On Aug 22, 2009, at 8:23 PM, b_s-wilk wrote:
Their argument sounds oddly plaintive: Apple "spent a lot of time and
effort" developing their phone interface, so they don't like that
Google
"replac[es] the iPhone's core mobile telephone functionality and Apple
user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text
messaging and voicemail."
Saying "don't like" is extrapolating too far. More accurate would be
saying that it is something that needs to be thought through.
Looking back in history, some credit the success of the Apple II
computer solely to the invention of the VisiCalc spreadsheet, because
it turned the Apple II into a serious business tool.
I think Apple needs to decide whether the iPhone is better for them
as a computing platform or as a delivery mechanism for AT&T services.
Right now Apple is getting huge payments from AT&T, which makes
sticking with AT&T very tempting. If Google could match the AT&T cash
flow it would be easier for Apple to open up the platform to Google
(and others).
Long term Apple has to figure out a way to capture a share of the
income streams that the iPhone is enabling. That would allow Apple to
open the iPhone to all comers on an equal basis. Doing this would
make many customers and carriers very happy, but would make AT&T very
unhappy. Open access would likely assure the long term dominance of
the iPhone. AT&T's lock on the iPhone is one of the iPhone's few weak
spots.
I think the GoogleVoice app is forcing Apple to do some heavy
thinking sooner than it had anticipated. Apple may leave Google
hanging for a long time as it tries to work out the many
implications. We are going to see just how smart Apple really is.
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