Drop their prices. Obviously the technology is affordable now, and even if the download speeds on the Blackberry are slightly better, people are going to go with the more attractive and coveted product, the iPhone.
Now that the iPhone is available for $199, Nokia, Blackberry, and friends need to not only drop the price but find a way to separate themselves with advances in technology as well. Rachel is right about the iPhone being more attractive and coveted. It is more of a stylish status symbol than anything else, and now that it is more affordable and practical to the businessman, the other smart phone makers have to find a way to make their products even more affordable and practical, because we all know they're never going to be more stylish.
No. I think that people may initially be upset and hesitant over the change, but the convenience of e-shopping is still there.
I didn't--and still don't always-- like shopping online because of shipping costs, but I eventually caved in. I think the same would happen if a sales tax were applied.
The iPhone Effect states that that Apple has developed such a highly coveted product that other cell phone makers must come up with better products if they expect to compete with the 3G. RIM's Curve smartphone offers similar features to the iPhone at half the price, and Nokia N95 and others are in competitive price ranges. The iPhone will trigger an overall increase in the amount of smartphones used worldwide and other makers will benefit. How much, though, is up to them. A question I have is this: if the 3G iPhone is $199, is that price offset by the $10 more per month we will have to pay for data, etc.?
Since iPhone has decimated the competition by launching early, all Nokia, BlackBerry and any other smart phone manufacturer can do is...follow the leader.
The numbers are in: Apple sold 6 million iPhones so far. Take the early adopters, plus the army of buyers who came on board when they dropped the price, you are still looking at over $1.8 billion.
The only way the other manufacturers can repair the damage, is if they invent a phone that can help me fly.
From the 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing: First to market (in the consumers mind), wins!
First, they need to catch up to the iPhone's killer apps: Wi-Fi, Internet, excellent browsing experience, great data synching (contacts, documents, music, etc.), awesome MP3 player. Next, they need to patch the iPhone's shortcomings, namely in extendibility (memory, battery, etc.). Obviously, competitive pricing will be an absolute must to get over the iPhone's sexiness.
I think Nokia and Blackberry have no hope. The iPhone is a killer. But Apple is lately doing too many marketing mistakes and stabbing its most faithful customers in their back - ie: the iPhone first adopters who spent $600 for a product that only 12 months after sells for $200. The mandatory 24 months contract with AT&T was another huge mistake made for greed on the side of Apple. Neglecting the rich European markets has been another bad mistake. see: http://www.vertygoteam.com/apple_marketing_strategy.php
But, frankly, I do not see what Nokia, Blackberry & the others can do. The competitive advantage of the iPhone is too wide and Apple is at least 5 years ahead of its competitors.
Good question. First, I wouldn't panic, there's plenty of market share to go around. The iPhone, like a Porsche, isn't for everyone. They should make sure they understand who their products are for and make sure they're delivering on those key points better then the next guy.
I should add, I do own one, covet the 3G version, and think it's a beautiful phone. But there are reasons people will prefer other brand, flavors, styles, carriers. And Nokia and RIM have been, and will continue to satisfy those needs. How profitably and for how long is a more interesting question. Apple won't make the cheapest or have 80 models to choose from. There's something for everyone out there. The high of that market has been redefined, for sure, but there's plenty of customers (billions) to sell in the fat of the bell curve.
Develop a keyboard that’s easy to type on. With Treo and Blackberry it took me minutes to complete a short email with a bunch of typos. Although it’s a definite improvement, iPhone’s onscreen keyboard isn’t that simple to use either. (And sometimes their spelling suggestion feature works against you.)
Four months ago Sprint just offered me a discount if I would extend my contract another two years. I refused, choosing instead to finish (one year left) and then decide about the iPhone. Price drop is making that look like a good decision already. As I wait a year, I am still looking to see if anyone comes out with a competitive phone. So the message to Apple's competitors from this consumer is, you're not dead yet. You have one year to respond.
It is all about DESIGN. Apple makes beautiful products that are attractive to the masses. People love great design and the other phone companies have not matched the beauty and simplicity of the iphone. The enterprise software along with 3G only make it that much more attractive to the business user. I also agree with Tyler - this is about style and status much like Starbucks coffee was a few years ago. Not just the phone companies, but all companies should learn from the design impact that Apple is having on society.
Nokia should lower prices, or at least get their N-series subsidized. With the power and openness of symbian, if they could just spread that to America for less than 800 dollars a phone, they would rule the roost.
They should be trying to mash a PSP or Nintendo DS into the phone itself. The iPhone (and most other phone manufacturers) really haven't tapped the gaming market... yet.
I think it would be good to open up the phone to be able to load third party applications as its rival the iphone. this is also a carrier issue to but I think it would help the market greatly.
The iPhone is obviously aimed at the mass market and is kind of a do it all, in my view. Thus, these companies should probably focus on particular niches neglected by the iPhone or well, service these niches better than the iPhone. If the iPhone really does sweep market share off these other companies,IMHO, adopting the start-up mentality may be the way to go.
Blackberry should not follow Iphone with exclusive AT&T deal for new phone, the Apple crowd is not changing. They will have a hard time gaining new market share at At&t. Also they should get Philippe Stark to add his touch.
I agree DESIGN is the key, make an object that is intuitive and just flows. I would also venture that the iPhone is about true mobile computing in your pocket. Satisfy the need for instant information gratification in an object that just works and you can't put down because it feels so good, you have a winner.
It's going on getting difficult to compete with iphone that to at such a low cost. bt on a happier note:- ppl view changes with tym, they cant stick with the same ph for long....and competitors have plenty of models (different models for different ppl)....psychologically everyone wants to be different....So thts the only ways working for others. . . where as no company can survive for long time with a single model. .
23 Total
June 10, 2008 at 9:59am by Rachel King
Drop their prices. Obviously the technology is affordable now, and even if the download speeds on the Blackberry are slightly better, people are going to go with the more attractive and coveted product, the iPhone.
June 10, 2008 at 11:17am by Tyler Adams
Now that the iPhone is available for $199, Nokia, Blackberry, and friends need to not only drop the price but find a way to separate themselves with advances in technology as well. Rachel is right about the iPhone being more attractive and coveted. It is more of a stylish status symbol than anything else, and now that it is more affordable and practical to the businessman, the other smart phone makers have to find a way to make their products even more affordable and practical, because we all know they're never going to be more stylish.
June 10, 2008 at 11:19am by Judith Ohikuare
No. I think that people may initially be upset and hesitant over the change, but the convenience of e-shopping is still there.
I didn't--and still don't always-- like shopping online because of shipping costs, but I eventually caved in. I think the same would happen if a sales tax were applied.
June 10, 2008 at 11:22am by Rip Empson
The iPhone Effect states that that Apple has developed such a highly coveted product that other cell phone makers must come up with better products if they expect to compete with the 3G. RIM's Curve smartphone offers similar features to the iPhone at half the price, and Nokia N95 and others are in competitive price ranges. The iPhone will trigger an overall increase in the amount of smartphones used worldwide and other makers will benefit. How much, though, is up to them. A question I have is this: if the 3G iPhone is $199, is that price offset by the $10 more per month we will have to pay for data, etc.?
June 10, 2008 at 3:01pm by Bradley Szollose
Since iPhone has decimated the competition by launching early, all Nokia, BlackBerry and any other smart phone manufacturer can do is...follow the leader.
The numbers are in: Apple sold 6 million iPhones so far. Take the early adopters, plus the army of buyers who came on board when they dropped the price, you are still looking at over $1.8 billion.
The only way the other manufacturers can repair the damage, is if they invent a phone that can help me fly.
From the 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing: First to market (in the consumers mind), wins!
June 10, 2008 at 3:25pm by Samantha Sisler
make there products better than before but they shouldnt try to copy the theme of the iphone
June 10, 2008 at 5:52pm by Francis Wu
First, they need to catch up to the iPhone's killer apps: Wi-Fi, Internet, excellent browsing experience, great data synching (contacts, documents, music, etc.), awesome MP3 player. Next, they need to patch the iPhone's shortcomings, namely in extendibility (memory, battery, etc.). Obviously, competitive pricing will be an absolute must to get over the iPhone's sexiness.
June 10, 2008 at 7:25pm by Greg Palusa
I think Nokia and Blackberry have no hope. The iPhone is a killer. But Apple is lately doing too many marketing mistakes and stabbing its most faithful customers in their back - ie: the iPhone first adopters who spent $600 for a product that only 12 months after sells for $200. The mandatory 24 months contract with AT&T was another huge mistake made for greed on the side of Apple. Neglecting the rich European markets has been another bad mistake. see:
http://www.vertygoteam.com/apple_marketing_strategy.php
But, frankly, I do not see what Nokia, Blackberry & the others can do. The competitive advantage of the iPhone is too wide and Apple is at least 5 years ahead of its competitors.
June 10, 2008 at 9:00pm by Lawerence Guzzetta
Design a better phone.
June 11, 2008 at 7:00am by James Wondrack
Good question. First, I wouldn't panic, there's plenty of market share to go around. The iPhone, like a Porsche, isn't for everyone. They should make sure they understand who their products are for and make sure they're delivering on those key points better then the next guy.
June 11, 2008 at 7:07am by James Wondrack
I should add, I do own one, covet the 3G version, and think it's a beautiful phone. But there are reasons people will prefer other brand, flavors, styles, carriers. And Nokia and RIM have been, and will continue to satisfy those needs. How profitably and for how long is a more interesting question. Apple won't make the cheapest or have 80 models to choose from. There's something for everyone out there. The high of that market has been redefined, for sure, but there's plenty of customers (billions) to sell in the fat of the bell curve.
June 11, 2008 at 1:33pm by Gene Lu
Be smart, innovate.
June 13, 2008 at 3:32pm by Haewon Kye
Develop a keyboard that’s easy to type on. With Treo and Blackberry it took me minutes to complete a short email with a bunch of typos. Although it’s a definite improvement, iPhone’s onscreen keyboard isn’t that simple to use either. (And sometimes their spelling suggestion feature works against you.)
June 14, 2008 at 10:30am by John Sattel
Four months ago Sprint just offered me a discount if I would extend my contract another two years. I refused, choosing instead to finish (one year left) and then decide about the iPhone. Price drop is making that look like a good decision already. As I wait a year, I am still looking to see if anyone comes out with a competitive phone. So the message to Apple's competitors from this consumer is, you're not dead yet. You have one year to respond.
June 19, 2008 at 10:12pm by DAN FOREST
It is all about DESIGN. Apple makes beautiful products that are attractive to the masses. People love great design and the other phone companies have not matched the beauty and simplicity of the iphone. The enterprise software along with 3G only make it that much more attractive to the business user. I also agree with Tyler - this is about style and status much like Starbucks coffee was a few years ago. Not just the phone companies, but all companies should learn from the design impact that Apple is having on society.
June 26, 2008 at 4:14am by Andrew Schwegler
Nokia should lower prices, or at least get their N-series subsidized. With the power and openness of symbian, if they could just spread that to America for less than 800 dollars a phone, they would rule the roost.
June 26, 2008 at 8:22pm by Wayne Middleton
Punt--it's over.
June 28, 2008 at 1:28am by David Sherwin
They should be trying to mash a PSP or Nintendo DS into the phone itself. The iPhone (and most other phone manufacturers) really haven't tapped the gaming market... yet.
June 28, 2008 at 6:52pm by Randy Gonzales
I think it would be good to open up the phone to be able to load third party applications as its rival the iphone. this is also a carrier issue to but I think it would help the market greatly.
July 2, 2008 at 1:46pm by Johnson Goh
The iPhone is obviously aimed at the mass market and is kind of a do it all, in my view. Thus, these companies should probably focus on particular niches neglected by the iPhone or well, service these niches better than the iPhone. If the iPhone really does sweep market share off these other companies,IMHO, adopting the start-up mentality may be the way to go.
August 30, 2008 at 12:21am by john weller
Blackberry should not follow Iphone with exclusive AT&T deal for new phone, the Apple crowd is not changing. They will have a hard time gaining new market share at At&t. Also they should get Philippe Stark to add his touch.
September 2, 2008 at 9:40pm by Gavin Myers
I agree DESIGN is the key, make an object that is intuitive and just flows. I would also venture that the iPhone is about true mobile computing in your pocket. Satisfy the need for instant information gratification in an object that just works and you can't put down because it feels so good, you have a winner.
September 14, 2008 at 12:41pm by Mohit Dabrai
It's going on getting difficult to compete with iphone that to at such a low cost. bt on a happier note:- ppl view changes with tym, they cant stick with the same ph for long....and competitors have plenty of models (different models for different ppl)....psychologically everyone wants to be different....So thts the only ways working for others. . . where as no company can survive for long time with a single model. .