What the app!?
22 February 2010
Everytime a new mobile phone or OS gets to the market it’s hailed as a possible iphone killer. It was the case of Palm, a few months ago, the new Google phone more recently and it’s now Microsoft turn with its Windows Phone 7 series. Commentators alwasy seem to like what they see but are quick to point out that the new entrant will struggle mainly for one reason: the lack of a vast app store. While Apple’s iphone can count on hundresds of thousands dedicated apps.
Now, I don’t own an iphone (and I have no intention of buying one) and therefore my view may be skewed. But, surely it can’t all possibly be down to apps. I would never buy any phone because of the apps I can access through it and I know a lot of people who think the same. They may buy the iphone becasue it’s cool and fashionable and then consequently download several apps off it. But I don’t know of a single person who has bought the iphone becasue of the apps it offers.
So, what is it? I certainly don’t have a definitive answer but I think it’s more about the coolness surrounding Apple and the iphone as a brand than about the apps.
So, I don’t know if a new entrant will come around and take significant market share from Apple, but if one of the entrants gets the marketing strategy right I think it might. I see the marketing/buzz around it far more important than the product strategy going forward.
Some related considerations need to be made with regards to the recently announced ipad. Part of Apple’s strategy is again around the countless apps that will be made available on the ipad. Again, my view is probably biased (although I do want to buy an ipad), but I am not certain about apps once again.
I do want a tablet pc and I do want one that is exactly 10 inches like the ipad and it surely looks sleek. But, again, I really wouldn’t be buying that for the apps. I am interested in browsing the web easily and quickly wherever I am without having to carry an heavy laptop. Nothing to do with apps (and with the close environment I understand Apple is offering on the device).
I don’t understand all the fuss around apps and app stores. Can someone explain? Ah wait! Probably, there’s an app for that too.
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of The Water Rat
23 February 2010 at 01:12
This may not surprise you, but I actually would buy an iPhone for the apps. I didn’t at first, cause who knew what apps were back then – I bought it so I didn’t have to carry an ipod and a cell phone. But it turns out, the apps have actually become critical to my life.
For example, there is WiFiFoFum, the indespensible utility for letting me know what wireless networks there are around me that I can’t sign into. And then of course there is Urban Spoon, so I know all the cool places to eat in New York, because I live in DC. And then Ambiance, for my meditation, even though the last time I did that was a year and a half ago. And then of course there is the suite of social networking applications, like foursquare, twitter, buzz, Facebook, beejiveIM, and linkedin that serve the unique and incredibly important role of reminding me, almost constantly, that not only do I not know anyone, but I also don’t know where they are eating dinner, who they are tagging in photos, what they are saying to each other, or where they’re working!
What would I do without all this information? And as far as the iPad goes, I can’t imagine a better platform to more clearly tell me all these things. Therefore, it is a must buy. A will buy. And as soon as I do, I will tweet it. From my iphone. Just to see it show up on my iPad.
n
23 February 2010 at 15:50
HAHAHAH amazing answer Niko! You guys should read (if you haven’t already) http://www.sinanbastas.com/2009/11/09/blackberry-vs-iphone/
I don’t know actually. I also used to own an iPhone but then switched to BlackBerry to be in touch with all the friends overseas with the BBM (for free). It is ingenious! I miss the iPhone for its sleekness, but I can’t give up the BB for its expertise in communication.
31 May 2010 at 20:12
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