Comments on: Apple: Can it stop the Android menace?

By: Edward Harrison

Edward Harrison — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:35:00 +0000

consultski, I have a Nexus One on the T-Mobile network so I know about spotty coverage! The thing is I wouldn’t go with an AT&T-based iPhone because of switching costs and because the coverage is no better, worse in SF and NY. THAT’s the problem for Apple.

I mean, as a techie, I have a lot of other reasons I don’t like the iPhone – and that’s the reason I like the Nexus One. But for the mainstream, it is really a great phone.

The problem is that there are always switching costs. And when the phone has good features, is attractively priced and the network coverage is good, you can overcome those costs. the iPhone only has 2 of 3. The Droid and Droid Incredible have 3 of 3.

By: Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey

Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:10:00 +0000

Edward, nice post. I too have “been there; done that; got the t-shirts.”

Now that we have the “back story” give me some details on which is better. I have not switched to the iPhone because of AT&T. I am not alone. I live off my iTouch for a ton of computing, and expect to get an iPad (my wife loves it too) when that next big contract comes through… so, I need to tether the iTouch to something now, the iPad later. I am considering Sprint and their Droid (June 4th, methinks). But as a former Alltel client (now on Verizon), I may go that way. But now comes Walmart selling the iPhone 3Gs for $97! But no 3G coverage anytime soon in my locale… so what is a techie to do?

By: Edward Harrison

Edward Harrison — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:18:00 +0000

I also didn’t touch on RIMM, Nokia, the handset makers, developers or the telcos! I tried to keep a narrow focus on the Apple-Google thing but, like you, I suspect Google is gunning for Microsoft as much if not more than Apple. I see Android as a Trojan Horse into the desktop space.

I ran this at Naked Capitalism as well and there are a lot of good comments.

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:12:00 +0000

Lost in all of this, except in your opening and closing paragraphs is Microsoft. They have completely missed this transition from home computers to pocket computers and it will cost them big time. I had heard how Google was set to become the new Microsoft, but failed to truly see how until Android OS. Microsoft seems set to become a history lesson.

By: Name

Name — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:43:00 +0000

I wasn’t around in the ’80s to see how Macintosh declined, but I suppose Apple didn’t have the same level of market share as it does now in the smartphone segment with the iPhone. Suffice saying, all the people I know that are thinking about getting a better phone are first thinking about the iPhone (or the JesusPhone as The Reg named it). I think eventually the Android will be their biggest competitor in the consumer area (the corporate one is way too dominated by RIM), but this time Apple has a well-consolidated first mover advantage with the Apple Store nearing 90 000 applications. Probably that would be enough for most iPhone users to not make the switch. And if the iPhone moves to Verizon and other carriers it might get an extra push too…
Which surely doesn’t exclude the possibility that Apple shares aren’t overvalued!