The iPhone is no smartphone, says ABI Research

Iria · Jan 26, 2007, 09:30 PM

Source: DigiTimes
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Though Apple's iPhone was the talk of the town after its January 9 debut, ABI Research points out that while the iPhone is undoubtedly clever and capable, it is not correct to call it a smartphone in the way the media has done.

ABI Research defines a smartphone as a cellular handset using an open, commercial operating system that supports third party applications. The iPhone runs a version of the Apple-developed computer operating system, OS X, so at first glance it would seem to fall into the smartphone category, which might help justify its announced over US$500 price tag. But, says ABI mobile broadband analyst Philip Solis, "It turns out that this device will be closed to third party applications. Therefore we must conclude at this point that, based on our current definition, the iPhone is not a smartphone: it is a very high-end feature phone."

Jan 26, 2007, 09:30 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	The iPhone is no smartphone, says ABI Research Source: DigiTimes _________ Though Apple's iPhone was the talk of the town after its January 9 debut, ABI Research points out that while the iPhone is undoubtedly clever and capable, it is not correct to call it a smartphone in the way the media has done. ABI Research defines a smartphone as a cellular handset using an open, commercial operating system that supports third party applications. The iPhone runs a version of the Apple-developed computer operating system, OS X, so at first glance it would seem to fall into the smartphone category, which might help justify its announced over US$500 price tag. But, says ABI mobile broadband analyst Philip Solis, "It turns out that this device will be closed to third party applications. Therefore we must conclude at this point that, based on our current definition, the iPhone is not a smartphone: it is a very high-end feature phone."