By Andy McCue, 18 January 2007 15:55
NEWS
CIOs have praised the look and features of Apple's newly launched iPhone but say its price will hinder adoption by business users.
Half of silicon.com's 12-strong CIO Jury IT user panel said they would be tempted to use an iPhone, although some raised concerns about it being tied to one mobile operator and its $499 price tag.
Alastair Behenna, CIO at Harvey Nash, said: "It is a very interesting launch product and once it has settled into use the price should become more realistic. If nothing else it will act as a catalyst to other manufacturers and the competitive evolution of the iPhone will definitely be worth keeping a watching brief on. Once again, well done Apple."
Sean Powley, assistant director for organisational development and customer services at the London Borough of Barnet, added: "The iPhone takes convergence beyond the spin of recent years and makes it a reality - so long as Apple sorts the connectivity provision."
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The iPhone also comes loaded with Apple's Safari web browser and fully incorporates Google's search and mapping services. Users can make phone calls directly from Google Maps. Phone service in the US will be provided exclusively by Cingular Wireless.
But the business benefits of an iPhone are harder to justify. Peter Pedersen, CTO at Rank Group, said: "I think Apple's iPhone will be a great success and that individuals will buy it for themselves. However I believe it is unrealistic to expect business to be a significant adopter, as the cost/benefit to the business is in a grey area. It definitely will fall into the 'perks' category for now."
There are also other questions about the iPhone's suitability and compatibility for business users. Ken Davis, IT director at TV channel Five, said: "It's an interesting toy from a personal viewpoint, however from a corporate perspective it would need to prove its hardware reliability and software compatibility with Exchange and other corporate communication systems before we would consider making it part of our portfolio of supported devices."
Others are less convinced by the iPhone hype and Jacques Rene, CTO at Ascend Aerospace, said it is "too expensive and proprietary".
Paul Broome, CTO at 192.com, said: "There are plenty of equally good and cheaper models out there and it's clear he [Steve Jobs] does not understand how important text [messaging] is to users."
There is also no interest in the iPhone from Ted Woodhouse, director of IT strategy, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, who said his phone already does more than he needs it to do and that his MP3 player is smaller and more convenient than an iPhone.
He said: "I don't need to be able to point at phone numbers/names, in order to ring people, and I never watch TV or video on my phone. A BlackBerry or laptop with a wireless card allows me all the corporate remote access I need. The iPhone is combining relatively unconnected features into a single, unnecessary, overpriced and over-hyped box. What's the battery life and durability like? Because if it's anything like the iPod, that's not good enough either."
Today's CIO Jury was...
Alastair Behenna, CIO, Harvey Nash
Paul Broome, CTO at 192.com
Ken Davis, IT director, Five
Mark Dearnley, CIO, Cable & Wireless
John Keeling, director of computer services, John Lewis
Rory O'Boyle, head of IT, The Football Association
Peter Pedersen, CTO, Rank Group
Sean Powley, assistant director for organisational development and customer services, London Borough of Barnet
Jacques Rene, CTO, Ascend Aerospace
David Supple, director of IT and creative services, Ecotec
Ted Woodhouse, director of IT strategy, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Graham Yellowley, director of technology, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International
Want to be part of silicon.com's CIO Jury and have your say on the hot issues for IT departments? If you are a CIO, CTO, IT director or equivalent at a large or small company in the private or public sector and you want to be part of silicon.com's CIO Jury pool, or you know an IT chief who should be, then drop us a line at editorial@silicon.com
Comments
There are 12 comments. Join the discussion
1. Ian Ashton
"The iPhone is combining relatively unconnected features into a single, unnecessary, overpriced and over-hyped box"
Bit like putting a camera into a phone. Who's daft idea was that?
Keep raising the bar Apple. The others will get it in the end.
2. Ian Ashton
"The iPhone is combining relatively unconnected features into a single, unnecessary, overpriced and over-hyped box"
Bit like putting a camera into a phone. Who's daft idea was that?
Keep raising the bar Apple. The others will get it in the end.
3. anonymous
I am still struggling to see what is so groundbreaking about this device.
There are plenty of PDA's and Smartphones that can do the same job as this device, at a fraction of the price.
People will buy it just because it is branded Apple (can't say iPhone because Apple don't own the rights to that and hopefully never will).
Apple need to give us something groundbreaking and unique rather than hyping a device that you could get an equivalent (and probably better) 2 years or more ago!
All the hype is like saying M$ Vista is new and groundbreaking!!!
4. anonymous
Designer handbags, belts, shoes are overpriced and unnecessary, but they are a many $B industry. Don't under estimate the fashion appeal. The Prada phone may outsell the Apple phone.
5. anonymous
You CTO kind of people just do not get it. Sexy is Sexy. It always sells. I think a new word is in order for those who lack the ability to comprehend this. Nerdiots. Nerd idiots.
6. Tony Crooks
Reading this article makes one wonder if any of the 'jury' have seen the phone? You'd get the impression that existing mobile phones user interface was already perfect in every possible way.
Still in the 21st Century it's people that buy mobiles not companies - thank the lord!
7. anonymous
The critics don't get it, and that's fine. They didn't get the iPod either.
8. I.T. Guy
This isn't going to fail because of the quality/usefullness of the product, it's going to fail because it's Apple that invented it.
Isn't that what you really meant to say? We've been hearing this for years.. it's nothing new.
Oh, And your expert list... Has anyone ever heard of any of them before?
9. anonymous
CIOs? Aren't these the same people who can't stop compulsively littering their increasingly insolvent businesses with networks of clunky, adware-crippled, virus-ridden, routinely compromised PCs?
These jokers will never get it. Stick to golf, backslapping and corporate boondoggles, fellas. Leave high technology to people who actually have a use for it.
10. Bruce Campbell
Why, oh why, do most people with a "C" in front of their title never get it? When camera phones came out, no one could imagine what they would be used for. When e-mail arrived last century, most senior business leaders couldn't imagine what it would be useful for. I had a so-called senior exec type ask me "what good is the internet?" in 1995. You people are so busy playing politics and protecting the status quo you wouldn't recognize a radical change in the world if it came up and bit your noses off. Apple has innovated consistently over the last 20 years, and they aren't going to stop. Does someone have to keep reminding you people that, by the time you are forced to adopt the innovation, you will have misremembered your original objections... and it wil have been your brilliant leadership all along? Give us all a break. Nothing like 20:20 hindsight.
11. Tom Goosmann
I have a $500 Treo (my third in almost as many years) in one pocket and a $300 video iPod (I've had every generation since they came out... me and 42 million other people) in the other.
The iPhone too expensive and proprietary? At $499 looks like I'll be saving money. Proprietary? You make it sound like the entire corporate world needs Exchange. Give me a good contact list, real email, and real web access on my hand held and what more do you need?
A toy? What is this, the 90s? Wake and face the fact that Apple continues to innovate for the masses.
I will agree with one point: Jobs better get the battery life right. Then again, so should Treo, Blackberry, Motorola...
12. Tom Goosmann
I have a $500 Treo (my third in almost as many years) in one pocket and a $300 video iPod (I've had every generation since they came out... me and 42 million other people) in the other.
The iPhone too expensive and proprietary? At $499 looks like I'll be saving money. Proprietary? You make it sound like the entire corporate world needs Exchange. Give me a good contact list, real email, and real web access on my hand held and what more do you need?
A toy? What is this, the 90s? Wake and face the fact that Apple continues to innovate for the masses.
I will agree with one point: Jobs better get the battery life right. Then again, so should Treo, Blackberry, Motorola...