Reuters
Apple iPhone winning corporate fans despite flaws By Jim Finkle and
Scott Hillis
Thu Dec 6, 6:02 PM ET
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071206/...ne_business_dc
BOSTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Mike de la Cruz, a senior vice
president with German software giant SAP AG (SAPG.DE), shows off the
latest weapon of the corporate road warrior -- his iPhone.
A hit with consumers because it combines a phone, music player and Web
browser, analysts say Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iPhone is gaining ground as
a business tool as well, and could one day rival Research in Motion
Ltd's (RIM.TO) popular Blackberry line.
Although sought out by high-end consumers, Apple products have never
been accepted widely by business, so major corporate adoption of the
iPhone would be a breakthrough.
"It's fun," de la Cruz said in Boston at an industry conference
earlier this week. "It's so popular."
Indeed, it is popular enough that software makers such as SAP,
Salesforce.com Inc (CRM.N) and scores of smaller developers are
letting sales and finance teams work away from the office on their
iPhones.
On Monday, SAP broke with precedent by saying it would introduce a
version of its upcoming customer relationship management software for
the iPhone before launching versions for mobile devices from RIM and
Palm Inc (PALM.O).
The reason? SAP's own salespeople were clamoring for it, saying the
iPhone was easier to use, according to Bob Stutz, SAP senior vice
president in charge of developing customer relationship management
software.
"This isn't necessarily iPhone deployment by way of the IT department,
but it's by people who really want to use this device and IT is
responding in a really positive way," said Michael Gartenberg, an
analyst with market research firm Jupiter Research.
But analysts said several things need to happen before the iPhone
becomes a serious challenger, the most crucial of which is more
support for corporate e-mail.
Blackberries became an indispensable part of the business world for
their ability to forward e-mail from a corporate network straight to
the phones.
The iPhone's e-mail service can be configured to work with corporate
systems, but it does not "push" the entire message to the device.
Contacts and calendars also cannot be updated over the airwaves, but
require the iPhone to be physically docked with a computer.
Since many businesses use Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Outlook software
for e-mail, contacts and scheduling, Apple would need to license
Microsoft technology that lets mobile phones work with Exchange, the
server software that underpins Outlook.
Apple need only look at its recent past to find a business
justification for working with its long-time rival.
"What really made the iPod take off was when they made it compatible
with Windows. So if they made the iPhone compatible with Windows e-
mail, meaning Outlook, that would really make sales take off," said
Shaw Wu, an analyst with American Technology Research.
E-mail is not the only stumbling block to wider corporate adoption of
the iPhone.
Analysts said some potential business buyers are holding out for a
model that runs on newer cellular technology that enables faster Web
connections. AT&T Inc (T.N), the exclusive U.S. carrier, said last
week it expects that kind of iPhone in 2008.
Moreover, while surveys show more than 90 percent of iPhone users are
happy with the device, several executives have gone on the record,
including at the Reuters Media Summit in New York last week, as saying
it is too vexing to tap out long e-mails on the touch screen.
After a launch late in June, Apple sold 1.12 million iPhones in its
fiscal fourth quarter ended in September. RIM shipped more than 3
million Blackberries in its second fiscal quarter ended September 1.
Most iPhone sales were to non-corporate users, but Apple says the
device is great for business.
"We've said many times that we're providing a solution in iPhone that
many businesses love," Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said in
October. "Clearly, there are some businesses buying them and very much
enjoying them."
An Apple spokeswoman declined to discuss future iPhone plans, saying
only that the company was happy so many software makers were
interested.
Analysts who follow the company speculate it may eventually offer a
model with a keyboard, or use technology that mimics the sensation of
pressing real keys by making the phone vibrate for a split-second when
the screen is touched.
"If they get those pieces together, it would make iPhone a much
stronger competitor," Wu added.
---
Why is the iPhone so popular? Here are hints a few posted on Mobility
Today.
http://mobilitytoday.com/news/008224...orporate_users
RELIABILITY
Yes, the iPhone has its shortfalls but what continues to impress me
about it is its reliability. With all of the traveing I do this phone
has been rock solid. I have not had to reboot it, soft reset it, or
worry about making sure it is backed up. It just plain works.
From a functionality standpoint I am able to do everything I need to
do to conduct business. I have hacked mine to give it more options but
I have also had to tweak the registry in every Windows Mobile device I
have ever owned to get it to perform well, so there really is no
difference.
Could it be better? Absolutely! But until something better comes along
I am going to stick with the iPhone becasue it is reliable
--
BEST TODAY
No matter what... the iPhone seems to be the BEST 1st. generation cell
phone on the market today and nothing comes close to its greatness.
With a few options/features I would buy one now... All I need is
phonealarm for the iphone
Shocking business news: iPhone now winning corporate fans! 
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