iphone 4 idea is very clever

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joescrivens

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The inclusion of facetime on the iphone 4 is a very clever tactic from apple. It will mean that people who buy them will be more likely to try and recommend them to their friends as they can only use facetime from iphone to iphone.

as a concept, since it can only be done over wifi it's no different to just a webcam chat, but many people will not see through this.

clever, very clever
 
Hi,

It is a clever idea, although it's been done before with 3 when they launched their brand of video calling handsets which would at the time supposedly revolutionize the way we would all communicate with our mobiles. I can understand the wifi only option with the iPhone as the main contstraint is not the iPhones capabilities as a video calling/conferencing handset, but more about the ability of 3G networks to provide and fast and reliable enough service nationwide in the U.K to make it feasible for people to use the Facetime feature reliably.

Mike.
 
Video > video calls isn't anything new though- 3 has been offering it for the past 5 years, nobody used it. Now its iphone > iphone on wireless only- I still can't see anybody using it. With data caps on almost all networks now- I can't see them pushing video over 3G.
 
aligibbs said:
Video > video calls isn't anything new though- 3 has been offering it for the past 5 years, nobody used it. Now its iphone > iphone on wireless only- I still can't see anybody using it. With data caps on almost all networks now- I can't see them pushing video over 3G.
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i didn't say it was anything new. But for a lot of people who buy them they'll just fall into the trap - like I said, clever.
 
joescrivens said:
lol, I think facetime is a crap feature, until it goes to full 3g use, whats the point, both people have to be under wifi, why not just use a webcam
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Yup, especially when the 3 windows mobile phones I've got have been able to do face-to-face video calling for like the last 4 years over 3G. :)
 
Don't see the point of it at all, how many people acutally use their mobile to call people now adays? I used to use it loads in the past but now with SMS, WhatsApp, Blackberry messenger, Facebook etc i'm sure the amount a phone is actually used as a phone has dropped in the last few years. Video calling is even more pointless.
 
swordjo said:
Don't see the point of it at all, how many people acutally use their mobile to call people now adays? I used to use it loads in the past but now with SMS, WhatsApp, Blackberry messenger, Facebook etc i'm sure the amount a phone is actually used as a phone has dropped in the last few years. Video calling is even more pointless.
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Lol, was that a serious question?

I'm sure it's lots
 
aligibbs said:
Video > video calls isn't anything new though- 3 has been offering it for the past 5 years, nobody used it. Now its iphone > iphone on wireless only- I still can't see anybody using it. With data caps on almost all networks now- I can't see them pushing video over 3G.
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I worked for 3 building the network - Video calling has actually been offered since 03/03/2003 and was available before that. I agree though, it was supposed to revolutionise the way people used phones and we got all the hype - but few use that feature really. Useful for some but not for the masses.
 
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of calls every day on UK networks alone - i still work in telecoms and it's HUGE business.
 
joescrivens said:
The inclusion of facetime on the iphone 4 is a very clever tactic from apple. It will mean that people who buy them will be more likely to try and recommend them to their friends as they can only use facetime from iphone to iphone.

as a concept, since it can only be done over wifi it's no different to just a webcam chat, but many people will not see through this.

clever, very clever
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Kind of like what is happening with a group of my friends and Blackberry Messenger...
 
Craikeybaby said:
Kind of like what is happening with a group of my friends and Blackberry Messenger...
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i think that will happen to a lesser extent though, the messenger you mention is probably more useful than facetime but it doesn't have the wow factor, that people who havent thought about it hard enough will have with facetime
 
joescrivens said:
i think that will happen to a lesser extent though, the messenger you mention is probably more useful than facetime but it doesn't have the wow factor, that people who havent thought about it hard enough will have with facetime
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The Wow factor in video calling soons wears off once you realise after 30 seconds that you can't do all the normal things you would do while your on the phone, no more watching TV or cooking dinner or getting changed or the millions of other things we do whilst on the phone. Video calling is not what people want it's been tried before and failed and will in all likely good do so again, it simply isn't compatible with modern lifestyles.
 
a1ex2001 said:
The Wow factor in video calling soons wears off once you realise after 30 seconds that you can't do all the normal things you would do while your on the phone, no more watching TV or cooking dinner or getting changed or the millions of other things we do whilst on the phone. Video calling is not what people want it's been tried before and failed and will in all likely good do so again, it simply isn't compatible with modern lifestyles.
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I have no doubt the novelty will wear off, the wow factor is in seeing that you can have it to begin with.
 
You're easy to impress.....'very clever' is hardly an appropriate adjective for the sort of brand lock-in every technology business under the sun has been engaging in for decades.

It'll shift a few units, but it's nothing new, most people have been there, done that, and realised they don't really want/need to see people when they are talking on the phone.
 
mid_gen said:
You're easy to impress.....'very clever' is hardly an appropriate adjective for the sort of brand lock-in every technology business under the sun has been engaging in for decades.

It'll shift a few units, but it's nothing new, most people have been there, done that, and realised they don't really want/need to see people when they are talking on the phone.
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have to disagree, but we'll see ;)
 
joescrivens said:
have to disagree, but we'll see ;)
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Have you ever owned a phone that's capable of video calling?

Like I said, I've got 3 windows mobile phones that have been able to do it for 4 years already, and it works very well. I used it once with the wife to give it a test when we first got 'em, haven't used it since.
 
joescrivens said:
I have no doubt the novelty will wear off, the wow factor is in seeing that you can have it to begin with.
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You wow factor looses it's apeal somewhat when you remember that 90% of the people who are going to buy one of these have been using products like MSN which offers video chat for years and next to nobody uses it. People don't want video chat and I'd be very very surprised if the festure contributes to sales in a significant way.

As for it being clever marketing, it's hardly novel for Apple to make a huge fuss out of a feature that should have been in the first generation iPhone it is standard marketing practice for them. I'm not an apple basher it is just rather amusing how they spoon feed things and people lap it up like it's a revolution when in reality the only thing about the iPhone that has ever been revolutionary is the interface which is what they should be concentrating on.
 
Kaouthia said:
Have you ever owned a phone that's capable of video calling?

Like I said, I've got 3 windows mobile phones that have been able to do it for 4 years already, and it works very well. I used it once with the wife to give it a test when we first got 'em, haven't used it since.
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not sure what you mean, I'm under the opinion that it won't be used either, as stated in the posts above. Your experience is exactly what I suggested would happen also
 
You quoted...

mid_gen said:
It'll shift a few units, but it's nothing new, most people have been there, done that, and realised they don't really want/need to see people when they are talking on the phone.
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Then said...

joescrivens said:
have to disagree
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So, I don't know how you're confused. :)
 
a1ex2001 said:
As for it being clever marketing, it's hardly novel for Apple to make a huge fuss out of a feature that should have been in the first generation iPhone it is standard marketing practice for them. I'm not an apple basher it is just rather amusing how they spoon feed things and people lap it up like it's a revolution when in reality the only thing about the iPhone that has ever been revolutionary is the interface which is what they should be concentrating on.
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Hardly, how many phones have had video calling as a first generation feature? There are many features they have made big deals about that should have been in first generation but video calling isn't one of them
 
Kaouthia said:
You quoted...



Then said...



So, I don't know how you're confused. :)
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not confused, I disagree that the feature will only help shift a few units. Not that it itself is something people actually want. People get caught up in the fad then it's afterwards they realise they don't want it. Look at furbys, they sold like hotcakes when they first came out, yet when was the last time you saw one?
 
I'm more interested in the solar tech which they have applied a patent for, that is something handy.

I maybe took abit for with people not using their phone to call people but there must have been a drop in the last few years. Fair enough the number of phones may have risen but the ratio of phone to calls can't be as big business as it was.:thinking:

Extended battery life and thinner tech is something I look forward to, not having to look at my missus mush on the phone. I see enough as it it :lol:
 
Personally I can't see it having any effect, other than iPhone users that bought into them with the 2g getting all excited about it.

iPhone user will go on to their friends about it and say they should get one so they can communicate, the friend will probably just point out they have video calling too which connects with all their friends but the iPhone user... Why get an iPhone and limit the choice of people to talk to? Especially when they have used it once... :p

I've always had the same stance on it too, when the 2g, 3g and 3GS were released without video calling and people said it was a missing feature, i've always asked them how often they have used it. In fact there are a few smartphones that have actually ditched the front facing camera in the last 6 months to year because no one uses it.
 
Amp34 said:
Personally I can't see it having any effect, other than iPhone users that bought into them with the 2g getting all excited about it.

iPhone user will go on to their friends about it and say they should get one so they can communicate, the friend will probably just point out they have video calling too which connects with all their friends but the iPhone user... Why get an iPhone and limit the choice of people to talk to? Especially when they have used it once... :p

I've always had the same stance on it too, when the 2g, 3g and 3GS were released without video calling and people said it was a missing feature, i've always asked them how often they have used it. In fact there are a few smartphones that have actually ditched the front facing camera in the last 6 months to year because no one uses it.
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well, I guess we wont ever know since they'll be no way of testing it but you'd be surprised how many people see a feature rebranded like this and fall for it again. I've seen it happen to people I know with other products.
 
joescrivens said:
Hardly, how many phones have had video calling as a first generation feature? There are many features they have made big deals about that should have been in first generation but video calling isn't one of them
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At the time of the iPhone release there were a significant number of handsets in the same market segment on the market with video calling. The fact that these were from established makes is irelevant it was yet another feature in the list that apple didn't include but then adds with a massive fanfare.

For me video calling is a use once and disgard feature which I think it will be for the majority of users. Everyone will make one call for about 30 seconds to a friend in the same room go 'ooh' and then never use it again!
 
a1ex2001 said:
At the time of the iPhone release there were a significant number of handsets in the same market segment on the market with video calling. The fact that these were from established makes is irelevant it was yet another feature in the list that apple didn't include but then adds with a massive fanfare.

For me video calling is a use once and disgard feature which I think it will be for the majority of users. Everyone will make one call for about 30 seconds to a friend in the same room go 'ooh' and then never use it again!
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But is it a first generation feature? How many of those phones had it in their first generation?

Also, I've said that fad will happen many times, but it doesn't stop people thinking they want it with all the fanfare etc apple put behind it - this is totally my point and whats clever about the marketting.

perhaps the title of this thread should read : Apples marketting of an idea is very clever
 
What do you mean by first generation?

Apple are about the only company that actually do "generations". The first generation of the phones mentioned in this thread would have probably been released in 1995, so probably not... :p
 
Amp34 said:
What do you mean by first generation?

Apple are about the only company that actually do "generations". The first generation of the phones mentioned in this thread would have probably been released in 1995, so probably not... :p
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exactly! :nuts:
 
joescrivens said:
exactly! :nuts:
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That simply makes no sense, generations is irrelevant thats like saying I can bring out a 1mp digital camera with about 2 iso settings and saying that is a good spec because it is my first generation while ignoring what else is in the market. When the first generation iPhone was released video calling was available on comparable handsets as was 3G, video, flash and reasonable cameras. Apple has then trickle fed these features as major upgrades, some of which has been clever because it was features people really wanted 3G and cameras being the biggest. Video is not a feature people want so this is not a clever re-hashing of the same tired apple marketing ploy.
 
a1ex2001 said:
That simply makes no sense, generations is irrelevant thats like saying I can bring out a 1mp digital camera with about 2 iso settings and saying that is a good spec because it is my first generation while ignoring what else is in the market. When the first generation iPhone was released video calling was available on comparable handsets as was 3G, video, flash and reasonable cameras. Apple has then trickle fed these features as major upgrades, some of which has been clever because it was features people really wanted 3G and cameras being the biggest. Video is not a feature people want so this is not a clever re-hashing of the same tired apple marketing ploy.
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but thats where you are wrong. Apple are notorious for rehashing something to make it seem like something people want. The ipod shuffle with the speaking track was a perfect example. When this came out loads of people thought it was awesome, then realized afterwards its pretty pointless
 
joescrivens said:
exactly! :nuts:
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Not really, if that was the case then Apple could have released their phone with a 200x300 px greyscale screen and the upgrade to colour screen on the "4GS" could be seen as revolutionary.:lol:

Actually, best comparison really is the new Dell phones that are out (if you call the Streak a phone) or coming out shortly. They have front facing cameras and they are first generation Dell phones.;)
 
joescrivens said:
perhaps the title of this thread should read : Apples marketting of an idea is very clever
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Effective? Yes....Cynical? Yes. But not clever. People have been selling over-priced shiny things to people who have money to spend for generations.
 
Amp34 said:
Not really, if that was the case then Apple could have released their phone with a 200x300 px greyscale screen and the upgrade to colour screen on the "4GS" could be seen as revolutionary.:lol:

Actually, best comparison really is the new Dell phones that are out (if you call the Streak a phone) or coming out shortly. They have front facing cameras and they are first generation Dell phones.;)
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hmmmm, I was pretty sure I put a silly smiley face after my post, but maybe not, let me go back and check


....


nope I did!
 
their marketing for this phone is very good, apart from the front facing camera and an improved screen (over the pretty bad 3gs screen by todays standards), its pretty much the same as the 3gs yet each bit has been "hyped" as something new and much better when in reality its just been polished a bit in software which they will withould from the 3gs... which really goes against their idea of operating systems....

which is not a whole lot different to last year tbh with the 3gs... yet people lap them up, brilliant marketing and business model.
 
joescrivens said:
The inclusion of facetime on the iphone 4 is a very clever tactic from apple. It will mean that people who buy them will be more likely to try and recommend them to their friends as they can only use facetime from iphone to iphone.

as a concept, since it can only be done over wifi it's no different to just a webcam chat, but many people will not see through this.

clever, very clever
Click to expand...


I think it was a very very clever idea when Microsoft invented the taskbar, Edison invented the lightbulb and when God invented the moon.

Ps. Apple could release a turd and hordes of Apple fans would call it revolutionary.
 
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