[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by haesslich

You know, the people who own RAZRs and other fashion phones don't seem to care much...

You have some good points there. I hear what you're saying. But I'm not entirely convinced of who the target audience is (although I have my ideas) or that they won't care much.

It may very well be as you and others have suggested, but that's going to be an awful lot of money and commitment right out of the gate for the average person just so they can get their hands on this thing. I think when people spend a lot of money on any one device, expectations are much greater.

People aren't used to loading software onto a phone because as you suggest, the majority of phones people are sporting are dumb phones that don't have the capability in the first place. But many, many people are used to ripping, downloading, and uploading songs, photos, and videos to iPods, which this iPhone offers. They'll be using this device as a PIM and an email client, so there will be the uploading and managing of new data sets there. So I don't think the idea of loading software is much of a stretch beyond that. Not to mention, this iPhone and its given feature set are going to free peoples' minds and very possibly increase their desires and expectations yet even more, as a result.

Remarks about this device being marketed to "mom and dad" requires some clarification, as moms and dads come in all ages. But to be more specific, and although there are exceptions to the rule, I don't see this device as receiving a big response from most who are forty and older. Not initially, anyway; later on I think this will change more. Along with that age group, I just don't believe as many people as some think, are going to consider it so crucial to have iPod and internet functionality in their phone that they'll commit to a great cost and a two year contract and an expensive data account and a potential switch to a new service provider they may not even like or be ready to switch to (cancellation fees, anyone?); especially considering that most people own dumber phones that they may already be satisfied with. So for starters, I don't see this iPhone as being marketed to the average person who's currently satisfied with their RAZR or fashion phone; I see this iPhone as being catered to a group somewhere in between the average RAZR owner and us - a group who will have a bit more knowledge and higher expectations from the start (although not quite at our level).

As this iPhone will undoubtedly increase peoples' awareness (including even those who don't own one) of the possibilities and other similar devices such as WM phones (as frequent comparisons will arise), and which I don't think will take long, this could provide yet another opportunity for their expectations to increase. And once they realize that their precious iPhone won't allow for the kind of customization WM allows for the same price, I believe they're going to be disappointed.

I would think the iPhone would evolve in response to this, which is not out of the question considering that this is the most technologically advanced portable device Apple has ever released. They must have realized there's a group of people out there who aren't geek-classified, but whose expectations are increasing beyond that of what a RAZR can fulfill, otherwise, I don't believe Apple would've spared the time and expense of making the iPhone in the first place. So it's conceivable to think that they would adopt that line of reasoning with its evolution, as well.

As technology continues to evolve, becoming more pocketable and affordable, and as a result, more commonplace, larger amounts of people these days are increasingly becoming technologically aware. I don't think the idea of data uploads, customization, and management is as big of a deal for many people as it once was. And this iPhone, with all of its features, will help to prove some of this. Software downloading isn't much of a stretch beyond that. So although this is a great first effort from Apple, I think peoples' expectations will very possibly be greater than we sometimes realize.

But we'll see. If not at first, I believe they will be very soon after people have a chance to use the device for awhile. The honeymoon will end and they'll long for more capability.