Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 -- 12:45 p.m. -- on my couch
First there's an iPhone nano and then there isn't. Well, which is it?
Only Apple knows, but today the Economic Daily news out of China reported that it's not only coming but that component suppliers are almost a lock.
But the rumor and the paper's accuracy aren't what I want to focus on here ... I'd like to discuss the possibility/wisdom of releasing an iPhone model to one region of the world only.
While I am always all about having the latest and greatest, I am all for this idea for one simple reason that can be summed up in one simple word:
Sales.
Let's rewind. When the iPhone came out, it could do no wrong. But then it could. It was EDGE only in a world where 3G had been around for a while. And then Apple sent that EDGE-powered iPhone to Europe where folks were like ... uhhhh. This is slow.
And then as Apple sent the iPhone around the world, there were other issues that began to come to light. Egypt required Apple to strip the iPhone of its GPS capabilities. Japan was like "wait, what, no emoji?" And even with 3G the darn thing is still slower than some of the other mobile offerings. And since I think you can use a cell phone in Japan to teleport yourself to and from work, well, the iPhone clearly is cool but it's not the best phone in all the land.
So what's the answer?
I don't know that I have the answer, but I'll say this. What works in one place doesn't necessarily work in another. Folks said that just because the U.S. is built on Democracy doesn't mean Democracy is right for the world. They eat kangaroo in Australia. Canadians like poutine (french fries, gravy and cheese curds). Certain things work in certain places that don't work here.
So why not a specified iPhone model that works in the Far East that might not necessarily sell here -- or why not a model that might sell here but might sell even better over there? Why not a tiny iPhone with a chain that can be worn around the neck of teenagers with those little Hello Kitty charms you see in those specialty stores here in the states. We laugh at those things and we don't understand them and when anyone would wear them, but that doesn't make them any less popular in other cultures.
I think Apple needs to embrace those other cultures and adapt for what works for them. They did. They added Emoji to Japanese iPhone software. They stripped GPS from the Egyptian iPhone. It would be huge if Apple released an iPhone somewhere else other than here, but it would make sense for sales. Put it out there at a price that's guaranteed to move and, well, that's sound thinking in an economy that's hanging on by a thread.
That's my take. I would love to use and potentially own an iPhone nano. But I'd be more interested in knowing if that's the magical iphone model that's going to sell a billion handsets. And if it is, I say go for it.
What do you think? Last time I mentioned Apple even releasing software somewhere outside the U.S. first I got all kinds of anti-American sentiments in the comments. I'd say that Apple is a global company that thinks outside the box. I for one am interested to see what it's got up its sleeve.
Let me know what you think either here in the comments or on Twitter.
Thanks for calling.
1 Comment
MacSheikh said:
Hi, Scott.
While i agree with your point about Apple having to adapt the iPhone, i also see one "problem". They are already making changes to the phone and/or software to cater to certain countries' requirements. Why waste valuable resources and money building a so-called nano version when they can (and they already are) just make some changes to the "original" iPhone itself?
SCOTT'S REPLY: That's a very valid point ... but I've always thought that if Apple can sell many more handsets by lowering the price, well, isn't that a good thing?
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