iPhone from Apple seems to be accelerating in the technology hype cycle. While the product is still six long months away from the market, the marketing and PR departments is working overtime in an attempt to preempt competition and technology enthusiasts edgy. (www.apple.com/iphone/technology)
It does offer simplicity – in terms of an all-in-one diminutive mobile device – in sync with the time with a user friendly interface, which is a touch screen. As an innovation, it is indeed a strategic one considering the superior features it extends when compared to the incumbents in the market. What is intriguing though is the pricing and the reason stated for the exorbitant price differentiator. At a whopping $500 (estimated), it is way too expensive. Apple is adopting the iPod strategy for its pricing. However, the company is forgetting that iPod in some way was a radical innovation – it disrupted the existing market for digital music.
It does offer simplicity – in terms of an all-in-one diminutive mobile device – in sync with the time with a user friendly interface, which is a touch screen. As an innovation, it is indeed a strategic one considering the superior features it extends when compared to the incumbents in the market. What is intriguing though is the pricing and the reason stated for the exorbitant price differentiator. At a whopping $500 (estimated), it is way too expensive. Apple is adopting the iPod strategy for its pricing. However, the company is forgetting that iPod in some way was a radical innovation – it disrupted the existing market for digital music.
Digitally compressed, Internet-deliverable music existed well before the iPod, as did devices to store it. The iPod upped the performance stakes immensely. By using a tiny hard drive to store music, it allowed people to carry hundreds, even thousands, of songs with them at all times. And, a premium price-positioning for such a superior product was only obvious. Not for an iPhone though. The incumbents like Treo and Blackberry extend similar functions – though not as fancy as the iPhone. Hence, the adoption of iPhone might have a catch – its pricing.
Coming to the IBM association – IBM had recently announced the accessibility of Lotus, the company’s e-mail client on a USB drive. Will the Lotus e-mail client be soon available on a mobile? After all technology is progressing to empower people, right? With Lotus promising to enhance productivity and efficiency through collaborative means, making it available on a mobile device will only be a natural progression. How about a storage device (USB drive) on the mobile phone? While technology is expanding at a rapid pace, devices that embrace these technologies are increasingly shrinking in size. Can IBM think small?
Coming to the IBM association – IBM had recently announced the accessibility of Lotus, the company’s e-mail client on a USB drive. Will the Lotus e-mail client be soon available on a mobile? After all technology is progressing to empower people, right? With Lotus promising to enhance productivity and efficiency through collaborative means, making it available on a mobile device will only be a natural progression. How about a storage device (USB drive) on the mobile phone? While technology is expanding at a rapid pace, devices that embrace these technologies are increasingly shrinking in size. Can IBM think small?
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