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02/16/2007, 1:25pm, EST

Friday, February 16th

Telestra warns against Apple's iPhone

Australian-based telco Telstra has offered a word of warning about Apple's iPhone, and is likely to bring some significant operational challenges when it makes its Australian debut some time next year. "There's an old saying - stick to your knitting - and Apple is not a mobile phone manufacturer, that's not their knitting," said Greg Winn, a big product decision maker for Telstra. "You can pretty much be assured that Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and ZTE and others will be coming out with devices that have similar functionality." Winn also believes that the iPhone's touch-screen technology does not make the device truly revolutionary, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "I think people overreacted to it - there was not a lot of tremendously new stuff if you think about it," Winn said of the iPhone. "It was maybe kind of cool on the touchscreen technology but touchscreen technology is another domain, so it's only a matter of time before it went to the device."

The Telstra decision-maker also believes Apple failed to realize several marketing factors, such as the iPhone name which provoked a hasty response from Cisco -- a large-scale network equipment manufacturer that registered "iPhone" as its own trademark -- ultimately resulting in a lawsuit against the Cupertino-based company. Winn also pointed to Apple's decision to adopt Cingular as its exclusive U.S. mobile carrier.

"They did an exclusive with Cingular and they talked about a global rollout - well, Cingular is not a global company," he said.

Winn cited the non-replaceable battery as a potential pitfall with consumers, but admitted that the iPhone will likely leave a mark in mobile design despite it's uncertain commercial success.

"I am absolutely sure that device will be successful initially," Winn said. "What I'm not sure of is how much money are they willing to devote to all of the life cycle management and upgrades."


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not sure I agree.....
0
02/16, 1:39pm, EST
This person kind of discounts the impact of the touch screen, but don't forget, this device's touchscreen will be patented, and will be the only one where you run your finger down the device and scroll like that, as well as avoid unintentional touches. Same situation as the iPod and the clickwheel- nobody will be able to lawfully duplicate it, and it will become a selling point and make it easier to use than other devices.

As for the Cingular thing, yes it will be Cingular exclusive in the US, but each country will have their own exclusive carrier, like Rogers for Canada, so that's also a non-issue. And the iPhone name thing is being worked out, that's a non-issue already.
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stick to your knitting?
0
02/16, 1:40pm, EST
it's called innovation dillholes...

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cingular comment
0
02/16, 1:42pm, EST
His comment about Cingular shows he is not thinking this through but shooting from the hip as Cingular only got a *US* Exclusive on it.
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Phone Element
0
02/16, 1:43pm, EST
The phone element to me is a nice a afterthought. The other three functions are the ones I want. This person probably has no computer experience with these elements. He appears to be a pure talker.
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knitting
0
02/16, 1:47pm, EST
Yeah, and Apple hadn't knitted any MP3 players before 2001, if I'm not mistaken.

Sure, it's hit-or-miss (think of the Newton, the very early Apple digital camera (the name of which escapes me at the moment), etc.), but Apple has been known to break open an market by bringing to bear their emphasis on user experience and experience with interface and product design. Nokia, Ericson, etc. have all had their chance to create a phone that is actually friendly to use and I have a suspiscion that Apple is about to show them how it's done.
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hmmm...
0
02/16, 1:51pm, EST
MP3 Players were not Apple's "knitting" either. Nor were juke box software like iTunes.

Touch screen is not revolutionary. Multi-touch is.

I'm sure Apple was fully aware of the status of the iPhone name. They are not amateurs.

I have always replaced my cell phones before I had to replace the batteries. Most carriers offer steep discounts on a new phone after 2 years of continual service.
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What an idiot...
0
02/16, 1:54pm, EST
This is what they call "stuck on stupid."
Support during lifespan
0
02/16, 1:56pm, EST
The problem with non-replaceable battery is a non-issue. While we tend to use our iPods for a number of years (or so we believe when we buy them), cellphones have an average life (with their first owner) of about 16 months. Even if it is 2 years (Cingular's contract), battery will easily outlast that. By the time your contract expires, you'll be anxious to buy the next version of iPhone and will be unloading your first one on eBay for $80. Old battery will no longer be your problem. Your buyer won't complain, since he got an iPhone for under $100. Even with Apple's $50 battery replacement, he'll still be fine.
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Original Apple DigitalCam
0
02/16, 2:14pm, EST
The name was QuickTake 100 and QuickTake 150... primitive by todays standards.
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Foolish
0
02/16, 2:17pm, EST
He nails Apple for the Cisco law suit, but did zero research himself. Apple did look at it, and made a business decision. They were negotiating for the name.

And what an idiot, the Cingular deal is US only. What a fool. But he's an "expert" so he'll get all this attention for basically knowing nothing.

Great comments here. The iPod is a fabulous example of not sticking to your knitting.
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