by Joseph Pesta
June 4, 2008
As the date everyone is expecting to hear the announcement of a new 3G iPhone draws near, more and more stories are emerging about whether this new phone
or that new phone is going to be the iPhone killer, the new kid on the block that will send Apple running for the hills. The truth is, I don't think any of these latest entries into the cell phone world can knock off the iPhone. The mere fact that they have to be touted as iPhone killers already places the iPhone on a level higher than those looking to dethrone it. Now before anyone goes saying I'm just a fanboy, or going on about the EDGE network, let me just say that I'm not a fanboy at all. I do, however, have no problem giving credit where credit is due. And if you want to go on about the EDGE network (again), sure EDGE may not be as fast as 3G, but did anyone ever claim it was? Putting the iPhone up against a 3G phone is all well and good, but when all is said and done, will the 3G competitor phone have all of the other features Apple worked into its device? I doubt it.
Love it or hate it, you have to admit that Apple's iPhone turned the mobile phone industry on its collective ear. They did what no other company had done before with a single device, and what we've been seeing ever since its introduction is everyone else scrambling to catch up. Funny how most of the so-called iPhone killers resemble the iPhone, isn't it? It's also funny how many devices boast that they have touch capable screens. Really? Sounds familiar. Apple has already sold millions of iPhones, and they are looking to have at least ten million sold by the end of the year.
Whether or not a new version of the iPhone is released this June, or shortly thereafter, the iPhone 2.0 software update is coming as announced, and will add even more functionality to a device already full of useful features. The business application aspect of the 2.0 update was highly played up earlier this year, in answer to critics who fault the device for not being "business friendly" enough for the corporate set. It looks like Apple is about to change all of that as well, with Exchange support, increased security, and a host of other features that should appeal to business users, not to mention all of the third-party applications that will be available through Apple's new App Store.
Agree, or disagree, Apple has created a capable phone with a fully integrated portable entertainment device, which has been updated regularly to give users even more features than when they originally bought it. As we see numerous iPhone killers flooding the market, there is one thing the companies releasing them still haven't learned. The key is not to imitate what already exists in the marketplace. The key is to innovate, to come up with something fresh and new. That's what Apple did almost a year ago, and they have been enjoying the fruits of that innovation ever since.
