iOS 5 ties boost Twitter, Wolfram Alpha
Christmas really isn’t a day — it’s a season. For Twitter and Wolfram Alpha, iOS 5 ties are already beginning to pay dividends, but their good cheer is only just getting started. That is, Apple looks almost certain to deliver stellar iOS sales this quarter, which will drive partner results even higher.
For Apple, the gifts this Christmas look to be many as analysts boost their iPhone estimates for the fourth quarter to 30 million.
Mac and iPad estimates are equally rosy, too.
Sharing the good fortune are two newly empowered iOS partners that are just starting to count their blessings and they have to be rubbing their hands in gleeful anticipation as the sales totals soar.
Twitter held a meet and greet with journos. Thereupon, the 140-character company that does announced that iOS 5′s deep Twitter integration is paying off big time with sign ups jumping by 25 percent.
This has helped power 50 percent advertiser and brand engagement with Twitter’s advertising products — even assuming 2X inflation for marketing purposes, that is still fabulous conversion.
Spreading the love
When Eric Schmidt told a Senate Committee that Siri represents a serious threat to Google’s business model, most observers pooh-poohed the statement as a disingenuous attempt to deflect criticism from the company’s stranglehold on search. Though he could have been blowing smoke then, the truth is coming out now.
Wolfram Research executive director Luc Barthelet told Technology Review that Siri’s heavy reliance on his company’s search facilities has driven a 20-fold increase in business. This is interesting because Wolfram provides direct access to answers to questions rather than search results like Google — searchzilla isn’t getting any part of this trade, which could signal a tectonic shift in search.
This shift from Google to Wolfram will only accelerate as Apple extends Siri from just the iPhone 4S to more iOS devices and, of course, the Mac.
Is this the beginning of the end for traditional search? Google has to be shaking in their shoes…
What’s your take?
December 10th, 2011
Wow who would have known that yet another Apple product would be so successful? I want to try Siri but I don’t have the iPhone 4S, and I am not breaking my contract just for that. I was really hoping that Apple would roll Siri into the iOS5 update and make it available for regular iPhone 4, but I don’t really need it that badly. I am fine with using my fingers to get my information.