Why the iPhone isn't really revolutionary.

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:29 AM EDT

Article Source: Slate

technology, apple, iphone, cell-phone, att, revolutionary

When the word iPhone appears in Apple press releases, the word revolutionary is rarely far behind. But what counts as revolutionary? In Apple's case, the bar is high. Since the 1970s, the firm has changed both the personal computer and music industries. Will the iPhone fundamentally alter the structure of the wireless world as well?

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Adam Hobson's Column, All of Newsvine
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{"commentId":859459,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

We're left to wonder, then, why the iPhone plays by the rules. Isn't this Apple, the company of "Think Different"? You could argue that the iPhone proves that Apple is no longer a company interested in transforming industries. Once Big Brother's foe, it's now more like Little Brother, happy to sell cute little devices that are easy to use, make money, and spread false consciousness.

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#1 - Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:30 AM EDT

{"commentId":859935,"authorDomain":"masternav"}

MasterNav

Interesting observation - especially the segment you quoted Adam. As implied in the article, a truly revolutionary device (such as X phone telephony), would never be allowed to exist in the current carrier world. However, just like the small bit of sand that causes the irritation that results in a pearl, the iPhone has profound implications for the US cell market far beyond its form-factor and interface. Like with the pearl it is not immediately evident, but over time the results are remarkable. There is good reason that Verizon passed on the iPhone - the agreements that the carrier were asked to bind themselves to with Apple are in some respects highly compromising to the industry.

Moreover, have you stopped to consider the implications of removing the activation sequencing from the ATT storefront and moving it to the desktop, the drive to commoditize cell telephony (and the industry resistance)?

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#2 - Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:49 PM EDT

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Barnhart

They should have done what T-Mobile did and allow calls over Wi-fi.

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1 vote

#3 - Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:47 PM EDT

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ADAM HOBSON

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Why the iPhone isn't really revolutionary.

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