Microsoft Says iPhone Is Irrelevant To Business 435
An anonymous reader writes "A Microsoft exec has turned attack dog, lashing out at Apple's iPhone by saying the device isn't good for business. Why? Because the iPhone is 'a closed device that you cannot install applications on.' Specifically, he's talking about Microsoft Office. 'While the entry of the iPhone (with its cut-down version of Mac OS X) into this market offers new options for consumers, Sorenson believes user familiarity with the Windows Mobile interface — and the ease with which companies can buy and develop applications for the platform — will sustain its increasing popularity and help keep the iPhone out of the lucrative corporate market.'"
Jealousy and Fear (Score:5, Insightful)
Time to update the US corporate slogan (Score:5, Insightful)
I guess now it should be:
"What's good for Microsoft is good for business."
I smell a ZunePhone... (Score:5, Insightful)
'course, a more likely explanation is that MSFT already has a cell phone OS biz they'd rather keep protected from such things as competition, no?
IOW: Nothing to see here, move along... :)
Not Irrelevant, But Limited in Appeal (Score:5, Insightful)
Blackberry made it (Score:5, Insightful)
I think they are being a little delusional.
Who exactly.... (Score:4, Insightful)
So? (Score:5, Insightful)
So?
Apple doesn't target large business/enterprise markets. They never have. Their products are always marketed as tools for empowering individuals. If you didn't know better and could only guess from reviewing their advertising, you might think that businesses don't use personal computers. Often in these cases they behave more like a consumer electronics company rather than a PC maker.
Apple has never shipped HP or Dell level volumes and they've never seemed interested in trying. They get waiting lists for some of their products as it is.
Adding enterprise app accessibility would only introduce bugs, increase complexity, and reduce the overall user-friendlyness of the device, none of which would be Apple's fault (and I'm not even a fanboi). Besides, can anyone imagine Jobs up on stage at some show, introducing the latest email or ERP integration piece? No one drools over that kind of stuff.
It's clear that part of Apple's rep for simplicity is due to the avoidance of the products and systems that can't be made simple. Enterprise apps are necessary and useful, but their deployment and use are a clusterfuck and probably always will be. Apple can't change that, so why take the downside?
Not FOR business. (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple is not stupid, they did their market research for this thing and know exactly what features Joe Public wants, not what Mr. Jack Business or Mr. Slashdot Nerdling wants. They want to woo the Joe Publics, and I strongly suspect that they will.
I think MS is complaining because they know that the iPhone is going to destroy the Zune, and they have nothing to compete with it. Not only that, once enough Joe Public's get a hold of these things, there market for WinCE will be under fire - and then their market for Office on such devices. Apple is smart, they are picking their battles. They are not even trying to compete with the business market at this point. They are targeting a totally different segment, and MS is scared that they will win.
Think of the changes in the marketplace, if everyone owns an iPhone in the public space, and becomes accustomed to using OS X on their handheld... What sort of PC will Joe Public consider buying after using a OS X device? I suspect more iMac's will fly off the shelves after the iPhone becomes established. I think Microsoft is seriously afraid of losing the mobile market, the DRM/Music Market, and eventually the desktop market. And the iPhone is the device that will drive in that wedge.
Umm, no. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Jealousy and Fear (Score:3, Insightful)
OTOH, they do know that the more iPhones that get bought, the less they'll make in 'doze-based cell phone OS sales ...and in the same market niches where Microsoft makes it's own money when it comes to the things.
Re:Microsoft are correct (Score:5, Insightful)
With the increase of rich applications in the browser (AJAX etc.), the need to install binaries on a mobile decreases. If, as promised, the iPhone basically has the full build of Safari on it -- then this should be possible.
I'm no Mac fan boy, but realise with each passing year I use a web browser more, and stand-alone applications less. The iPhone fits with that trend.
Re:Microsoft are correct (Score:0, Insightful)
If the iPhone was truly a bad idea Micro$oft would just keep their mouth shut and and let it die.
As for the iPhone being closed. The majority of cell services are closed when it comes to allowing the user to put their own applications into the system/network.
Micro$oft has dropped the ball and now the race is on. But this time they are facing some smart cookies!
Useless for business? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Microsoft are correct (Score:5, Insightful)
Sure he is... assuming your office only uses desktop-installed versions of MS Office software. But what if the iPhone had a full-capability web browser installed on it [apple.com], and you used one of several web-based [google.com] Office-like [slashdot.org] applications, and your company had web-based email & calendaring interfaces, and used IM for business communication as well?
Suddenly that non-business iPhone looks pretty darn business-capable. Microsoft has already stumbled several times in recent memory by dismissing the ability of these internet tubes to route around their monopolistic strategies... how many more of these mistakes can they afford to make?
Re:Missing the point (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Not Irrelevant, But Limited in Appeal (Score:3, Insightful)
not for business anyway (Score:5, Insightful)
MIKE: I need to call Chet ask him about that spreadsheet
CHET: My phone is ringing!
MIKE:Great, let's call Sue and look at the powerpoint!
CHET: As long as it has plenty of bar graphs!
See for yourself. Apple doesn't give a flying flip about the suit, at least not while they are at work. Their ads are filled with attractive youngsters talking about meeting up for bike riding and whitewater rafting! They don't CARE about the business market.
red herring (Score:2, Insightful)
Request for comment (Score:5, Insightful)
Anybody else?
Thank you sir, you may lower your hand.
Re:Wow (Score:4, Insightful)
Microsoft complaining about a company locking competitors out? that's rich...
On the contrary, this is why Microsoft is dominant and Apple is tiny little niche player. Microsoft has ALWAYS generously courted developers for their platforms. They understand that they can't do it all... a vibrant third-party market means more people by Microsoft's platform. Why do you think there's no such thing as the "Microsoft PC"?
Apple has always been incredibly hostile to third parties.
Re:Microsoft are correct (Score:3, Insightful)
Why run something bloated when you can run something bloated on web page running off a web browser inside a tiny mobile phone... web office apps only make sense on actual PC's with solid connections.
Office Mobile is designed for MOBILE PHONES it is optimized for MOBILE PHONES- I couldn't imagine running web applications on a cell phone- that's so counter-intuitive. What would happen if you went through a tunnel on at rain or something? What if you were on a plane?
You need local office apps that play nice with your business infrastructure, so that they're always available and are not tied to a web connection. Microsoft is correct, here.
It doesn't even matter, because a it would be retarded for a business to give its employees something like an iPhone. It's designed for doing everything BUT working. Maybe if you're working for a magazine that writes movie, tv, or music reviews...
Re:iPhone is a silly gimmick (Score:1, Insightful)
Why do so many ugly nerds want Apple to fail, isn't Apple PROOF that nerddom needn't be socially and aesthetically retarded?
Re:Microsoft are correct (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm not sure they haven't already past that point, it may be that the last mistake they could afford (and maintain their top-of-the-heap position) has already been made, and not caught up to them. One place that may have been is not staying out ahead of the OLPC. One thing that isn't often mentioned about the OLPC project (not the laptop itself, but the whole program) is that, included in it is one of the biggest ground-up rethink of usability, collaboration, security, and software and information distribution for what is, essentially, massive coordinated enterprises with common platforms.
Sure, the context is educational, but many of the issues being addressed aren't restricted to that context. If it is successful, there is going to be a lot that is applicable to the traditional, lucrative first-world enterprise market, and plenty of open-source code designed for Linux will be available for it. Potentially, it could provide the killer application that stops the question about Linux adoption from being how Linux can ape Windows features, and instead provides a compelling reason for enterprises to jump to Linux.
Ask a stupid question... (Score:4, Insightful)
Ask a company about its competition, and they will trash the competition.
Let's get serious here... asking Microsoft what it thinks of its competition? Such an interview has no value. The response will always be negative. Ask Microsoft about any of its competition, and the response will always be the same.
I'd be carefull (Score:3, Insightful)
Apple is together with Google in offering Google Maps on the iPhone. I clearly remember the impressive presentation of that specific feature. It's bound to move toward a killer application for those offering Navigation systems. And before you can say 'MS Office sucks' we're likely to have Google Apps on mobile devices. And they definitely are a competion to anything MS in the mobile area.
Do you people still remember Ami Pro, Lotus 123 and Windows 3.1? That was all we needed back then and with the browser apps we get exactly that. On top of a bazillion layers running them on a performance hog called JavaScript. But it's all we need. With phones running 500Mhz CPUs and Full Scale Browsers stripped down versions of expensive proprietary shrinkwrap applications are getting more harder to sell by the minute. And MS is feeling that right now.
Re:So? (Score:4, Insightful)
Empowering individuals? please tell me your a shill because if a real person speaks like that then the marketroids have won and we're all doomed to annihalation through mass stupidity.
Re:Microsoft are correct (Score:3, Insightful)
I have a Palm 700p as my main cell phone. While I don't use the Office-compatible apps too often, but it's handy in rare instances. For instance, a client emails me a Word document detailing changes to a contract... it's great to be able to open the document on my phone, read it, then email or call them to discuss. That scenario is within the realm of the possibility of a web-based AJAX app, even on a mobile phone, isn't it?
I admit I've never used the genuine Office Mobile apps. But neither of us has seen how well the browser on the iPhone (or the keyboard, for that matter) work. If it's as good as the hype (well, at least close), it may be able to bridge the gap. Should be interesting to see....
Re:Not Irrelevant, But Limited in Appeal (Score:3, Insightful)
1) email
2) IM
3) browse websites
4) play handheld games (save an extra $200 by not getting the latest PSP for them)
5) phone
6) addressbook
7) agenda/calendar
When my kid is old enough I'd gladly get them an (advanced) iPhone for $600 + service fee and a $300 game console, if it means I can avoid having to get them a PC + Handheld Gaming + DVD player + Music Player + Phone + Service fees
You Know (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:iPhone is a silly gimmick (Score:3, Insightful)
That one bug in the email sure is annoying. Too bad I can't try a different email app.
You're arguing that a hypothetical bug in an unreleased product makes Windows Mobile better?
I wish this thing played videos.
Uh, it does. Standard MPEG-4/h.264.
Will this thing ever support Flash?
Nobody in any position to know has said that it wouldn't, so again you're pulling out a strawman.
I contacted Apple for the 4th time about my need for PowerPoint support.
PowerPoint is a Microsoft product. Complaining to Apple would get you nowhere. Even if iPhone was completely open there's no reason to think that it would have PowerPoint support. If it were truly necessary to view presentations on your phone (who does this?), any decent presentation software is capable of exporting to standard formats such as PDF, which the iPhone supports.
Windows Mobile can do everything I need this iPhone to do and an MDA is $300 instead of $600.
Most people consider this before buying. I don't understand why you are so mystified by it. The MDA might be fine if you don't care at all about media playback features or web browsing or Mac integration. Not everyone does. Some people care more about PowerPoint presentations, and they have a world of other phones to choose from. They're different.
If you don't believe me, look at the Hiptop/Sidekick - http://hiptop.com/forums/ [hiptop.com] A bunch of Apple employees left and made that platform which is mostly closed.
I know you're trying to make it sound like Danger, Inc. and Apple are somehow closely related, but the facts don't follow. "A bunch of Apple employees"? One of the founders had come from Apple. Oh, and Steve Wozniak is on the board. Whoopty shit. Furthermore, you've not actually given any evidence to support your claim that "every long-time user is tired of the same old lackings".
The iPhone will be more locked-down and WORSE than that.
Says who? All Apple has said is that it isn't an open platform. In all probability, Apple will operate the same way Danger does, by screening third-party software submitted to them, and selling through their store. iPhone has already been demonstrated as syncing with iTunes, and iTunes already distributes applications in the form of iPod games. It is no more closed that the Sidekick.
Re:Time to update the US corporate slogan (Score:1, Insightful)
A Preemptive Move (Score:2, Insightful)
It's a preemptive move to hold what they've got.
Re:Jealousy and Fear (Score:3, Insightful)
Apple already has
Re:Wow (Score:5, Insightful)
Stop. You're both right. Microsoft plays nice for a while, lets a lot of other players take all the risk of innovating to see what products keep their platform valuable, waits for the hard work of perfecting the design to be over, watches to see what features have the most to do with market appeal, and then swoops in with their version - shoddy, but universal to the platform. No sane IT department would want to vet IE as a safe and desirable application, but they don't have much choice ("I can't get on the Internet!" "What happens when you try?" "I can't. It's missing!" "What?" "The Internet! The blue 'E'! I think a virus ate it!"). Not many web application developers would want to code for IE, but it's a safe design assumption. They can't very well tell a potential corporate customer "To use all the features, you'd want to get Firefox or Opera", the company already has web filtering and proxy software, not to mention Windows group policies, that are only capable of locking down IE. Release some CRM software that doesn't suck (please, pretty please do that) and watch how quickly you get "embraced".
Re:You would be surprised... (Score:3, Insightful)
They might be right (Score:2, Insightful)
Have anybody ever tried developping software for Windows Mobile 5? It's fracking simple. It took me about four hours from scratch to develop a custom made gps software for my WM5 PDA with c#.
Microsoft knows how valuable good development tools are. That's about the only thing they have done right (in my opinion).
Re:Microsoft are correct (Score:2, Insightful)