smart game here. The battle of convergence has 1 likely winner - what I mean by that is one of the technologies will take the lead. Will it be the cell phone guys, the PDA guys, the handheld gaming guys, the camera guys or the portable music player guys? There are 3 compelling applications: phone, music, pictures. Gaming and PDA are more limited in their appeal. Now, ask yourself who is the ideal target market for these converged devices ... the answer is, parents of teenagers. "Dad, buy me an iPod. Mom, I need a digital camera. I gotta have a cell phone!" The parents see these converged devices, with the iTunes/Apple stamp of approval, and they see a way to meet all those "demands" in a single purchase. The kids are happy - they got everything they wanted, and it's Apple so it's cool. The parents are happy because they managed to save a few bucks. MOT is happy because they sell lots of these phones, which, at the high end presumably have nicer margins. Apple, it seems, does not gain anything in the deal other than some market research. Most iTunes purchases are by the over 30 crowd - not teens. Will MOT's lead be too large to overcome? Will iPod sales drop off the table? Risky move on Job's part if you ask me.
I think you are in the minority. Either that or you have alot of pockets and enjoy juggling multiple AC chargers in a feeble attempt to keep all your devices charged and ready should you want to use them. I for one CAN'T WAIT for a decent music phone/camera/PDA. So far the best I have seen is only available in the UK: http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/handset/orange_ spv_c550/detail/pay_monthly
Dedicated music player buttons! And, they even offer a full-track over-the-air download service. When will stuff like this hit the States?
The best one available in the US that I've seen is the AudioVox 5600, which has been around for awhile. Alas the desktop side of the equation in weak, relying on off-the-shelf Microsoft applications, rather than well-designed, easy to use, applications targeted to the mobile phone/music player user.