Apple is quickly changing the way we communicate through our phones. We all saw it coming with simple smart phones. Apple is brining it to reality.
I loved having web access on my Treo in 2007. But since late April I have owned an IPhone 3GS and have been blown away with it's usefulness and how it is slowly creeping it's way into my day.
Now, Apple has launched their new IPhone - the Apple Iphone 4 - in Canada in July.
See for yourself...
Rogers, Telus and Bell are all launching the IPhone 4 in Canada... expected in July.
Marketing implications...
I have to say, the IPhone does have marketing implications over standard smartphones. For example, Google Adwords does have selections in their backend to focus on these users specifically.
I wouldn't say this ability should change your marketing message (ie. special coupons for IPhones users...boring!) but with it's usefulness, users of the IPhone look up information at lightning speed everywhere. This is a major encouragement to make sure your website has a mobile version with critical information available easy (phone number, hours, directions...).
I experienced Canadian Tire's excellent mobile site yesterday. For my son's birthday I was looking for a certain road hockey net. While I was waiting for someone in the sports department to pick up the phone for a stock check, I opened up my IPhone, looked it up on their simple mobile website and saw it was in stock. A quick hang up without talking to them, and I was on my way to buy it.
Also, just being findable is a major point. I am amazed at how often businesses are NOWHERE to be found when looking them up in Google... or the listings you find are out of a phone directory and not from their website. Isn't this 2010?
With mobile email for all, GPS in people's pockets, and a Google search always only a few second away, IPhones are revolutionizing daily Internet use.