Daniel Packman <pack@shell.dim.com> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>> Oxford <colalovesmacs@mac.com> wrote

>>> The cell industry is incredibly weak in comparison to the computer
>>> industry. They haven't had any serious competition in decades.

>> Corse they have.

> Competition among current phone makers and
> phone companies has been strong for some time.

And leaves the minimal competition in the computer industry for dead too.

> The iphone promises through a combination of features, design,
> and marketing to fundamentally change the cell phone landscape.

Nope, there's plenty with the same approach
now, even the lack of any real keys.

> The parallels to Apple's entrance into the mobile music market are striking.

The differences are striking too. Virtually everyone already has a phone,
many already have phones which are also media players and cameras.

It was quite different when the ipod showed up, most didnt have a media player then.

> And their current success with the ipod gives them leverage in this new market.

But the market is very different when you need a telco too and
when they have chosen to operate exclusively with just one of the
networks, and that doesnt have adequate coverage for some.

And then there's the phone plans on offer too. That isnt something that was
relevant with the ipod, you could just dump your CDs into if it you wanted to.

> They might dominate this new market.

I doubt they'll even dominate the high end phone market
and they certainly wont dominate the low end.

> But in any case, it seems likely that the cell phone business will be changed.

Nope, there are plenty of high end phone that can do what the
iphone does. And much more too, particularly run 3rd party apps.