Alternate Title: "The iPhone in Europe debacle"

There's been plenty of talk recently by the iPhone nay-sayers in the U.S. It's bizarre. If the iPhone delivers on its promises, I very much believe it will be one of the most successful products ever seen in the mobile industry. However, recently, there's been a heavy influence on not only US flamers, but also about the future of the product over this side of the pond. Let's look at some of the hit-grabbing stories that have been posted, admittedly to the rumour sites.

iPhone European roll-out 'may be delayed'

An Analyst for investment banking firm Piper Jaffray warned Wednesday that Apple’s European iPhone launch "may be delayed". Analyst Gene Munster claimed the planned European wide roll-out later this year may face problems. "European wireless carriers are citing strict terms of the partnership with Apple," Munster said. (Link)

OK, so Apple's driving a hard deal. If they have a killer handset that delivers, unlike my crappy Nokia 6280 which fails even the basics, then they have every right to drive a hard deal. They'd be mad not to - remember, Apple knows what it'll take to make a successful product (unlike the networks, whose software is notorious for causing issues on phones) and they don't want to compromise that - there's too much at stake here. The networks love the idea of branding, simply for the sake of throwing a logo in your face, whereas Apple seems to care about creating a product that creates cachet purely through use and sublime coolness, not poorly implemented phone-based software. The mobile market is, at the moment, somewhat like the PC market in the late 90s. Everyone was starting to catch the licensing bug: Windows Mobile, Symbian are all licenced. Like a PC manufacturer loads a PC with trial software and money-making links, the networks then load the phones up with software that promotes their own content and services never mind the end-user nightmare that it causes. The iPhone is the mobile-market's Mac, not just in presence, but in spirit too - as you'd expect from Apple perhaps. Anyway, onto the next fodder:

Apple struggling to reach iPhone deal with European Carriers

[A] report, issued Monday, notes that wireless provider Orange should be a shoo-in for the iPhone contract in Europe as it's the only operator with significant EDGE coverage in the region. "But early indications are that Apple may be forced to go retail-only in Europe," wrote analyst Avi Greengart. Several European operators reportedly advised Greengart that they had spoken to Apple and found the company “unbelievably arrogant,” making demands that “simply cannot be justified, no matter how hot the product is.” "Several were adamant that they will never offer the iPhone," Greengart wrote. Therefore, he suggested in his report that "early indications are that Apple may be forced to go retail-only in Europe." (Link)

"Several were adamant that they will never offer the iPhone." My oh my, that sounds awfully like the protestations about DRM-free music. And now that's not doing all that badly at the moment, is it? If ever there were such a fine example of analysts talking out of their rear-ends, this is it. For the record, I'd still buy an iPhone 'unlocked' or retail only (so long as it delivers on its promise), but sans Visual Voicemail, and any kind of network partnership, the end-user experience is hardly going to be what Apple desires it to be.

The incredible 'pick a network out at random' game

Just two days later, Shawn Wu claims Vodafone is the most likely partner, attributing this to the

"200 million subscriber base (compared to 61 million for AT&T, its USA partner), broad country coverage, and investment in advanced technologies make it a strong fit for Apple." (Link)

Gotta love consistency.
Now all this would be considered fair analysis, and the networks that apparently were so anti-iPhone would be justified. Were it not for the fact that there's considerable demand (already) for the iPhone - at least here in the UK. 56% of mobile users apparently know of the device, and perhaps more amazingly one of my technophobe female flat mate agreed to queue with me (whatever time) when I get my iPhone, purely on the basis of being shown the incredibly clever Calamari advert - the appeal of those ads is clearly far reaching. So what on earth will, over the next few months, persuade the networks that y'know, the iPhone IS a good idea?

Wait, Brits Actually Want an iPhone!?!

Research from mobile market analyst M:Metrics shows 56 per cent of UK mobile phone users are aware of the device, and a large proportion of them (30 per cent) also have a strong interest in buying one....Brits are more inclined to buy an expensive mobile as smart phones are twice as popular in the UK than in the US. (Link)

There's so very little to say about this - the facts speak for themselves about a product we still know fairly little about (although the day of dissection is coming upon us). Apple's done a fantastic job of educating us in their ways. What network wouldn't want a huge queue outside their store on launch day, or publicised shortages like the Wii's having (still)? AT&T is seemingly preparing for total pandemonium over one handset, and yet the European networks are not interested? Jesus. Despite being a music student, I'm clearly not the one in need of a Supply and Demand bootcamp.

One final thought, almost, before I leave the tubes in peace for the night

Sony Ericsson’s W950, he noted, has offered European consumers a touchscreen smartphone with 4GB flash memory and music and Web capabilities – plus UMTS – for nearly two years. (Link)

The W950 may be a very competent handset. But to compare like-for-like, especially on an un-released product is somewhat unfair on the Sony. It lacks the Apple UI, UX and iTunes integration. It likely is more hasslesome to sync, and the fact that it's from Sony almost guarantees that some jackasses from their digital music efforts thought it'd be a mighty fine idea to include some kinda of terrible Windows app that Sony really shouldn't make, not to mention that it's probably had the network's finest* technicians add their own buggy software to try and create supposed extra value. But above all you have to remember this: having roughly the same feature set as an iPhone doesn't make it an iPhone, or an iPhone competitor.

*Where by 'finest' I mean: most willing to toe to a company line of forcing a network's portal and branding into our faces at every possible moment.

Tags: Mobile Phone