The iPhone has launched and Western Civilization is, more or less, still standing. As the dust settles and the frenzy quells, some are looking past the first-generation product to see what adjustments Apple will make for the iPhone\’s next of kin.
3G is one possibility. One of the criticisms of this 1.0 version is that it uses AT&T\’s slower EDGE network, rather than the faster-but-less-widely-available 3G. Apple and AT&T are trying to put their best face on this criticism. For instance, in an interview in Friday\’s San Francisco Chronicle, AT&T executive Fred Devereux said that the company has \”optimized the EDGE network\” so that \”it works really well for that device.\”
Apple CEO Steve Jobs told The Wall Street Journal that \”down the road,\” 3G might be possible. \”We cared a lot about battery life and a lot about physical size,\” he said, and 3G electronics needed too much power and took up too much space. He also noted that Wi-Fi is faster than 3G. The device reportedly \”flies\” when it finds a Wi-Fi access point and automatically makes the switch, but Wi-Fi isn\’t everywhere.
Working Nicely with IT
Another criticism was that there appeared to be little support for the iPhone to work well with corporate IT departments. High on the list of issues is support for Microsoft \’s Exchange mail service. Apple, primarily focused on the consumer market, has only said that Exchange could be supported through the IMAP protocol, which many IT personnel view as a less-than-optimal solution. Users might also connect to their company email through Outlook Web access pages.
But there are recent reports that Apple will be announcing that it has licensed ActiveSync, allowing the iPhone\’s compatibility with Exchange, as well as updates to calendars and contact lists. Jobs, in response to a question about corporate email in an interview with USA Today, has said that \”we have some pilots going with companies with names you\’ll recognize. This won\’t be a big issue.\”
There are also concerns within IT departments about managing enterprise security . \”Apple has not been clear about how the iPhone hooks up with corporate IT departments,\” said Avi Greengart, an analyst with research firm Current Analysis. \”If you ask my IT department about dealing with the iPhone,\” he added, \”they\’re probably going to tear their hair out.\”
Lower-Priced iPhone?
For those would-be purchasers currently stalling over, say, the high price of the iPhone, patience might be a rewarded virtue. A report released Thursday by industry research firm Gartner said that Apple is going to need a second act to keep the momentum going.
In particular, a lower-priced version of the iPhone within nine months of its original release would hit the spot, the report said. Apple has often updated its products within nine to twelve months, so the prediction doesn\’t seem too far-fetched.
By that time, the iPhone, one of the most remarkable Internet viewers ever made, may be able to support one of the Net\’s basic technologies — Flash. The Adobe technology is used for a wide variety of online video and most online animation, but is not supported at the moment on the iPhone. When asked about Flash on the iPhone, Jobs, in semi-cryptic fashion, recently told the New York Times, \”Well, you might see that.\”
[Submitted by Reshadat]