Fast Talk

it seems obviously possible, I think Digg did it, even though it is not strictly a journalism company it revolves around news. So does Propeller, Newsvine, PlugIM, and many more.

Not yet. I love my iPhone, it's like owning your own little piece of the future. But text entry is a bitch, AT&T edge is a bitch, and paying $500 for a phone made me feel like a bitch. Let the developers jump on board with the coming release of the iPhone SDK and let Apple make some hardware upgrades, eventually you will find absolutely no reason not to buy your own little piece of the future.

iPhone is not an alternative at all. In fact, business users understand the advantage of Blackberries as they offer functionality rather than a visually oriented interface.

Sure, once Good Tech has the Apple platform working with its server.

Only if it supports a remote kill function, encryption of the device and the data stream and connection to Exchange.

The iPhone will be one of a plether of handheld devices available on the market in the 1 or 2 years to come.

The new wireless environment will encompass enhanced wireless technologies in conjunction with with Voice Recognition, and many personalized services.

You will be able to stream the Today show (and other simultaneous brodcasts the are live or recorded) to your iVisor on your way to work in your hybrid vehicle or walking down the street.

T iPhone is simply an "un-obstrusive" piece of equipment that can be "hidden" on your person. If you remember when cell phones (the Motorola Brick phones and mobile phones with large handheld base stations/handsets... remember "car phones"? :)) were introduced, we thought people with these phones were obnoxious and pretentious... "how dare they invade our space with their phone conversations" In the same breath we were saying "Shoot, I wish I had that!".

Now the same thing is happening with data and voice reception devices, earpieces... with all the "important people" walking around with an earpice strapped to the the side of their face. You can be carrying on a conversation with someone, walking down the street, but be sure to ask them " Are you talking to me, or are you on the phone?" Pretty soon we'll be saying " Are you looking at me, or watchinng TV?"

And if you are married gentleman, you better get used to the the phrase "take that fu&%$*# thing off!"

I've had an iPHone since they first came out, and I would say it is. It's not perfect, but I have my email sent through Google apps and it is just fine. Most business users use the smart phone for calendar, contacts and email and the iPhone can be synced with Outlook and do all this very well.

I don't use Outlook, because I'm on a Mac. And I'm a total fan of the iPhone, just not of the network.

NO WAY.

iPhone is a consumer product not a business tool.

Yes it is and much more. The price is still to high but once it comes down the mass appeal will increase just like the ipod. But the question is, will the iphone impact ipod sales in the future?

Not yet. However it has the potential to be.

The real question should be can RIM position itself better so that the iPhone can't become the blackberry's repalcement.

i think a huge hurdle would be managing to type as fast on the touch pad as on the blackberry - people's fingers just aren't small enough to hit the touch keys properly.

I don't think it is there just yet. However, if Apple decides to focus on the business market in the future, the iPhone could be a real threat to Blackberry. It would only require some new software or modifications to the current software.

From users' perspective, sure; from IT's perspective, not in a big way until it has Exchange and Lotus Notes integration (not just via web client). The non-tactile keyboard is another initial hurdle, but it's really a matter of minutes before getting used to it over the thumb-crunching chiklets on Treos or Blackberries.

unless the iphone can have enterprise support, or applications that allow better collaboration, i think it would.

The cool iPhone ads are giving me tech envy, but I will wait for v2 to come out, which will help amortize my Blackberry and iPod investments ;-). As an independent business person I don't care whether the iPhone runs corporate apps, but I do care about battery life and a choice of carriers.

Sure it is.

At least for people that use email the right way. Anyone who is addicted having to instant push email on all the time, and can't wait 5 minutes to see an emai...
...need a crackberry... and therapy.

Absolutely. The only hurdle for business is discomfort with a new interface. Many businesses have become so married to Microsoft and Blackberry, that anything different is rejected.

No but I think that's about to change. Once the iPhone SDK becomes available, we will see a slew of business-centric application come to the market. I believe Apple is gearing up for this with the introduction of the new 16GB iPhone. Blackberry is working on a touchscreen version of their phone so they are also aware of the possibilities. It's all about the apps.

I have a dream...
Why not use Netvibes functionality to create better blogs? I might want to interact,collaborate, communicate as a company via a blog.
If we get rid of the rigid design Netvibes uses and make it smooth (no visual borders) then I could start
a blog by selecting functions, arrange them visualy and use it with the latest apps (and change it tomorrow when the new Twitter comes along). Why change color & style (we will do that anyway) if you can mix functions in a modular blog?

If (if) apps were preselect "best of breed" we would not have to them hunt down but just use them. Make themes based on a specific type of function/business so I can start making phone calls, Twitter, write articles and show photos via my preselected viewbook.com (really good if you like a clutter free presentation) via a blog. And a commercial module to sell these photos! Perhabs if you react someone will listen ;-))!

Marc
www.eyelite.org

Not even close; once corporate IT is supported then we'll revisit this subject. For consultants and small business owners, maybe, but not for mid to large sized businesses.

I think the iPhone is a perfect business solution for the young resourceful entrepreneur who will find away to get around its shortcomings, and who are willing to take a chance knowing that Apple will soon improve the product and become a relevant player in the business mobile market.

No keyboard, no international SIM/multiple bands = no dice!

I don't know much about blackberry.

The iPhone may not appeal to as many people as the Blackberry because it is an Apple product whereas the Blackberry is an independent brand.

As an Apple product, the iPhone's software is proprietary which is often perceived as "expensive".

Also, with the traditional "rivalry" between Apple and PC users, the latter may think there'll be difficulty syncing the iPhone with their PCs.

NOt actually , its more of an entertainment device with which we can access the net and check our mails , v cant make folders , or save other stuff ou draft letters

I have both an iPhone and a BlackBerry Curve. I take out my iPhone every couple of weeks, desperately wanting to make it my primary mobile device. A few days later I grow tired of the clunky workarounds I need to go through to access my company e-mail and toss it back in the drawer. The iPhone is a superior product in almost every way, but for many business users, the lack of integration with enterprise e-mail like Outlook is a total deal-killer. Let's hope there's a solution on the way...

It could be depending upon what business you're in. The litmus test would be whether or not your employer wants to subsidize or help defray the cost of using your iPhone.

I prefer to ask the question differently. From the standpoint of the "user”; Can the iPhone keep me connected 24/7 professionally and socially? Is it easy for me to use? Is it reliable?

I believe the answer is no to the reliability. I have heard as many good stories as bad about the reliability of email and phone service.

No, I have both and the iPhone is nowhere close to being the communication tool for business that a Blackberry is. I am by no means saying that an iPhone doesn't have it's own unique attributes- but for work/business they are not in the same league.

I fully admit that the iPhone is a very cool product. However, there is no real enterprise level integration that will allow us to replace Blackberries at our company. Until this happens, I dont see iPhone making much of in-road in the enterprise space.

The iphone, like the ipod , is a culture shift and is ahead of its time. It doesn't make sense to judge the iphone at this point-- because it is only at the beginning of its journey and probably only an evolutionary device moving toward a lifestyle shifting universal device. Follow some of Apple's patent submissions -- they are moving toward a different way of computing - the iPhone is only part of that journey.

Those of us who have used Apple products for decades have seen invention like this ( granted, on a much smaller scale ) in their earlier computer advances ( Graphics, Animation, Video editing, etc. )

Judge the iphone by the journey it takes over the next 3 years-- then decide....