03/17/2008, 8:55pm, EDT
Monday, March 17th
Analysts: iPhone's future in enterprise a mystery
With Apple's recent introduction of the iPhone/iPod touch SDK, some analysts are torn on the device's corporate future, despite support for Microsoft's ActiveSync protocol. According to MarketWatch, the latest changes to the iPhone platform could make it more competitive with the RIMM BlackBerry platform, but analyst Toni Sacconaghi said the introductions may do little to change the iPhone's overall position in the smartphone market.
Andy Hargreaves of Pacific Crest Securities takes an opposing stance, saying that the iPhone should attract new developers and " will likely be the first Apple device for millions of corporate users, and positive impressions could drive stronger demand for Macs over time." Hargreaves believes that the SDK and ActiveSync support will help drive over 5 million handset sales to corporate customers.
While Sacconaghi thinks the existing barriers regarding BlackBerry devices functioning on an Exchange server will still be present, Hargreaves says that the iPhone could create a halo effect in the corporate industry, similar to that of the iPod and the home market.
Hargreaves estimates that Apple holds less than 2-percent of the worldwide PC market, and submits that the Mac platform could see "meaningful growth" throughout the 2008 fiscal year. Each 1-percent gain would entitle Apple to 25¢ per share, according to Hargreaves.
Filed under: iPhone, Investor, industry, enterprise, Apple
Other story tags: Microsoft, BlackBerry, market, ActiveSync
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However, his "may do little to change smartphone market..." comment? Hello? Anyone home? The iPhone's emergence was enough to inject thousands of new users into the smartphone market. All of those savvy consumers who wanted to carry around just one device for their media and wireless connectivity bought into the iPhone. These are the folks that previously would have had a general cell phone and iPod.
The iPhone has ALREADY reshaped the size and nature of the smartphone market, and it's been out for less than a year and still hasn't gone through the first major (and important) revision. If you thought business users were whiny about push email, wait until consumers get used to it. *shudders*
Sorry, but keeping Flash off the iPhone doesn't show how stable the platform is (not sure what the hell "stable the experience is" means). Everyone says that Flash is useless for so much can be done with AJAX, which means you can clutter up the interface just as well as you can with Flash.
It most certainly does!! it shows how stable the platform can be... without flash! :)
i guess there is some fear that flash as a dev platform could introduce instablility and loosen apple's control of the device. though, i've no idea on how legitimate that concern is.
imo, the iphone's initial impact will be on the small business and home business users. some larger companies will follow suit as their business requirements are met.
microsoft stands to make a killing off office for macos x lite. the question being, will they bring it to the platform or leverage it as a differentiator for Win Mobile?
Bad UI takes care of itself. CPU and memory utilization needs to be addressed by Adobe.
2. Of the above what is absolutely critical to you (can't live without)?