The iPhone is No Smartphone29 January 2007 by axxxr
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ABI Research defines a smartphone as a cellular handset using an open, commercial operating system that supports third party applications. The iPhone runs the Apple Macintosh computer operating system, OS X, so at first glance it would seem to fall into the smartphone category, which might help justify its announced $500+ pricetag. But, says Solis, "It turns out that this device will be closed to third party applications. Therefore we must conclude at this point that, based on our current definition, the iPhone is not a smartphone: it is a very high-end feature phone."
Feature phones' functionality (dictated by the software which controls the hardware) is closed and controlled by an operator or the device manufacturer, whereas smartphones are supported by a third-party ecosystem, where competition in the software space creates applications that add value. "Sure," concedes Solis, "feature phones have third party applications too — but these are relatively weak and limited applications that work with the middleware such as Java and BREW. Applications designed for smartphones can be written to access core functionality from the OS itself, and are therefore usually more powerful and efficient. The competition in an open environment also yields more cutting edge, rich applications."
Stuart Carlaw adds, "Consumers will not be willing to settle for a second-rate cell phone just to have superior music. Apple must get the phone engineering part of the equation right, and it is difficult to see how they will accomplish that with no track record in the industry. Even though they are working with some prominent suppliers, the task of putting all of the building blocks together cannot be underestimated." www.abiresearch.com
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Call it as you want, I buy one!
;D
TheMaxxx on Jan 29 2007
fitemoo
fiteykata on Jan 29 2007
Remember that like iPods it may look good but feature quality wise Apple aren't exactly at the top.
Rabbit88 on Jan 29 2007
In my mind a smart phone is one that can track appointments, send and receive e-mail, have a real scalable user database to map calls to callers and optionally browse the web. To conclude that somehow the iPhone doesn't meet the definition because you can turn your phone into a crashing and unstable nightmare by putting on untested third party software is inane.
The definition is flawed not the phone.
I have a Treo that I love and hate. Love it bacause I can maintain a list of 1500 callers and have the phone call any at the push of a few buttons. Hate bacause it crashes and needs to be reset daily.
Which is smarter? A stable phone based on UNIX or a Palm product that crashes daily and where the OS is over 10 years old?
Even a moron can answer that question.
ChangetheDefinitiono on Jan 29 2007
Eh, i don really care i wont by it
Nick on Jan 29 2007
...who pays this guy, for that analysis
http://tweening.de/img_usergalerie/xl/1169940232.jpg
bigblue on Jan 30 2007
What's in a 'definition', anyway? People will still buy it! Hellooooo?!
manfran on Jan 30 2007
the definition of a smartphone is wrong.
in my eyes a smartphone is a touchscreen bassed phone with an OS that excepts 3th party software or runs on an OS that can do a lot more then most phones.
the first smartphone was the ericsson R380s that is in my eyes the definition
bart on Jan 30 2007
i think this is a smart looking phone
stevejobs on Jan 30 2007
who cares many people will still buy this phone,,, smartphone or not?!!!
macz on Jan 30 2007
I may be god, but it is not a smartphone, an they said it was a smartphone in the presentation. well, i don't like to be foold of companys. The thin i want is the truth.
Charlie on Jan 30 2007
obviously the people who coined the definition for "smartphone" is rather stupid. As the word is made of two words "smart" and "phone". smart, if you look up the definition will give; chic: elegant and stylish; "chic elegance";bright: characterized by quickness and ease in learning; - so i beleive the iphone is indeed a smartphone
smartphone or not however, the device is elegant, stylish - and like the iPod simple to use. so the majority of people out there can actually use it. Most "smartphone" has lots a features that no body use anyway, so what's the point. i'm definately getting one when it comes to the UK.
jdc on Feb 01 2007
holy cow!! whatever other people opinion is i would still buy this phone as long theres a new model ill buy the latest! HAHAHA =p
jaypee29 on Feb 22 2007