Apple’s iPhone Mis-step
I saw this article today about AT&T trying to make the iPhone more attractive to business users through a plan. Unfortunately, this battle was lost even before the iPhone came out. And there were easy ways to win it. It just goes to show you that even the greatest companies such as Apple sometimes become so focused they become myopic. They just didn’t see the forest for the trees on this one.
The only way the iPhone is going to see widespread adoption in the enterprise is if it has an enterprise-caliber email interface. Not coincidentally, this is the only thing keeping the Apple from selling millions more iPhones to professionals. I have handled an iPhone extensively, and have concluded that I could adapt to the on-screen keyboard in exchange for all the other wonderful things an iPhone can do. All it needs is a robust email and calendar offering.
A few years ago I used a great email application by Good Technology. GoodMail had a great interface, great functionality, excellent calendar, and was really easy on the battery. In fact, it was so good, Motorola scooped them up last summer… for a lousy $75 million.
Apple, sitting on $15 billion in cash, could get busy solving this problem anytime they were ready, but that is not happening. And until it does, no plan from AT&T is going to woo enterprise buyers.
Disclosure: As of publication I have no positions in the stocks mentioned here. I am not a professional, but I am trying this at home. It is highly recommended that you consult a licensed financial advisor or broker before making any and all investment decisions.
