What the iPhone might mean for you

As a fan of Apple Computer (now Apple, Inc.) I’ve been wondering if I might ever be able to discuss the company in a post on this blog. Given that they’re a supremely secretive organization and my suspicion is that their internal communication probably amounts to: “This is 1% of a new idea we’re working on – you go do it and do it better than you’ve ever done anything in your life or Steve Jobs will fire you back to the stone age” type messages I thought my chances were slim to say the least.

However, the chance has now arrived in the shape of last week’s contentiously named “iPhone” launch. Bear with me, please…

The iPhone itself isn’t big news for business – unless you’re RIM, Palm or Nokia et al - then it knocked a few quid off your stock price. What’s really, truly significant about the iPhone for business is it’s unveiling as a “true internet communicator.”

In his Stevenote, Jobs roundly trashed the downsized web browsers you find on smartphones and mobile phones, and with good reason. I run a Palm Tréo 650 and web browsing – even with the much-lauded Opera “mini” browser is a distinctly lacking experience. Using Palm’s own, built-in web browser is even worse.

Even on the state-of-the-art new Blackberry Pearl and similar phones, Google search looks like Google search but the rest of the web is a minimal, lifeless shell compared to it’s full-sized computer brethren.

This also means accessing a corporate intranet on a phone is - if not completely impossible - often akin to having impacted, submerged wisdom teeth pulled out when the anaesthetic is wearing off.

Because Apple understands user-interface design better than most, Jobs and his band of merry folk have completely raised the bar and included an advanced version of the Apple browser “Safari” with the iPhone. When you visit a website, you don’t get 10% of it – likely the 10% you don’t really want at that – you get the full site, with all images and graphics etc and you can zoom into the bits you want with a flick of your fingertips using Apple’s patented “Multi-touch” screen (a design which they actually bought rather than designing themselves).

“But none of our mobiles use Safari and we're not going to bother with the iPhone!” I hear you cry, but that’s not the point. The point is Apple has so raised the bar with this example that other companies will have to up their game to some degree. The difference is too great.

So, if not this year then maybe next, browsers on all sorts pf phones will likely have full web capabilities and will be able to access full blown corporate intranets just as you would if you were on your laptop. Employees of all levels – because it won’t take long for the idea to filter down to even the cheapest phones - really will have mobile internet on their phones.

Now, given the current situation of limited text message updates and the like and people needing to be at their computer to visit the corporate intranet, imagine the potential this offers for online internal communication.

Alex

Comments

[Russell]

Just one tiny problem, Apple doesn't own the trademark for iPhones!

http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/corp_011007.html?CMP=ILC-001

The Cisco iPhone has a far bigger potential impact long-term for IC as a converged device, and this is the key sticking point in the Apple-Cisco negotiations.

""Today's iPhone is not tomorrow's iPhone. The potential for convergence of the home phone, cell phone, work phone and PC is limitless..."

[Alex Manchester]

Hi Russell.

Interesting point but I think while the Linksys branded Cisco iPhone in theory is a great idea, the days when people trade in their mobile phones for that particular model are a while to come yet, if they come at all.

I'd also say the main sticking point for the Apple/Cisco negotiations is $$$$$. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Russell]

Hi Alex

Well ultimately it's all about $$$ as they're both businesses with shareholder duties etc., but I don't think this really explains the motives in full. (Must confess I work for Cisco but this is very much my personal view.)
From what I've read Cisco isn't after a money areement and was negotiating with Apple the day before they went live with iPhone name. Interesting commentary via a corporate blog from Mark Chandler, Cisco's top leagal beagle:

http://blogs.cisco.com/news/

Lot's of responses from the public on this and Chandler responding to the feedback.

Russell

[Alex Manchester]

To be absolutely honest Russell, the Cisco/Apple argument is being discussed to the point of tedium elsewhere on the web and it's not really a discussion I want to add more to here (it's not really what my post was about). I acknowledged the issue above by calling the Apple iPhone "contentiously named" and from my perspective, that's about all there is interesting to say on that particular aspect.

Now, if you're comparing the two phones and their features/capabilities. Having Skype/VoIP on a mobile phone that can be used at any wi fi hotspot - the main selling point of Cisco's product - is nothing new. Skype is available on many mobile products and has been for a while so the genuine, converged device is already here. Apple must not have feel the need to include this feature in the first generation/model of their phone and with Skype users still in the minority, you can understand why. That's not to say we shouldn't expect it in the future.