iPhone in Australia
Is it the great phone revolution of all time? Fuck no.
I was trying my best to avoid discussing the iPhone. Why? Because people are excited about the iPhone (officially) hitting our shores for all the wrong reasons. But I was prompted this morning by a great post (read: rant) about the marketing hype (read: inane fanboyism) surrounding the iPhone launch in Australia.
Scott makes the point that this is just another piece of consumer electronics than we (me included) will purchase just for it to be replaced in the future – so why bother with all the fuss?
Quick facts about the iPhone:
- The iPhone will be released in Australia on July 11
- Yes, it’s 3G
- No, you can’t send MMS
At first, I retorted with a lengthy commented but then couldn’t hold it any longer. My main points were:
Agreed, there will never be-all and end-all phone – we need to stop looking for these God tools whether they be phones, browers, OS etc. Because once we’re there, that’s where the progress stops.
it’s NOT a revolution, but like the rest of the world I’m bored and if this keeps me entertained for a little longer, then why not ;)
Should you buy an iPhone? Sure, if you’re in to touch screens, wifi, multi-media and email. Get educated with with sites like the CNET.com.au iPhone Launch Centre.
I will be – I’ve just bought a MacBook and currently weild a Nokia e61i, and but if the iPhone wasn’t abou to land in Australia, I’d probably be picking up a BlackBerry Bold or something similar. I want to buy it outright, which means the carriers and Apple themselves will need some solid deals. I want better data packages, and more email as Asia has shown us that this is probably the way of the future.
But again, don’t take it from me. Make your own mind up.
Also of interest:
About Jye
Jye Smith is currently the Digital Strategist for Weber Shandwick Australia. Ranked in B&Ts 30 Under 30, he's a regular keynote speaker and workshop facilitator who specialises in digital strategy, social media marketing, and change management.
