New iphone, a real competitor with other smartphones
If Steve Jobs announces a new iphone as many expect, the next generation phone should bring some amazing marketshare. The apple way is to produce shiny, exciting products but lapse a bit on core features. The original iPhone was said to be the best smartphone though it lacked features like 3G, email support for business users, GPS, and came with only a modest selection of software because of the monopoly Apple imposes over its devices.
The next iPhone is expected to add all of those features, faster internet with 3G, more memory, GPS, better corporate email and new games and software. This is what would put it up there with the Blackberry and Treo devices that sell so well amongst corporate workers instead of teenagers and tech junkies. The iPhone will ramp up utility while still being the streamlined, shiny Apple product everyone craves.
Even better will be its $200 price tag. That’s what experts are suggesting ATT will price the product with a $200 subsidy to new subscribers. Apple currently sells its cheapest iPhone for $400, now that there is more competition from other touch screen smartphone devices, ATT must subsidize the price to keep popularity and bring in new subscribers.
The best part to Apple will be the iPhone as a marketing tool. People who use the iPhone are probably much more likely to buy an Apple product than those who don’t. If Steve Jobs and company is able to send out the 10 million units they want to, Apple will grab share in yet another developing market while bringing new customers to its computer division.
I like the iPhone as a buzz-generator and a way for Apple to steal even more share from Microsoft. Apple has always catered to the individual rather than the business and is now taking steps to get into the billion dollar corporate computing and telecommunications business. Buy here, Apple has a definite grasp on the phone market.
