iPhone, iPhone, iPhone - Why American's Love It

Are you familiar with Apple's iPhone?  The iPhone is ushering in an era of power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what American's (and global consumers) can do on a mobile phone. 
American marketers are making tremendous efforts to adopt to this new system and here is why your business should care about it.....

SUMMARIZING THE iPHONE
The iPhone combines three products into one small and lightweight hand held device:

1. A revolutionary mobile phone
2. A widescreen iPod with touch controls
3. A breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching

iPhone also introduced an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting customers control everything with just your fingers.
THE iPHONE SENSATION IN AMERICA
Apple first introduced the "iPhone" in June of 2007.  At approximately $500, it was one of the highest priced "phones" on the market, the chief complaint of consumers who did not purchase it.
In June of 2008, Apple released the second generation of the iPhone called the "iPhone 3G" and it supported faster 3G data speeds and Assisted GPS.  It was also far cheaper, allowing more consumers and businesses to afford one.
With the second generation of iPhone 3G, Apple introduced the iPhone Enterprise which menas corporations now can use the device to connect with Microsoft's Exchange server for communications and calendaring.  This is a huge leap for Apple and businesses who traditionally haven't mixed.  Watch out RIM and Windows Mobile.
SO WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
The adoption rate of the iPhone is unlike anything experienced in recent history.

• 8 million units of the original iPhone were sold in the U.S. according to the Entertainment Software Association in that first 6 months. 
• The iPhone was named Time magazine's Invention of the Year in 2007.
• Apple confirmed that it sold 1 million units of the iPhone 3G in it's first month.  
• Morgan Stanley analysts think sales of Apple's iPhone could double in 2009.  
• Consumer demand could lead to 27 million iPhones sold in 2009 according to Reuters.

I briefly owned an original iPhone and I have to tell you that it is absolutely amazing and it completely transformed my Web browsing and communication experience.  Unfortunately I had to give it up because of AT&T's terrible service coverage here in Charlotte, NC.  I was personally dropping about every other phone call and that can't happen in my profession.  Sadly, AT&T is the exclusive provider of service for the iPhone in the USA.  These are my personal opinions and not necessarily those of AmeriStart.

THE MAD RUSH IS ON
Here is where it affects you when you are doing business in America....
The mad rush is on for everyone from software developers to financial institutions, to ebay, Amazon and everyone in between are making significant investments to support the device.  Marketing professionals are taking into consideration on how to completely support the web browsing, emailing and text messaging capabilities of the iPhones.
Whether you know it or not, the iPhone is transforming how many of the millions upon millions of users are going to be experiencing your:

• Web site
• Email communications
• Text messages
• Landing Pages
• Micro sites

Here is an interesting point. The iPhone does not currently support the nearly ubiquitous Flash platform, meaning that if you use flash in any of your interactive marketing strategies, it will be missed by the iPhone users.  So how will you handle that situation?
THE BOTTOM LINE
The next time you think about your interactive marketing strategies in the US, think about how the iPhone impacts your efforts...