Simon found an interesting article about how SAP is releasing the next mobile version of their business management software for the iPhone before they do so for the BlackBerry.
You can read the article over on Reuters, and it is true, SAP software for the iPhone will be available a few weeks before it will be for the BlackBerry and other mobile devices, like the Treo. Maybe I am just being short sighted, however, I still just don’t see the iPhone as we know it as a serious business platform.
I have to wonder if SAP is just catching some of the Buzz surrounding the iPhone by creating a portal optimized for the Safari Browser found on the iPhone and making a big announcement about it. If that was the plan, it is definitely working.
Robb,
Remember the iPhone being a handheld computer does have these abilities. Whats kinda cool is in the short time iPhone is growing up, it’s made it’s way into both the consumer market which it owns, and we see more and more proof of the iPhone making more and more impact as a serious business platform. The iPhone’s been announced for a year now and none of the top tier device makers have any worthy competition for it. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118522895574475451.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo
“The iPhone has become such a popular thing,” said Bob Stutz, a SAP senior vice president who is responsible for developing customer relationship management software. “Everybody wants the ease of use of the iPhone.”
“Stutz said SAP decided to introduce the iPhone software ahead of programs for other devices at the request of its sales people, saying they prefer using iPhones to the other devices.”
Blackberry to iPhone:
http://homepage.mac.com/planetpm/bti/index.html
I agree with hellno: what makes the iPhone so ingenius is that Apple has gotten people to buy into a truly handheld computer under the guise of a cell phone. So while other manufacturers have been trying to sell the public on super small portable computers, Apple just did the end run and used the object that everyone knows, namely the cell phone.
The iPhone’s power and ease of use are indeed a compelling draw. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: many, many button-downed business types are drawn to the iPhone, and would gladly use the iPhone if their IT depts allowed that.
Now BB’s are not going away any time in the near future; but the iPhone definitely can make some inroads into the enterprise segment.