Microsoft: iPhone not good enough for business and enterprise users
Apple’s soon to be launched iPhone will not be attractive to business users without Office documents support, and will be irrelevant to enterprise users if third party applications can’t be developed for it, according to Microsoft.
Apple has made it clear that it does not want third party developers make applications for the iPhone.
“We define everything that is on the phone. You don’t want your phone to be like a PC. The last thing you want is to have loaded three apps on your phone and then you go to make a call and it doesn’t work anymore. These are more like iPods than they are like computers,” Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs said.
Apple’s choice to limit iPhone development has made the iPhone the target of a lot of criticism. Some analyst described iPhone as a “closed device”, and as such could make it difficult for it do well in the enterprise market.
In describing iPhone, Chris Sorenson, Microsoft’s Asia-Pacific head of smart-phone strategy, told the press that “It’s a great music phone, and I’m sure it will be fantastic and have an interesting user interface.”
“However, it’s a closed device that you cannot install applications on, and there’s no support for Office documents. If you’re an enterprise and want to roll out a line of business applications, it’s just not an option. Even using it as a heavy messaging device will be a challenge,” the executive added.
While the entry of the iPhone into the market offers new options for consumers, Sorenson believes user familiarity with Microsoft’s Windows Mobile interface and the ease with which companies can buy and develop applications for the platform will sustain its increasing popularity and help keep the iPhone out of the lucrative corporate market.
But Jobs seems cannot live with it.
At the recent shareholder meeting in San Francisco, Jobs disclosed that the company is still struggling to decide if third-party developers will be able to create software that will run on the iPhone. It’s a decision Apple “is wrestling with,” according to Jobs.
Let’s just hope that Apple will loosen things up a little. Even if the company has to screen which third-party application it will or won’t allow, that would be better than nothing for business and enterprise users.
Apple has made it clear that it does not want third party developers make applications for the iPhone.
Apple has made it clear that it does not want third party developers make applications for the iPhone.
Updates: AT&T releases the first iPhone ahead of the official launch sked.
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May 12th, 2007
I saw the new Iphone on Friday, it is unbelieveable, so fast, gps works great, download capability is so awesome and so fast five stars for sure. Saw it in London at Rogers Communications
May 12th, 2007
The latest version of Webkit works just fine with Google Docs. It’s reasonable to assume that would go into the iPhone and users could use Microsoft Word documents through Google Docs.
May 12th, 2007
I’m almost 100% sure Apple will be releasing a version of iWork for the iPhone. Maybe not at launch but before the year is over, and I’m sure it will be able to read (maybe edit) Word/PowerPoint/Excell documents. I hope they open it up to third party apps, but with “Apple Certified…” or whatever stamps. I’m sure eventually it will open up, but for now the iPhone is Apple’s new toy and they don’t want to start sharing right away. I don’t blame them, with as many developers that want to get their hands on making iPhone apps, there is an equal amount that probably want to make ones that hurt the iPhone.
May 13th, 2007
Jules, you took the words right out of my mouth. I think it will be read/write access for Pages and Numbers (or whatever their new spreadsheet is). Keynote/Powerpoint I’m not so sure about since you need a big screen to edit those documents well.
I think that either iWork for the Mac will include the iPhone version, or (more likely) iPhone will include a free iWork for the iPhone, and you can buy iWork for your Mac or use Word/Excel compatibilty for your Mac or PC.
This is probably why we haven’t seen an iLife upgrade – it has to go with the introduction of iPhone.
D
May 13th, 2007
There are 100 million happy iPod buyers who will be waiting to buy the best video iPod ever. This wide screened video iPod, aka iPhone will be a big hit.
Business and Enterprise users will have to get in line with the rest of us.
May 13th, 2007
I agree. iPhone will be a big hit because of iPod users kingdom. I also believe that soon after release, iPhone will evolve to give users the next level of online experience.
May 14th, 2007
I would assume Apple will release a unique “iphone-ized” version of iWork will be released, and I would also bet that with the recent advent of Google office tools optimized for Mac, users will be able to utilize those if they’re worried about compatibility with Microsoft products. Don’t think for a second Apple hasn’t considered the necessity of Microsoft compatibility; being that the iPhone is designed to not only redefine smart phones, but also draw customers from the PC and the Apple world, they’re surely developing (or considering allowing special 3rd party developers to develop) an iPhone version of Google Office tools to bridge the gap.
May 16th, 2007
iPhone would be better than enough microsoft products… tz….