Taylor Custer

iPhone Disappoints with Recent Announcements

Posted on 14 June 2007

The countdown until the much anticipated Apple iPhone’s arrival in stores June 29th, has officially begun. With a recent surge in online and television advertising, the hype is being quickly built. Consumers have been waiting for months to get their hands on this everything-in-one type phone. It seems like iPhone is the next generation in mobile everything, but will the first release be full of bugs?

Several announcements from Apple, such as Tuesday’s announcement that Apple would be releasing a software development kit for the iPhone, have already disappointed industry insiders. This announcement, although expected, was especially disappointing because developers will only be able to write Web applications for the iPhone using the devices on Apple’s Safari browser. Industry leaders believe that by limiting the development to Safari, which currently holds a 5% market share, innovation will be stifled. Since Web applications are believed to be the future of software, it is especially disappointing that the iPhone won’t be opened to third-party software. Read the full article on Wired.com.

Another caveat is that all future iPhone users must have an iTunes account in order for the phone to work “as promised”. In a recent article on paidContent.org, writer Staci Kramer stated that, “In update emails Tuesday, Apple and AT&T warned prospective users the expensive phone they lust for won’t meet expectations without an iTunes account.” While most people who have their hearts set on getting an iPhone are probably already iPod and iTunes users, the small group of non-Apple product users, will be in for a surprise. AT&T has also been slow to confirm whether or not their standard 30-day return policy will apply to the iPhone as well as whom, Apple or AT&T, will be handling the iTunes customer support issues. AT&T customers will also have to agree to a 2 year contract with the iPhone, something that was not previously standard procedure.

While there is still a little over two weeks for AT&T to get its act together, it will be interesting to see if there is a mad rush on June 29th or if consumers will be waiting a few weeks for all of the issues to be worked out. I’m still waiting for Sprint to announce they will be carrying it, yes? I won’t hold my breath.