-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The iPhone seems decicively a consumer product, not a business tool. RIM doesn't need to worry, and PalmOne only insofar as they've only briefly occupied the "high-end consumer" market. This really is an wide-screen video-capable iPod with a phone tacked onto it. They'll sell as many as they can, then put the screen/UI on a regular, high-capacity iPod.
As for the carrier lock in, part of it is so that Apple (the hardware manufacturer) could have a little more say over the end-user experience than most manufacturers (Motorola, Samsung) have in working with providers (Sprint, Verizon). And also because some features required fundamental changes to the underlying system -- the non-linear voicemail setup, for example. Apple needed to work with at least one provider to develop the product, but wanted a partner that knew how to keep its yap shut. Doubt the iPhone could be so well hidden if they collaborated with several carriers. And, yes, one carrier increases the premium that can be charged for the device. There'll be competitive service and pricing... in two years. :) I imagine the iPhone would be good for consuming media, but I don't see much in the way of creating and sharing it, which is a pity. Of all companies, I'd think they'd make it a priority. Ryan -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP Desktop 9.0.6 (Build 6060) Comment: http://www.lightfantastic.org/pgp.txt iQA/AwUBRagxYc/o8udD/KcXEQKDWgCfVXsd/3T3YYocSOyZUMh+Z3Tre+cAoLkO UWQG6usaTMKhitvT6MhgzoyY =tDpu -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
