RSSWaiting for iPhone: Prospects Look Bright for Indy's Earliest Adopters
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published June 29, 2007, 1:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS - There were at least a handful of folks outside the Apple Store at Keystone at the Crossing Mall in Indianapolis as early as 4 a.m. this morning, before a security crew politely told them to return at 7. They did as they were told, and were met by another handful of reporters from early morning local TV news. Perhaps it was the bright spotlights and the microwave truck that helped it sink in for them: They were present for history...or at least as much history as you could find at the crack of dawn in a mall parking lot.
Supposedly, the Apple Store isn't the only place for early adopters to get an iPhone. Officials with the local AT&T outlet stores here tell me there will be units on hand in Indianapolis stores and throughout the state, after reopening early this evening at 6:00 pm following a dramatic, one-time-only 4:30 pm closing to break out the boxes...if they have any. AT&T salespeople here (especially at the franchise stores) have been telling customers not to pin their hopes on too many units coming in, though their bosses told me there should be plenty of units to go around, at least at the corporate owned stores.
But many of the two dozen people at this morning's Indy Apple Store line - at least the ones without sleeping bags pulled over their heads - seem to enjoy the buzz and excitement, including the fact that the press showed up. Even if there were a half-dozen other locations they could be standing now, or even if the availability of iPhones at those locations was such that they could be assured of getting at least one if they showed up this evening, one gets the impression they'd rather be here.
There is a certain faith among this group that Apple will pull this off. Without exception, everyone we spoke to in line owned an iPod already - most were video iPods purchased "quite a while ago, last year," though the #3 fellow in line was proud to be owning a first-generation iPod and only retiring it today. We saw five MacBook Pros being used by stakeholders in line, and no Windows-based laptops.
When I asked the crowd the softball question, why is it you really want an iPhone, the answers I got were, in a way, quite practical. They have a phone and they have an iPod, I was told by several, and it's inconvenient to lug around two devices.
Four employees from a local video editing studio assumed the #3 - #6 positions in line. The company would have sent just one person, but there's a two-iPhone-per-customer limit, and the shop needs at least five, hopefully eight. The president, CEO, and the other "bigwigs" in the organization will be the first lucky recipients, though they weren't here themselves - "We're just here to be the bodies," said one studio employee.
The studio owner's teenage son wants an iPhone for himself, to replace an old Sony Ericsson - one of the few cell phones I saw in line that appeared more ordinary than my own. They run Macs in-house, they told me, and they need to be able to better integrate their calendar and contacts information between their core systems and their handsets.
One killer function the stakeholders referred to was mapping - being able to pull up Google Maps to reorient themselves in foreign locations, and to locate landmarks and nearby businesses. When I mentioned the iPhone's lack of a GPS system, I couldn't help but notice a few frowns, as if this was the first they'd heard of that omission. But it wasn't enough to shake their faith.
Local realtor Kurt Flock - whose business, incidentally, is profiled on Apple's Web site - was comfortably perched in a portable canvas chair with his MacBook Pro at position #18. His appreciation of Apple is a matter of public record. I asked Flock, if this were a device produced by any other company, with any other logo but Apple's, would he have as much faith in Apple's ability to carry out its goals?
"The reason for buying this is, it's an integration of Apple software and hardware," he responded. "No other company could provide it. It's seamless. It would be impossible for [anyone else] to have core integration of all the software elements. There are phones you could sync with Bluetooth, but if you want to have integration of photos, contacts, calendars, your e-mail, make use of your Safari browser, this is the one device that brings it all together."
Flock's opinion was shared by stakeholder #15 in line. A businesswoman in her late 20s, she told us the very fact that the iPhone doesn't have buttons is an indication to her of Apple's long-term intentions for the product. Typically when a manufacturer adds new functionality to its product line, she said, it adds more buttons. Apple can do this with a firmware upgrade, she believes, meaning it has a reason to continue refreshing its investment in devices it sells today, rather than always keeping its eye on an entirely new form factor six months down the road.
"Expense is not a problem if you're not buying phones every year," she said.
Stakeholder #16 took that a few steps further. Apple, in his view, is a software company. Naturally, he concluded, every innovation Apple makes will work its way through to iTunes. So inevitably, the firmware upgrade process for iPhone will be something every iTunes subscriber can do for themselves.
"Apple learned a lesson with the iPod," Flock pointed out, "by offering a version of iTunes that works with Windows. So this [iPhone] is going to be cross-platform compatible. Clearly it's going to work better with the Apple operating system than it will with some of its functions ported to an antiquated system," he said with a little sneer.
But will Flock be using this same phone four years from now with frequent firmware upgrades, as others in line suggested? No way. "I will buy the new iPhone the minute it comes out. I'm serious. I'll sell iPhone 1.0 and buy iPhone 2.0 the minute it comes out, because the next version will be even more [innovative]." He added he's trusting AT&T when it says it will upgrade its networks, especially for municipal broadband functions and other 3G connectivity, support for which the current iPhone lacks.
Cost is not a problem for Flock, he said, who invested in more Apple stock last January following the MacWorld announcement. He's since earned enough from Apple's rising value to easily pay for this iPhone, if not also the next several.
I told Flock about the analysts BetaNews spoke with back in January, about half of which thought iPhone would be the "game-changer" for the industry, the other half wondering why the 3G connectivity was left out. He thought for a minute about how best to respond, and was very apparently wrestling with the proper words. The Web browsing and Internet access part of it, he finally said, are frankly secondary features for a device that will not, after all, be his principal work platform. In other words, it won't replace his MacBook Pro.
"The higher network speed will happen," he reiterated, "certainly within the term of my two-year contract...This is a transformational technology device, and Apple will keep it ahead of any and all competitors for the foreseeable future." Is there more Apple could have done to make it more of a portable Macintosh? Sure, they could have added a modem for plugging into the laptop, he said, and perhaps a video out port...and maybe voice recognition for speed dialing.
Sure they could. "These things will come," Flock stated with absolute conviction.
I visited the same Apple Store late yesterday to see whether anyone had been planning to pitch a Coleman tent in the parking lot, maybe light up a can of Sterno, heat up some beans, and listen to some iPod. While I didn't meet any campers, I did meet up with 15-year-old Alex Burnett. A proud soccer star for his local team, the Evansville Elite Flame (and also a Lacrosse player for the Mohawks, as his shirt shows), he saved up about $700 since January, when he first saw the iPhone ads, through contributions from his allowance and doing chores around the neighborhood.
Alex isn't a pretentious fellow; sure, he'll show off his new iPhone to his friends just like he showed off his new video iPod last year ($500, again all of it earned). He won't take it to school; he wants to protect it. Yet from talking to him, I could sense there was a pride in having accomplished this goal. Having the iPhone would only be part of the glory; the other part was simply making it this far.
He really needed this, though, he assured me. "I wanted one...forever. The thing that really got me was the commercial about the video, like you're watching Pirates of the Caribbean. Then you go online and pull a map and find the closest seafood place and call them. I thought that was really neat."
So is he going to use this for his business? To find the closest florist, for instance, on his way home? Yea, why not. He also travels between two cities frequently, a little over a hundred miles each way. "Just even to watch a movie when going back and forth on my phone, that'll be awesome."
Three or four years from now, is Alex planning on having $700 or so ready when the next iPhone is released? He just beamed at me, chin set, straight on, as though nothing stood in his way between himself and the next goal.
I waited 3 hours in line for my iphone. I took it home and activated it. I played around with all of the features and I find that I really like it. I love the way it presents mail in full, rich text, and also I love the way you can surf the web and get real websites. I'm not sure why a lot of people see the surfing the internet as slow. I find that the iphone surfs the internet quite fast and I am pleased with the speed. I love the map program and I love all the other features that the iphone has.
I like my iphone much better than my Cinguler/AT&T 8125 phone, which I plan to keep BTW because it has certain features that my iphone doesn't have, but on the whole I'm happy with my purchase and look forward to firmware upgrades from Apple. Also when they made this phone they should have made it so that you could replace the battery, and had at least a SIM card slot. These are the reason's why I am still holding on to my Cingular/AT&T 8125, but besides all of that I think the iphone is a welcome addition to my collection of Apple Products. A 30 gig video ipod, and an 80 gig video ipod.
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|I was..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
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|What a bunch of retards. The iPhone costs more than a PS3...
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|Why I won't be even considering one, even though I'm already a Cingular/AT&T customer:
1) A non-user replaceable battery is a huge, and I mean REALLY huge no-no for electronic gadgets these days. IMHO practically unforgivable. Whatever engineer designed this should be summarily fired.
2) user memory expandability = zilch... NICE...
3) no 3G. Ok, Cingular/AT&T has very *very* limited 3G coverage in the US, that's their fault for that, but in a phone? PLEASE that's a big no no also now. Get with today's tech not last year's!
4) not allowing 3rd party apps to be installed on it, except through using web browser? WTF!?!
5) Exchange support???? does it or doesn't it?
I'll stick with my HTC Wizard (8125), at least I can do all of the above things (except 3g) that the iPhone can and more. I can put a huge SD card in and even change cards for whatever I want to do, replace the battery, play videos, music, compose SMS and MMS messages, take pictures, and even use it as a modem for my laptop or even the GPS/MP3/video touchscreen mini pc in my truck running Centrafuse, and even have my pc connect to it via bluetooth and announce over my stereo when I have incoming calls.
If anything, the HTC Touch will blow this phone out of the water.
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|They should have removed the phone aspect from it and sold it everywhere. Then you'd have a really cool new iPod, cheaper price and a lot more people who could buy it.
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|I'd be very mad if this device outsells/sold the PS3.
By that time I'd believe that Apple has pays off people to purchase their products.
Seriously i wouldnt be surprised if most of the people out there were paid to be thier... i mean to lose a day where you could be making money, to spend money on a phone ... is beyond retarded.
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|No thank you:
1. Flash memory not upgradeable beyond the 4/8 choice.
2. Ditto battery.... maybe possible for tech geeks though.
3. Lousy camera for such a hyped & expensive gadget: 2 megapixel, no zooom & other expected features.
4. Lousy cellular surfing network.
The wi-fi handover--if there's even one--better be seamless, & do pray for wi-fi availability, as those network speeds will grind you to a halt.
Various components are built-in, not easily swappable... if at all.
The model to sustain a gadget like this should be somewhat open w/ easily-swappable/upgradeable components(both hardware & software-wise)... as opposed to proprietary/built-in/just-buy-a-future-more-expensive-model when you run out of capacity and/or need better performance/features.
The more individual comsumers can be involved in tweaking/modding/improving/altering a device, the better chance of a large enthusiast community/ fan base being created. And it's a hedge against potential design/features shortcomings-- rather than risk / be under pressure to hit a quick homerun with a new product.
Apple had better be careful not to teeter over the edge-- they're in mortal danger of becoming known for over-priced/hyped products sorely lacking in some features/performance areas, while to boot too hard-coded/wired, closed-end, & proprietary in nature.
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|And I thought Star Wars fans were retarded. I can't believe these A$$holes are actually camping out in front of the store to buy a frigging phone. The only thing that could get me to camp out in front of a store would be if they were selling Jessica Alba. And even then she better not be more $600. LOL
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|Mmm....Jessica. I'd pay more, so I'd get her. Ha!
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|"Ha!" my a$$, you just havn't thought of the German competition you shall have, just wait... I'll get her! Ha!(x3)
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|A German vs. a German?
Bah! We'll end up killing each other.
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|Dude, that was a seriously unexpected haha. You got me good "And even then she better not be more $600." HAHAHA
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|Zie befel!
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|"They were present for history..."
Excuse me!!!??? History - it's a PHONE people! I wish I could say this was just a MAC thing - but there were people standing in line @ midnight to buy a toy (PS3) or a stupid OS (Win95) - what is wrong with these guys (and gals)??? Have we lost our way that much - are our lives to horrible - that only the desire for things has consumed us?
What will be next when they find out that the hollow feeling that they have inside themselves still has not been filled by their new iPhone?
And for the young woman who said that Apple planned the iPhone without buttons because they can upgrade the phone via firmware. Umm - you can do that with buttons - most phones have some sort of menu interface and navigation keys. Maybe not as "flashy" as the slide my greasy finger prints all over my screen until it's scratched to all heck or I can't read the display any longer - but flexible none the less.
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|Have we lost our way that much - are our lives to horrible - that only the desire for things has consumed us?
Should read:
Are we that far ahead? Are our lives *that* good - That we can afford to take a moment actually enjoy ourselves?
What will be next when they find out that the hollow feeling that they have inside themselves still has not been filled by their new iPhone?
You assume they are buying it to fill a void. Pretty narrow view there. Some people just like gadgets.
...and I thought *I* was the resident cynic....
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|I'm all for gadgets - what geek isn't .
But standing in line at 4am just to get a chance to buy a phone? That's not wanting the latest gadget - that's something else entirely.
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|...in your opinion.
There are numerous reasons why someone would wait for it to go on sale.
The same reasons people wait in line for *anything*.
Perhaps it's a chance to hang out with friends, or they are there because they enjoy being 'one of the first'. There's nothing wrong with that.
The problems you suggest only come into play if that is *all* they live for. What you are doing is generalizing, assuming every single person, who, for whatever reason stands in line for this, as deviant, soulless, and pitiful.
Sure, a few of them might have issues. But the vast majority aren't governed by their desires, it's just 'Fun', 'Neat', or an 'experience'.
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|Most people complaint PS3 priced too high at $600 but people are rushing to go buy the iPhone which priced even higher. The iPhone cost $600 + Activation + 2 years contract ($59 * 24 months). This is a phone/music player plus a web browser.
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|and some little known info: if you choose to return the device within 30days the contract is ended no penatly but you have only 14 days to return the device 15th, its yours to keep. if you choose to return it 20 minutes after you bought it because you didn't pass the credit check through the itunes activation and the plastic is broken 10% restocking fee 49$ or 59$
as mentioned no gps, no 3g net, no mms, no battery replacement, no phone insurance, no multiple sim cards. the phone is quite locked down, even the ipod function wont work until the 2yr agreement is accepted. and if you are a business customer kiss all the monthly discounts goodbye permantly, that includes if you buy another phone on 5 yrs, you have to change ur cell # to get them back, 36$ charge.
enjoy the iphone, ill wait.
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|"and some little known info: if you choose to return the device within 30days the contract is ended no [penalty] but you have only 14 days to return the device 15th, its yours to keep."
That's little known?
That's standard with pretty much any electronic equipment.
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|yes it is little known, as the iphone fans are not aware of most of the limitations of the device im willing to bet 90% of the individuals that purchase it today will not have been aware.
and no, no it is not standard in regards to cell phones. the standard policy is 30 day full return for the service and the device including handsets, smartphones and pdas/blackberrys. the iphone is the only device offered by cingular/at&t with this clause.
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|Visit macrumors.com and educate yourselves with some first hand feedback of early adopters, most of which is glowing. This is not just a phone, it's a convergence of personal productivity, communication, and entertainment technologies. Okay, so someone in this thread here has some sort of gps hooked up to a lap top that broadcasts to a blue tooth headset for a cell phone connecting to the laptop. Try putting all of that crap in your pocket with your Zune. Odds are you have an iPod though. The iPhone is AWESOME and will only get better. Apple knows how to make things that just work.
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|uh, the Zune is not a phone nor is it a pda, it plays movies, music and pictures.
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|You got that right!
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