Comments on: Microsoft: iPhone lacks business savvy

Sure, it'll play tunes and look cool. But just try viewing Office documents on the upcoming Apple gadget.

[frank bruce]

Maybe its target market is a different one

All of the observations are correct, it does not run Office related applications, and it is because its target market is not the corporate office; but all of these declarations on the iPhone by Microsoft and the vapourware that Microsoft might launch a Zune Phone tells me that they feel and see a threat in the iPhone.
Modifying the interface to make it office worthy is just a couple of clicks away.

[Schratboy]

If Microsoft says it's bad it must be good for the competition

iPhone lacks business savvy? Microsoft's antics are so pathetic.

[whizkid454]

Ok.... Sure....

1) I don't think I would be happy with "real" 2G web browsing. Good luck and tell that to the business users surfin' on EV-DO and HSDPA networks.
2) What business user would care about visual voicemail?
3) I would love to see the iPhone compete with Blackberry email. Let me know when that happens.
4) Calendars, Contacts, To-Do Lists, oh my! Already been around for 10 years on a Palm. Nice innovation Apple.
5) Google Maps...Wow. Might be useful but I sure wouldn't use it.
6) Decent camera?? Wow again. I sure see business users taking pictures every day. Oh look let's take a picture of myself!
7) Usable interfeace. Already been around on a Blackberry and Palm for years. Sorry again Apple.

Best of all. There is actually tangible buttons on Blackberrys and Treos! What a concept!

Your post was pure FUD.

[Sniche]

OK, but your's is FUD

Almost everything that you have mentioned has been done for
years and mostly on the Newton ((4) Calendars, Contacts, To-Do
Lists, oh my! Already been around for 10 years on a Palm. Nice
innovation Apple, 7) Usable interfeace (do you mean interface)
A recent comparison test between the Newton and new cePDA , I
beleave that the Newton won
You should check your facts before making any comments

[Xenu7-214951314497503184010868]

How Ironic

This from the company that brought you a brown digital music player that rhymes with "prune" and squirts music to strangers. This from the company that has caused billions of dollars of wasted productivity due to its buggy software, flawed updates, and security with more holes than swiss cheese. The ONLY thing Microsoft has going for it is market share, and that's a pretty limited definition of "business savvy."

[1happyman]

Yes! they are feeling the heat, and is just spring!

why would I care to open word document when I can open the
whole web?
this guy haven't notice times have changed.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Apple iPhone is an entertainment device.

I think Microsoft is misunderstanding that the Apple iPhone is an entertainment device and not intended for business users. Of course it won't support Exchange servers or other secure email systems. It's meant to work with Gmail and other lightweight services.

That's not a bad thing. The iPhone will be great to play music and video and kill time with when you have nothing else to do. Business users will use a SmartPhone when they need connectivity for business purposes or work needs to be done.

Two different products for two different markets.

Trying to compare them is downright silly. You can't compare a Mazda Miata and a Ford pickup equally. One is fun and light, the other is meant for work and business purposes.

[jessiethe3rd]

Everyone on their Microsoft Bashing Bucket

It's like clock work around here hahaa... someone says Microsoft and it's BASH! BASH! BASH! From an application development prospective (and that's what Microsoft is really trying to say) The iPhone really stand little of a chance to compete with the Windows Mobile platform - as a matter of fact, when it comes to Mobile OS's there is little out there that stand little of a chance against Windows Mobile. Developers are interested in convergence - write once, work across all devices (PC and Mobile Device) - this is a war that Apple will never win on.

This is nothing to say of the iPhone being an outstanding consumer device... that it will be - the WM is just a better platform for business. Business is not just about having a contact book, a calendar, and a web browser on the phone (by the way try Deepfish - it's a perfectly capable browser or some of the many other web browser available.) It's about being able to get a common user feel across all platforms; mobile or otherwise. The iPhone won't be able to integrate with Exchange and the rest of Microsoft's products and this is why yes... the 300 pound gorilla will continue to outdue Apple in this segement while Apple throws rocks.

Proprietary systems never won Apple a new business customer... why is Apple Microsoft Office still one of Apple's top applications bought? Meanwhile Apple pokes fun at the Windows user who does spreadsheets?? Give me a break - it's corny and MS bashing at its best.

WM5 isn't the best but it beats the alternatives hands down when it comes to business.

[t8]

It's quite simple

They deserve it because they are evil.

[jessiethe3rd]

Everyone on their Microsoft Bashing Bucket

It's like clock work around here hahaa... someone says Microsoft and it's BASH! BASH! BASH! From an application development prospective (and that's what Microsoft is really trying to say) The iPhone really stand little of a chance to compete with the Windows Mobile platform - as a matter of fact, when it comes to Mobile OS's there is little out there that stand little of a chance against Windows Mobile. Developers are interested in convergence - write once, work across all devices (PC and Mobile Device) - this is a war that Apple will never win on.

This is nothing to say of the iPhone being an outstanding consumer device... that it will be - the WM is just a better platform for business. Business is not just about having a contact book, a calendar, and a web browser on the phone (by the way try Deepfish - it's a perfectly capable browser or some of the many other web browser available.) It's about being able to get a common user feel across all platforms; mobile or otherwise. The iPhone won't be able to integrate with Exchange and the rest of Microsoft's products and this is why yes... the 300 pound gorilla will continue to outdue Apple in this segement while Apple throws rocks.

Proprietary systems never won Apple a new business customer... why is Apple Microsoft Office still one of Apple's top applications bought? Meanwhile Apple pokes fun at the Windows user who does spreadsheets?? Give me a break - it's corny and MS bashing at its best.

WM5 isn't the best but it beats the alternatives hands down when it comes to business.

[law_hog]

And?

Since when was Apple ever in the business of producing hardware that was remotely useful for business use?

[Ian Joyner]

Re: And?

"Since when was Apple ever in the business of producing hardware
that was remotely useful for business use?"

Since about 1976 - only the IBM IT-types missed it, hence IBM's
scramble to catch up. Microsoft IT types are still missing it. So now
you know!

[t8]

No Microsoft Office???

That is a feature.

[rainald22000]

Blackberry irrelevant too?

I guess according to Microsoft, Blackberry is irrelevent for business
too because no Office on it.

[t8]

Who cares about apps

The future is mobiles that have a browser and access services like Google Docs and Spreadsheets.

Putting apps on a mobile is stupid.

All you need is a browser because the Web is the computing platform of the future.

Microsft is stuck in the 90s. Software, CDs and big boxes.

No thanks.

[kentonr]

I'm getting tired of this!

Why does every moron with an opinion think that the iPhone's
apparent lack of "enterprise features" will be the last nail in its
coffin?

Maybe that's exactly why it will be successful. Not everybody
spends their time on their phone working.

Besides, Apple isn't interested in the "enterprise" market. Haven't
they noticed?

[desmo7219]

Windows Mobile...business savvy???

Dont even know why anyone even use Windows Mobile...had an O2 once, used it for 1 month and decided to sell it off cos Windows Mobile sucks big time. Keeps hanging and having to reset. Microsoft....get the hanging bit right first before making any comment.

I uses Palm, Symbian and Blackberry before. Symbian, Palm and Blackberry are much much better then Windows mobile. Cant wait for iphone to be out to try.

[aron1981]

beautiful

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[Maccess]

Here we go again...

Dissing the competition again ..then finding yourselves with your foot in your mouth later on.

For anyone who has missed the point:

iPhone runs Mac OS X, it's a customized version....GET THIS: Apple is selling a Mac OS X computer even smaller than a Mac Mini. Next, it's a *NIX box, and all that great *nix stuff runs on it.

What happens when processor technology advances yet again and the iPhone becomes THE PERSONAL computer.

Add a wired or wireless video port, a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, USB for external devices, and holy smokes..who's going to need a regular desktop PC anymore?

Since Microsoft publishes Microsoft Office for Mac, theoretically it does have MS Office. It has OpenOffice too. It will probably also have some compatible version that will run on iPhone (and regular Macs too)....

[cybergremlyn]

Disagree with Microsoft

I've had a Cingular 8125 aka HTC Wizard for the last 6 months,
and to say the least, MS Windows Mobile overpromises and
underdelivers. Sorting through your contacts is not as intuitive
as you would think. The experience of using their office apps is
dismal at best. The devices would truly flourish if you could use
them as Remote devices for Powerpoint presentations, or
showing off the latest budget report. There clearly is no
innovation on Microsofts part. Their programming is a good
knockoff of Palm's Documents To Go. The only reason they
added Office Mobile was to overtake Palm. The only truly
innovative program is Pocket Internet Explorer, which
coincidentally does not support Java VM. Windows Mobile 6 is
no better.

The reason people like me are looking forward to the Mac, is
because well their stuff just works. It won't freeze, crash, seize,
or decide not to do anything. I like the merging of the ipod
with a phone. I have had alot of headache and heartache
loading music onto my phone and getting it to play. Although
some techies might deride the Newton, it was the best damn
smart device ever. It was ahead of Palm, Handspring and even
HTC. If you look out there, there are still people using them. It
was ahead of it's time and was forward thinking, like any Apple
product. If Apple's ability to successfully marry hardware and
software isn't evident by the ipod, imac, etc then people need to
wake up and smell the italian roast.

[irondog1970]

Motorola Q lacks Office, too

My roommate has the Q phone with Windows Mobile 5. It didn't come with Office. Not to mention, he has a hard time getting his email over the system.

Another case of sour grapes.

[trouble001]

Perhaps...

you need a different roommate?

[trouble001]

Perhaps...

you need a different roommate?

[Llib Setag]

Give MS till the end of the year...

and they too will have an "Apple iPhone killer" A.K.A. ZunePhone that will kinda-sorta-looks like an iPhone, but will be in ugly brown turd cheap plastic & only works on the new MSPhone Network after they "merge" with Bellevue WA based T-Mobile.

Now THAT'S INNOVATION!

MS Straegy: Apple Product debuts ahead of MS.
MS response: "lacking, too expensive, niche market, fud, doesn't work with our monopoly..."
(flash forward six months): NEW, INNOVATIVE, PREMIER PRODUCT THAT'S THE NEW (insert Apple product name here) KILLER!
Next: Spend Billions in advertising & bribing CMET to write "news article" soft advertiment on the TECH NEWS site next to all their paid web banners running commercials about their latest INNOVATION FOR THE PUBLIC!

What a crock...These guys are running scared.

The Emperor Gates has no clothes.

[mildew33]

MACS beats WINDOze. THE TRUTH.

MACS are so great. I remember being brainwashed by the commercials on TV. Then I joined that Apple cult, because the leader told me to. He always wears tight sexy jeans and a metrosexual black turtleneck. Then the commercial where PC guy, and UAC guy on top of MAC guy was so riske. MACs are so cool!