celgins - 8:16 pm on Dec 27, 2009 (gmt 0)

Apple is doing what they did with desktops back in the 80's. They made a closed system again.

I think Apple failed to understand (or forsee, which is difficult to do) the future of mobile devices. Plus, like ogletree mentioned, building proprietary systems is just what they do.

They shipping Android, about 1M sold in no time at all.

A lot of that was because users in the U.S. are tied to their carrier, and loathe the $150-$200 early termination fees. Many of them may have preferred the iPhone, but opted for their carrier's smartphone if they thought it was comparable [to the iPhone].

But again, only geeks care about that. Who really wants or uses the millions of Windows or Linux tools for PCs? I would guess that 90% of computer users rarely instal any softare on their PC other than what it came with. Similarly, iPhone users may buy sme essential apps, or download the ocasional game. But only a minority really thinks there is anything missing from the thousands of available apps.

Good point. Most non-geeky, non-techy people I converse with want the same things: A smartphone with unlimited Internet access; reasonable data rates; the ability to port their number to a different carrier; the ability to switch carriers no matter which smartphone they have; free long distance; a good quality camera; the ability to record video quickly; and any application they think is necessary for daily/weekly living (i.e. online banking, GPS mapping, games, etc.)

Some points:

1. Apple has an exclusive deal with AT&T, but that needs to change if Apple expects the iPhone to keep its lead in the smartphone market.

2. No matter which smartphones are delivered to the market, it is probable that the iPhone will retain its current user base and acquire millions of new users since it was the "wow" device that started it all.

3. AT&T needs to update its network. I can't really complain since--I have been an AT&T customer for over 7 years, and I can count--on one hand--the number of dropped calls I've had.

[edited by: celgins at 9:10 pm (utc) on Dec. 27, 2009]