[Quoth_the_Raven]

Let's be honest here, the keyboards on the existing Smartphones are atrocious. They're absolute crap for larger hands. So, somehow I don't think Apple's solution is going to be worse than any of these. People have been pressing keys forever. They're used to it. Doesn't mean it's the best or the only way to do things.

[MacTechAspen]

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Apple's iPhone doesn't support ... true SSL...
Apple doesn't have ... calendar, contacts and e-mail synchronization (at least not yet). No remote wipe. No real security/encryption.

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You may be 100% correct, but how do you know?
It seems premature to speculate that the iPhone has no email, contact or calendar synchronization when these things exist in OS X now (via LDAP much less Sync and .mac). Syncing Calendars now is a pain, but it does work with Google's Calendar offering, and we have been promised a much more robust iCal in the near future.
The next generation Finder is going to make cross network file sharing easier than it ever has, who knows what role the iPhone may play in this?
Apple claims that there is a full version of OS X and Safari on the iPhone, so why wouldn't it support SSL?
Odd for an experienced IT Pro to make such statements. And for what it is worth, my experience in supporting Apple hardware and software for 23 years has been far from a nightmare. If anything, my only complaint is that I am starving to death because there simply are not enough issues to keep me busy.
I am not saying the iPhone is going to be useful in the enterprise environment, I am saying it is too early to tell, much less to make such blanket pronouncements.

[montgomery_burns]

Mac users go out of their way to say that Apple is a consumer company, Macs are for artists and musicians, and not for corporate suits, etc. So why should they get upset when corporations and IT departments decide to avoid the iPhone? Make up your minds!

[lemecdutex]

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Mac users go out of their way to say that Apple is a consumer company, Macs are for artists and musicians, and not for corporate suits, etc. So why should they get upset when corporations and IT departments decide to avoid the iPhone? Make up your minds!

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That's a silly statement. There's no monolithic statement coming out of mac users. LOTS of mac users are in corporate and business environments. I've never personally heard one person say what you're saying, though I'm sure it's happened, but I wouldn't dream of making such a blanket statement as you're making.

[hillstones]

I love the comment...this iPhone won't be useful for businesses or consumers. Who else is there? I don't think a company creates a device for nobody. Could you imagine that roundtable discussion....who will we market this to....no one....great, let's do it! Introducing the iPhone for...no one!
I don't think the iPhone will be successful because it won't drive my car, cook my dinner, or do my laundry either. How dare they make something that doesn't do everything in the world.
What a bunch of morons. For those that need the features offered in the iPhone, it will be very successful, especially after a few revisions and the prices drop. The iPod Photo (originally at $599) was a flop, until they cut the price a few hundred dollars.

[kill953]

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Apple doesn't have something nearly as sophisticated as Exchange. No calendar, contacts and e-mail synchronization (at least not yet). No remote wipe. No real security/encryption.
As IT admins we must deploy what works and what is secure. Right now a $300 windows mobile smart phone fits the bill for security, availability and confidentiality. The good old CIA CISSP triad is supported in Windows Mobile 5.0. OS X iPhone doesn't support the needs of the enterprise.

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Yeah, right - how many extraordinarily unsecured Windows XP laptops are issued by IT admins to employees at corporations every day, without encryption and without any means of remotely wiping them - most don't even require a strong password to be used? Thousands. I know because I use one. God forbid it ever gets stolen from me given how much confidential information could be garnered from it within minutes.
IT admins deploying what works and what is secure... I think not.

[Nobody]

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to read objective opinions and discussion on all things Apple related. It seems like I have to wade through tons of fanboy comments (that amount to "Apple rulez you morons!") to find any real substance. Honestly, it's a put-off to the Apple platform to me because no matter how good the platform might actually be, no one wants to feel like they're joining a group of mindless groupies.
Why can't the iPhone stand or fall on its own merits or lack thereof? I don't want to just hear it 'rulez'. I want real information and comparisons of capabilities to the competition. Beyond "iTunes" (which I couldn't care less about seeing as I still buy albums on CD, not compressed formats), what makes iPhone better than the smart phone offerings out there, some of which cost considerably less, have 3rd party apps and business features and yet can STILL play music and the like.
I tried out a smart phone a couple of months ago from Cingular/AT&T and ended up returning it before my 30 days were up because of the following reasons:
-OS on phone was SLOW (took forever to switch between apps and menus)
-Cingular's Edge was DOG SLOW (akin to dial-up to someone that is used to 5Mbit connections) and it had no Wi-Fi option.
-Overall cost of running the phone on a year basis was akin to around $1000.
I realized after a few years, I could buy a brand furniture grade billiards table or a Mac Pro or any other number of things instead if I just got a regular pre-paid phone (I don't use the phone features that much; mostly I wanted remote Internet access and possibly GPS/map features). So I got a pre-paid phone instead (costs me ~$100 a year, more or less to operate, give or take depending on exact number of minutes used) and then bought a Garmin Street Navigator 550c for a one-time $460 cost, which gives me all the GPS navigation options I could possibly want and is MUCH easier to use and navigate with than any GPS phone could be.
So for less than HALF of what the first year would have cost me alone, I have a BETTER phone and navigation combination than the smart phone could offer me. Given how SLOW it was surfing the Net, I figured I'm better off just waiting until I got home and then surfing at just under the speed of light by comparison and using all the money I'll save over the next couple of years to buy brand new computer hardware instead of being stuck with the same SLOW phone that's just mind-numbing to try and get anything done on the Net with.
Now what could iPhone POSSIBLY offer me as a consumer at a cost of $500-600 PLUS $1000 plus a year to operate that would make it worthwhile? I can think of NOTHING. I've got a Sony Mini-disc recording/portable player I had/bought 6 years ago when I used to have a job that neccesitated it to stave away boredome and my MD collection still works fine for the music I listen to the most (I don't exactly buy new songs every day or keep up with pop culture anymore) and the net cost of running that MD system now? Zero. I just reuse the system of discs I already have, etc. Maybe it's not as slick or convenient as iTunes, but it's a zero-cost operation (beyond the albums I already own or buy anyway for home use in uncompressed formats).
I've got navigation and phone already covered with cheap and better (for me) economic solutions.
So the ONLY thing iPhone could tempt me with is INTERNET access while I'm out of the house. That COULD be tempting and if I were going to buy one anyway and you could do iPHone on pre-pay for phone usage, I could ditch my AT&T prepaid phone as well (although I'm not NEARLY afraid of dropping it as I would be something expensive like iPhone), but I see two problems here:
1> iPhone for the time-being at least will undoubtedly REQUIRE a data-plan AND a regular rate plan from AT&T. Thus, goodbye pre-paid phone operation AND hello expensive data-rate plan. Thus my $100 a year phone bill suddenly balloons back into that ridiculous $1000 figure again which people should NOT overlook (I've seen daily cappucino examples given on a DAILY rate, but if you drink THAT much cappucino, you SHOULD buy your own machine as it will eventually pay for itself; (again, an example of a fan-boy reply trying to play sleight of hand versus actual figures and substance of money management. $1000 a YEAR is not something to sneeze at if you can save it for something you actually NEED).

So IF the iPhone was offered in a format where I could get an AT&T prepaid phone plan and use it ONLY for Wi-Fi (i.e. no data plan what-so-ever), suddenly it could be attractive. My $500-600 initial cost is offset by the fact I'm not continually paying into this phone (after 4 years, it's cost you what? $4600?!?!? Do you realize you could have had an 8-core Mac Pro instead plus a pre-paid phone instead as just one example?)

You see, that's how the cell phone people fool you into getting expensive plans. They talk about monthly and daily charges, not yearly, at which point you might just think you had something better to do with all that money versus actual usefulness. Some people actually NEED that level of service. Others only pretend they do in today's world.

2> Let's talk about the Internet capabilties of the phone. Apple has purposely and deviously LIMITED what this device can do. No flash. Do you realize what that means to viewing most of the Internet in today's world? THINK ABOUT IT. This phone isn't going to be able to view SQUAT on the Internet. I learned from that Smart Phone just how frustrating it was to try and look at full-size web pages on such a small display, let alone the fact I was trying to LOAD them on AT&T's data service is that isn't much faster than a 56k modem! USELESS is what I concluded except for small/fast services such as checking the weather forecast, etc. on sites designed for small phone displays. That's a limited narrow NICHE, not the full Internet and Apple purposely leaving plugins out of the phone so they can try and leverage the iPhone to PUSH Quicktime onto the world is cheating the customer, IMO. Maybe I WANT to view the full Internet TODAY not wait and hope Quicktime will someday displace Flash. I can easily get flash for Linux, for example. I can't so easily get Quicktime for Linux. I'm also afraid longterm replacing Bill Gates with Steve Jobs won't amount to much difference in terms of open standards, for example. Both would LIKE monopolies. The iPhone proves Apple isn't serious about supporting the user's needs (locked to one company and purposely limiting standards). I won't even point out the obvious 3rd party application thing since my needs don't entail that. I'm just looking at INTERNET use.

So what it all comes down to is the iPhone is an iPod with some Internet service and a phone and some other basic utilities that will cost you $1500 the first year and around $1000 each additional year to operate (not even counting iTunes purchases). I could compare this against my total cable/phone/internet bundle on digital cable, almost. If I had to choose between the two, it's no contest for me. Watching HDTV on an LCD projector at 720P with a 93" screen (which I have downstairs) is WAY better than watching an iTunes South Park episode on a 3.5" screen on a phone where I have to even download the episode first at 56k dial-up speeds.
Now get me comparable $ to function ratios and I'd give iPhone some real consideration. The ability to use it on-the-go is a very subjective thing. I don't generally watch TV at work, etc., but I do watch it at home and that only adds up MORE to the home option, as one example.
OTOH, I clearly don't represent the general public. Cell phones are much more popular and used much more widely than I use them (I find it annoying to hear ringtones at the movie theater, etc. so I put together my OWN movie theater instead and let my answering service screen my calls while I enjoy Star Wars in 6.1 sound on a monster screen).
But to me, jumping blindly on teh band-wagon makes no sense. I like to consider my limited financial options and get the most bang for my buck.

[goldenbear]

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Mac users go out of their way to say that Apple is a consumer company, Macs are for artists and musicians, and not for corporate suits, etc. So why should they get upset when corporations and IT departments decide to avoid the iPhone? Make up your minds!

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That's a silly statement. There's no monolithic statement coming out of mac users. LOTS of mac users are in corporate and business environments. I've never personally heard one person say what you're saying, though I'm sure it's happened, but I wouldn't dream of making such a blanket statement as you're making.

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Actually, in my experience, it's been the IT Hacks (the Windows "Experts") that have made those statements.
Btw, I used to work in IT, so I can say "IT Hack" /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[goldenbear]

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I'm finding it increasingly difficult to read objective opinions and discussion on all things Apple related. It seems like I have to wade through tons of fanboy comments (that amount to "Apple rulez you morons!") to find any real substance. Honestly, it's a put-off to the Apple platform to me because no matter how good the platform might actually be, no one wants to feel like they're joining a group of mindless groupies...

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As opposed to the "Windows kicks ass over MACS" and "only mindless groupies use MACS" (all-caps on purpose...)???
There are plenty of fanboys around, and I've found the ones on the Windows side far more hostile and demeaning than the ones on the Mac side.
I am considering the iPhone for the following reasons:
1) I have yet to find a phone that has a decent address book and calling features. I'm currently using a SLVR L7, but the crappy Motorola address book is pathetic and constantly gets on my nerves.
2) Visual Voicemail! Come on now, why hasn't someone come up with something like this until now?
3) I don't have to carry around an iPod, in addition to a phone.
4) Viewing movies on occasion is a nice side benefit. I was recently stuck in a waiting room for 1.5 hours, with nothing to do. I kept thinking how nice it would've been to pull out an iPhone and watch a movie or something.
5) Wi-Fi will hopefully mean I don't have to shell out money for a data plan. I don't need 24/7 email access, so getting my email when near an occasional open wi-fi point is just fine for my needs.
6) Did I mention I hate my cell phone, as well as every other cell phone I've seen to date?
So, will I get one next week? Probably not (although you never know). I really want to avoid getting anything that's version 1.0. However, I will be seriously considering it, and I will most likely get one within a year.

[MacTechAspen]

Woof!
Since this was in reply to me for some reason, allow me to respond.

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I'm finding it increasingly difficult to read objective opinions and discussion on all things Apple related. It seems like I have to wade through tons of fanboy comments (that amount to "Apple rulez you morons!") to find any real substance.

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How you got here from any of my comments, I have no idea. I hope you just hit reply on the nearest posting, because the comment is down right bizarre as a response to my comments.
What I am responding to in your post is the same thing I responded to in every other post. Unsubstantiated, even if entirely true, speculation.

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will cost you $1500+ the first year and around $1000 each additional year to operate

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We do not know what the cost to operate the phone will be. We do know that the cheapest phone and data plan that AT&T currently offers is around $50 a month, so your estimate is inaccurate for the lowest possible end.
There was a recent editorial that postulated that the iPhone would be offered with a reasonable single flat rate plan. This position is supported by Apple's history with pricing.
You spent a lot of time and energy quite rationally explaining why you aren't getting an iPhone. We get it. You don't want one.
What I don't understand about your post, and that of many others, much less the pundits the article cites, is why you go to such great lengths to tell us why the iPhone is not for you personally. If you wrote about every product you don't intend on buying, I dare say you would have time for little else.
Much speculation has been bandied about, some if not all of it may turn out to be accurate, but the truth is that we still don't know. Until we do know, how about a moratorium on idle conjecture?

[Stan_Timek]

Well, where to begin... The iPod is not an enterprise device nor was it built to be "business-friendly." Guess what? The iPod is used by business people and like it or not, many businesses have to deal with that fact.
Also, there are a number of companies that actually GIVE iPods to their employees as gifts/incentives. There are also some companies that use iPods in their business. Here's an example of a possible use, training. Let's take a video iPod, you can place audio files on it to give reps the option of listening to training material (this may have print pieces accompanying it) or you might put training videos on the device for the full sight/sound experience.
Of course this training can be placed on a company server and the employee points their iTunes software to the server and automatically receives new training as it becomes available.
The iPod through third-party software can also have text files and quizzes placed on it - all useful for training.
Now we will have the iPhone. All the things I mentioned above will of course still be possible only the video capability will improve (larger size). You'll be able to hit the company server through Safari for streamed videos and other content. I'm sure you'd be able to place some type of authentication system up front to protect corporate data by having the employee login.
Will the iPhone find its way into business? Yes indeed! And I'm certain it will end up serving some vital purposes while being entertaining and an appreciated perk to the employee who receives it.

Stan Timek
www.pollywogtheater.com
www.HD4AppleTV.com

[ConstableOdo1]

I tend to agree with you. This model is just the first iteration of many. If there is a need to build an enterprise iPhone it surely can be done using OSX.

[rjwill246]

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So what it all comes down to is the iPhone is an iPod with some Internet service and a phone and some other basic utilities that will cost you $1500+ the first year and around $1000 each additional year to operate (not even counting iTunes purchases).
But to me, jumping blindly on teh band-wagon makes no sense. I like to consider my limited financial options and get the most bang for my buck.

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Good bloody grief!! You have taken leaps of faith, or unfaith, chasms of speculation, abysses of non-sequitors and reams of iPaper to conclude what??? That the iPhone might be more expensive than you are willing to pay? Kai-yi-yippee-yai-yo!!!!

[Nobody]

Well, I don't work in an "enterprise" environment, but I still find the advice quite startling. Not so much because I think that the iPhone is the best thing for enterprise users, it probably isn't, at least not right now, but because the advice is so amazingly negative about the device in general with somewhat head in the sand type comments about a device that hasn't even been released yet. And I will of course toss it aside and buy one for my business on day 1. I suspect many other small business owners will do the very same. I've always found that anything that IT people hate is usually a good thing for me, you know, like owning a Mac and avoiding Windows! HAha! Seriously, every time I read any negative story about Apple that has the words "Security", "IT" and/or "Windows", I just cannot stop giggling to myself. I'm prepared to hear many more MS-bought and paid for stories about the iPhone that basically state "not secure", not "MS-compatible", "bad for enterprise markets" or something similar along the lines of "Run for your lives from this thing" because that is what these people principally get paid to do.