Comments on: iPhone v. BlackBerry: A battle for hearts and minds of developers

By: Karie Roper, Mabelvale, AR 72103

Karie Roper, Mabelvale, AR 72103 — Sat, 31 May 2008 18:41:39 +0000

I have used the Blackjack and really liked it but did not like the small screen. When the iPhone came along I got it after it was out about 6 months. I really like most all of the features EXCEPT can't hear as clearly, no GPS & the speaker is very low. But I can live with those things but because the battery goes down so quickly I very seldom use the features that were meant to be used like movies, music, internet or games. And I hate it that when the battery needs to be changed I have to send the whole phone in to get the new battery. IF I could at least change the battery myself I might keep the phone but when it runs down for good I will get a different phone but will do a lot of research. The way it is now I am sorry I spent so much & can barely do anything with it before it has to be charged again.

By: David, Cleveland Ohio

David, Cleveland Ohio — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:03:05 +0000

"The Iphone costs less than a blackberry." Interesting, I signed up for a two year service contract with Verizon, got a Blackberry 8830 for only $149. Alot cheaper than an Iphone. Also, with my Blackberry I can teather to my computer and utilize it as a high speed connection to the internet. Haven't heard anything about that from Iphone.

By: John, Los Angeles, CA

John, Los Angeles, CA — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:38:39 +0000

iPhone is joining MS ActiveSync market. Well now more company support Active Sync (HTC, Moto, Samsung, SonyE, Palm, and soon Nokia). That left Blackberry alone with their push-email. This is not to mention that IBM are in talk (Janurary 08) to provide sync from iPhone to Lotus. RIM is history. Only the first adopter (enterprise) will stays because they put a lot of money for infrastructure. or the company that use other than Exchange server will keep RIM as well. SMB or start-up will use MS ActiveSync. couple years from now maybe RIM server is dead and RIM only produce Blackberry with MS ActiveSync support. So MS ActiveSync for all.

By: J Beam, Boulder, CO

J Beam, Boulder, CO — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:20:37 +0000

RIM has always been a one trick pony. It does email and must admit it does it well, with a host of corporate features that make it very valuable to a corporation.

Apple with their new SDK has them covered.

Top execs will be pushing their IT to move to iPhone, not the other way around.

Web experience on iPhone is far ahead of any mobile device on the market. Ease of rolling web apps on the iPhone will be a plus to corporate.

The huge developer community that Apple will build with applications, will be the strongest on any platform; Win Mob included.

In short, enterprises can rub their hands in glee to get their hands on the first, real mobile computing platform to serve the enterprises.

By: James, Chicago, IL

James, Chicago, IL — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 07:30:09 +0000

"Apple offers one model of iPhone, an expensive model that is locked to one provider."

The iPhone costs LESS than a BlackBerry with a service contract. In fact, its true of all other smart phones with data plans.

The iPhone just appears to be more expensive because you pay for the cost of the phone upfront, instead of being hidden in the service contract.

Subsidized phones are a myth.

iPhone Price and Profits vs Nokia, LG, HTC, RIM, Palm

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/07/23/10-fas-1-iphone-price-and-profits-vs-nokia-lg-htc-rim-palm/

Also, while its true that Apple only has one service provider, it's because Apple doesn't want the servicer provider to control the phone and disable features like Verizon does with it's phone. Besides, once that 5 year exclusive contract is up, every provider will beg to have the iPhone on their network.

Wake up people!

By: Patrick, Sioux Falls SD

Patrick, Sioux Falls SD — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:22:36 +0000

"Their complaints about the iPhone's touchscreen echo the contempt PC users raised on DOS had for the original Mac, with its mouse and graphical user interface."

I expect a similar outcome in this battle.

By: Carl, San Diego CA

Carl, San Diego CA — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:39:45 +0000

Apple offers one model of iPhone, an expensive model that is locked to one provider. RIM has several models depending on customers need and they are available on all networks. I think this is a significant difference between the two.

I would never let Apple hold a gun to my head and allow them to dictate conditions like this to implement iPhone on our network. User may only look as far as the new shiny thing out there but as someone who has to deal with the nittygritty of it all I say no way. I don't believe in extortion.

By: Nodack Phoenix AZ

Nodack Phoenix AZ — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:52:05 +0000

I think this will be big for Apple but it might take a little time. If I was a company interested in switching to the iPhone I think I would definitely wait for the next generation of iPhone's and give the developers time to do their thing. Say around late June or early July.

By: Doug, San Diego CA

Doug, San Diego CA — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:48:08 +0000

I don't think the author gets it. You don't turn on push on exchange. Exchange pushes data out to exchange clients (ie. outlook). The iPhone will be an exchange client requiring no additional hardware or configuration.

ex ped: I think it may be a little more complicated than that when corporate security is involved. At least that's what my IT dept. tells me.

By: Oh Blah Dee Blah Dah, Armonk New York

Oh Blah Dee Blah Dah, Armonk New York — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:26:12 +0000

RE: "The only two companies Apple could name that were using the iPhone as an enterprise device were board-of-director buddies Genentech and Disney."

Apple JUST introduced the SDK today. How can you expect Apple to have a stage-full of companies officially using the iPhone. The SDK was produced as quietly as possible per Apple's usual product development process.

RE: "The first obstacle the iPhone faces are the corporate IT departments that would have to support it."

The IT departments would be UN-burdened by using the iPhone. Apple products and services tend to require the LEAST support. In fact, the iPhone would free up the IT departments to be more creative and to ACTIVELY support their corporation, rather than be the typical anchor that they are for a corporation.

RE: "IT is heavily invested in RIM across the board, not just for all those BlackBerries, but for the RIM servers that push data to them."

IT departments already have an enormous negative cloud about their heads. They hindered and frustrated businesses by fighting the PC evolution into the workplace by fighting to keep the mainframe as THE computing service in the corporation. Unfortunately, the typical IT mindset is "circle the wagons."

Today, corporations need forward thinking and forward ACTING IT departments. The iPhone is a opportunity for IT departments to be PRO-ACTIVE, and not reactive.