The iPhone lacks the sophistication of some of its rivals, according to analysts
iPhone spanked as a 'mobile toddler'
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08 Nov 2007, Ian Williams , V3
Apple is due to launch the iPhone in the UK on 9 November, but an analyst has described the device as a mobile baby with a lot of growing up to do.
Aleksandra Bosnjak, lead telecoms, media and technology analyst at StrategyEye Digital Media, said: "It's a cool toy, but that's it.
"From the European consumer point of view, this is a toddler product without the sophistication of some of its rivals. Many of the iPhone features are 'wants' not 'needs'. It whets consumer appetites, rather than satisfies their hunger."
Bosnjak highlighted the lack of 3G support. "This is a typical Apple launch in that, from a European consumer point of view, it is a premature product with some technological weaknesses," she said.
The analyst also criticised the iTunes Wi-Fi store's lack of support for podcasts, ring-tones and videos, which she sees as key mobile content applications, as well as the weak camera and the absence of a multiple texting option.
"The 2-megapixel resolution is very low compared to other new cameras, and Europeans are used to 3.2 or even five megapixels as standard," said Bosnjak.
The analyst did manage to praise the iPhone for its stylish design, big display and easy internet browsing capabilities.
"As for its strengths, this builds on Apple's superb design and marketing heritage with a cool look that triggers two senses for the consumer: sight and touch," she said.
Bosnjak also believes that the iPhone fits into the broad Apple strategy of driving users to its 'connected home' ideology and its push to dominate the home entertainment space with a range of Apple multimedia products.
"The iPhone is just another example of a connecting element, possibly the most critical one, in Apple's quest to conquer the home market through its devices, content and digital content distribution," said Bosnjak.
"Apple's key challenges in the UK and the rest of Europe will be to fight consumers' price sensitivity and to reach out to mainstream, picky mobile users who want full content portability rather than a partial service, however sexy it may appear."
Others in the industry agree that Apple faces a steep learning curve. "Not using 3G for the iPhone shows that Apple does not know the European market or has not thought it through," said Bengt Nordström, a consultant with VeriSign.
"Apple is going to be spending a lot of 2008 finding out just how the mobile industry works. But for a first attempt the company has made an amazing debut."
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Apple will be doing the spanking
The main lament of pundits is the lack of 3G support. This is a false weakness. The average person in Europe can't afford the data rate for 3G. Nor is 3G everywhere. And 3G chipsets are very power hungry. Apple is looking at a far different model for internet connectivity -wireless networks. I think this is a better model for most people - certainly far less costly. A lot of complaints are really software complaints. Unlike other cellphones, the iPhone has an updatable OS and soon will have industrial strength 3rd party Applications. The iPhone is a growing and moving target that will be very difficult to match by any other cell phone manufacturer. (written on my iPhone!)
Posted by James Katt, 09 Nov 2007
mobile toddler?
Waaaaaaaaah! Waaaaaaaaah! Waaaaaaaaah! Apple-leave Nokia alone! Waaaaaaaaah! Leave Ericson alone!
Posted by Boo Gibson, 08 Nov 2007
Analysts still have a lot to learn, thinks Apple
Some analysts need to be spanked at "buzzword babblers".
Let's see. I have nothing to say, so let me regurgitate with the loudest noises in the media without really knowing anything. Here:
It's a toy. It doesn't have 3G. It doesn't run MS Office. It doesn't have a physical keyboard. barf. barf. barf. Note, EDGE usable in the hand is worth a couple of 3G's in the bush.
Earth to Analyst. Use an iPhone. Wake up and smell the user experience excreted by those other phones. If the iPhone were so far behind, why is the world waiting? Because they're too stupid to know toys from functional devices?
I have an iPhone. Until the iPhone I was disgusted with the whole mobile phone/browser device. Be it Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG, Palm or Motorola, they suck. The vacuum created by the absence of user satisfaction causes them all to suck.
OK now after that rant, here's something to think about: The iPhone is revolutionary. Not because of any one of those wonderfully and artistically interwoven technologies. Because the iPhone takes control of the experience, NOT the carrier. That alone is worth it. All that wonderful Apple interface is pure and yummy icing.
In case people haven't noticed, these days, the carriers lock users out of normal channels and require those users to go through their more expensive data conduits, special plans and other revenue engines. As usual, what Apple takes up front (the money and the single-carrier deal) gets all the negative attention from people who don't seem to notice the other carriers nickel-and-diming them through the length of their plan.
Posted by Foat Toad, 09 Nov 2007
The consumer will decide...
The consumer will decide if the iPhone is the wrong product for Europe. Many experts here in America have shown themselves to be wrong about the iPhone. How many European pundits will destroy their credibility? We'll see.
Posted by Louis wheeler, 09 Nov 2007
No Toddler
I've been using an unlocked iPhone for some months now. Before that I'd had my share of the latest Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG and MDA/XDA products. The iPhone is better than all of them. Not because it has a greater set of better features. It has all the features I need in a phone, but it makes them far more easily accessible. Instead of ferreting around in arcane menus, the features I need are there when I need them, quickly and intuitively. The analysts seem to have completely overlooked this.
Posted by DoctorDee, 27 Nov 2007