Apple

Alfredo Padilla over at the Unwired went thinking aloud about Apple iPhone concepts. I suggest you take a break from the rumors and mindless Photoshop and video mockups and read it. He raises a few questions about what Apple may do in regards to OS selection and features sets.

Centuries ago in blog years we ran the iPod is Dead series, which itself is a fascinating read. In that, we covered why Apple must ressurect itself as the Phoenix if it plans to withstand the mounting onslaught of devices and competitors collapsing onto the mobile media market.

Thus far Apple has not done much, but zealous speculation from the media and popular websites have allowed the device to remain on the throne amidst false prophecies of ‘iPod killers’, unreleased heirs or supposedly valiant challengers, such as the Nokia NSeries or one of the Sony Ericsson WalkMan phones and most recently the Microsoft Zune. Still, the media is not the real reason.

It is not the fault of the mainstream media, it’s not the fault of bloggers. Now the only way a device gets good press or significant attention is if it’s described as the much abused ‘iPod Killer’. No device gets merit on its own, they all must defer to the iPod. And now before the iPhone has even been officially announced they will have to defer again.

In regards to the article which inspired this, my thought, without glancing back at the previous iPod is Dead series, is this; The next devices from Apple are going to be completely different than what people are expecting. The iPod will evolve into a branded gateway for lifestyle products, one of which will be the iPhone.

My concern for Apple is what all will they put ino the device? The everything in one device of course is a dream, but that would seemingly upset the market and disrupt the existing product line. I would believe the unreleased iPhone to come in feature-tiers, split by audio, video and hard drive space or a combination of the three.

What carrier would Apple go with? Cingular has been the recipient of previous devices, but Apple could very well go with Sprint and badge it’s own service. This would effectively bypass all the potential hurdles from crybaby carriers, who desire to pillage consumer pockets. In regards to who the iPhone would cater to, enterprise features would be grand, but the iPod is not known for enterprise it is known for entertainment and so I think Apple will reach for the greater slice of the pie, which currently generates more revenue and has more revenue potential.

What does the iPhone mean? At this point the Apple iPhone means everything. Companies should be rethinking strategy and product development on a global scale. Even if they start now, they are starting too late. Think of it like this, if an unreleased device by a company with no history in the market has the potential to completely disrupt an entire industry filled with companies whose focus is the very same product. Somebody is asleep at the wheel. And please, don’t let Apple decide to make the phone reasonably priced, let’s say at most a $150 more than the currently most expensive iPod, you’ll see greater quarterly loses in the future from mobile companies than you did this year.

Unisoned ineptitude from practically every company in electronics has allowed Apple to position itself to declare the heir to the iPod. Sony, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Sanyo, Toshiba and Motorola all the way down to the Korean knock-off manufacturers all seemingly conspired to fail inexplicably. And so rightfully, Apple will trample the hopes of said companies and relegate them to fight for distant second place.

Sure, all of them will claim greater reach and expansion on the global scale in the future to provide as cover for this undeniable failure to execute at an opportune time, but truth be told. when it was time to go in for the kill, and attempt to take the crown, which it has been for the last 18 months no one stepped up.