By Tim Ferguson, 22 January 2007 15:30
NEWS
Although the Apple iPhone is yet to be released, anticipation is running high and according to a silicon.com poll users are ready to splash out to purchase the must-have gadget when it is available.
Although the majority of respondents (60 per cent) said they were not planning to invest in Apple's latest gadget, an impressive 35 per cent said they would buy an iPhone.
Whether this early enthusiasm could ever translate into real sales remains to be seen. If Apple's iPhone really can conquer 35 per cent of market share, it would see the Cupertino company challenge Nokia for the title of top handset-maker in the world.
At this stage the poll certainly goes against Microsoft's prediction the iPhone will struggle. But it won't all be plain-sailing for Apple's marketing team - five per cent of respondents were left asking what on earth an iPhone is.
We also asked our CIO Jury what they thought of the potential business benefits of the Mac maker's first mobile phone device.
Half the group said they would consider using the iPhone but concerns were raised about the high price-tag and the fact the phone is tied to a single mobile operator. One CIO said the iPhone is an "unnecessary, overpriced and over-hyped box".
See a video of Apple boss, Steve Jobs, unveiling the phone here.
Comments
There are 7 comments. Join the discussion
1. Martin Lukes
Is this why Apple OS10.X won't synch with mobile phones properly? Or why you have to buy third party software to do that?
Or why Apple act as if they never heard of Nokia? Or why the SPV M600 has a fit and destorys my entire Address book and diary when you try to synch it to Apple?
Or maybe it's just that every new version of OSX is a bit more like Windows - i.e. it crashes more and does more damage when it does.
I've gone back to my Nokia 6310i and a Filofax. The difference is: they work.
Apple OSX: What would you like to fix today?
2. Andy
I don't need an iphone - I already have a Sony Erricson w950i which does the same thing. Why wait for an over-priced Apple branded device when the techonology is already here, for most people what they want is already available.
That said I think that a lot of people will buy an iphone because their old ipods are now looking a little scratched i guess, and as most people who buy apple devices have plenty of money they won't mind the price and the additional phone functilality - as a phone with mp3 its not very good, but as an mp3 player with a phone i guess people will like it a lot.
3. Simon
Hmm, Martin Lukes clearly has a problem - but to blame apple assumes that Nokia does 'the right thing'.
I sync with my phone, using the built in facilities and no 3rd party software. "It just works", no fuss, pair it up, tell it to sync, tell it "Yes I know it's going to add a lot of contacts to my phone", and it did it.
That was however with a Sony Ericsson phone - I never got the previous Nokia to work with either my Mac or my Palm. Not for internet access via bluetooth/gprs, not for syncing, not for SMS (from the Palm).
My experience of Nokia ? A pain to link to anything, menus that didn't seem too bad until I got the Sony Ericsson and saw what sensible menus looked like, and after all that - no desire to every go back to a Nokia.
I'm on a Treo 650 at the moment. iPhone looks nice, but I haven't got the cash and I don't like the 'closed box' attitude.
4. anonymous
"But it won't all be plain-sailing for Apple's marketing team - five per cent of respondents were left asking what on earth an iPhone is."
I would say you don't get plainer sailing than that, companies would kill to get 95% product recognition.
5. Sarah
Old hat technology that you pay a premium for.
Apple marketing team (aka spin machine) really do have their work cut out with this .... unless, of course, Apple can also come out with some technology restrictions to force people to use it (likewith the iPod and iTunes tie up).
6. anonymous
I don't think Nokia need worry, even if it does have the iPod 'halo effect'.
It remains to be tested in a real world environment. Battery life and reliability are much more important in the mobile phone world - which is something that Apple do not have a good track record with regarding the iPod.
7. anonymous
Having used several "smart" phones i can say conclusively that it is poised to conquer to world of phones. I can hardly wait to get my hands on one!!