iPhone Predictions

Well, the iPhone is officially announced and I have to say that it looks absolutely insane! I have been a loyal Mac user for a number of years now since they are arguably the most stable and hassle free computers to host Pro Tools and many of my power hungry media apps. However, in spite of my bias, I have to say that the iPhone, as far as I can see, will be the most influential technological device of 2007 and the effects will likely change the landscape of the entire telecommunications industry!

RIM, the company that makes the Blackberry, saw a 6% drop in their stock value as result of Apple announcing the iPhone, which will offer a free "push" IMAP email account from Yahoo! as well as a fully functional web browser (not the "baby web" as Steve Jobs called it). Basically, they are giving away the main service that people have been paying for on a Blackberry but in a much cooler package and with way better functionality when you buy the iPhone.

It will be interesting to see what comes of the major cell phone manufacturers when this thing hits the market. I think the hardest hit will be RIM and the other high end "smart phone" companies. Clearly the iPhone is going to make there services and features seem obsolete and kind of primitive. However, the $499 US price tag will likely mean that the lower end phones won't likely be to threatened... not yet anyways. If the devepment of the iPod is any pattered of prediction, I wouldn't be surprised to see an iPhone Nano or something like that with a smaller footprint and a more budget friendly price tag by the end of the year or early 2008.

If you haven't seen the video of this thing in action yet, check it out. You will want to throw your cell phone in the garbage.

iPhone