As with PCs, Apple and Microsoft take different approach to smartphones

Iria · Jan 11, 2007, 08:50 PM

Source: DigiTimes
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With Apple finally announcing its anticipated iPhone, the company is adding yet another market where it competes with familiar rival Microsoft. And, as in the PC market, the two companies have divergent strategies for success in the smartphone market.

During Steve Jobs’ keynote speech for the new iPhone, the Apple CEO cited a quote that stated people who are serious about software should make their own hardware.

In line with such thinking, the iPhone is a combination of software and hardware design – much like in the PC market, where Apple has always locked its software and hardware together, except for a brief period about 10 years ago when the company had a short-lived licensing program.

According to consulting firm Ovum, it would have been easier for Apple to enter the market with an established form factor (some of the early rumors focused on a slider phone), improvements to the UI and special music features. Apple has scored a major hit by not doing a me-too product, but by going for a very high degree of differentiation, Ovum stated. But as for manufacturing the product, earlier reports tabbed Foxconn Electronics (the registered trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry) as the expected manufacturer, though that has not been confirmed.

Jan 11, 2007, 08:50 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	As with PCs, Apple and Microsoft take different approach to smartphones Source: DigiTimes _________ With Apple finally announcing its anticipated iPhone, the company is adding yet another market where it competes with familiar rival Microsoft. And, as in the PC market, the two companies have divergent strategies for success in the smartphone market. During Steve Jobs’ keynote speech for the new iPhone, the Apple CEO cited a quote that stated people who are serious about software should make their own hardware. In line with such thinking, the iPhone is a combination of software and hardware design – much like in the PC market, where Apple has always locked its software and hardware together, except for a brief period about 10 years ago when the company had a short-lived licensing program. According to consulting firm Ovum, it would have been easier for Apple to enter the market with an established form factor (some of the early rumors focused on a slider phone), improvements to the UI and special music features. Apple has scored a major hit by not doing a me-too product, but by going for a very high degree of differentiation, Ovum stated. But as for manufacturing the product, earlier reports tabbed Foxconn Electronics (the registered trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry) as the expected manufacturer, though that has not been confirmed.