Back in 2007, even before I laid my hands on an actual iPhone, I declared that iPhone was the best business phone period!
I made that proclamation based on two things:
- The interaction model or UI
- The software stack
And because of these chops, I knew that we had to get Daylite or some incarnation of it on iPhone. Initially we did it via Sync Services where we got contacts and calendar info on iPhone and subsequently we released Daylite Touch (for which we got a Macworld “Best of Show”).
When the iPhone was released the BlackBerry *may* have had an edge, but I knew that edge would not last long. The main reason for that is iPhone’s software stack. RIM’s software stack pales in comparison and my take is the company will simply not be able to keep up. BlackBerry and Windows Mobile are doomed on the software front. There is hope to some degree for Android, but I think it is doomed too. I’m reserving judgement on the Palm Pre for now (too keep the competitive juices flowing, I’m hoping that the Pre is a big success).
Just as Apple is beating the pants off of Windows/Intel in terms of ease of use, stability, security and more, they will do the same thing in the mobile world. The reason: Apple understands that hardware is only part of the solution and that software is king.
Galen Gruman’s Deathmatch rematch: Blackberry versus iPhone makes an even stronger point of this argument. iPhone is now THE smartphone for business, period. In his July 3rd InfoWorld story, he ends with “the BlackBerry is yesterday’s mobile messenger, way past its prime and heading for retirement. The iPhone is light-years ahead of the BlackBerry on almost every count. RIM should be ashamed.”
With advanced apps like Daylite Touch popping up all over the App Store, and Apple’s steady improvements to the iPhone OS (and the capability to distribute it quickly), RIM’s value proposition is getting weaker and weaker.
To be fair, Galen highlights a few places where the BlackBerry beats the iPhone. The saddest one: “The fourth reason to choose a BlackBerry is because you really don’t want employees to use the Web or apps from a mobile device. If that’s your agenda, the BlackBerry will ensure you succeed.”
Being a Canadian company whose founders are doing some great things such as sponsoring the Perimeter Institute and MakeItSeven, I want RIM to succeed, but their long term odds are not looking good right now. Let’s hope they can pull a rabbit out of the proverbial hat.
Until next time…
AJ
Jeremy Board says:
Well said AJ. I hope your company goes from strength to strength as a result. Daylite is THE productivity software solution for business, period.
Blackberry Chick says:
Isn’t Blackberry the Blackberry of business?
Marketcircle Blog » iPhone not only the BlackBerry of small … | High technology information says:
[...] for retirement. The iPhone is light-years ahead of the BlackBerry on … Continued here: Marketcircle Blog » iPhone not only the BlackBerry of small … var addthis_pub = ”; var addthis_language = ‘en’;var addthis_options = ‘email, favorites, digg, [...]
Ira S says:
Good stuff, AJ. Is there any chance you will develop Daylite Touch for any of the non-iPhone platforms? (In particular Palm Pre?)
Ira
BlackBerry Guy says:
He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.
The Art of War
By Sun Tsu
will d says:
despite having some good points, this has too much of a fanatical rave feel about it
Julian Fisher says:
Daylite Touch loads slowly on the regular iPhone; much faster on the 3GS. I do wish that it wasn’t $50 per year per licence. That makes it kind of expensive after you pay for Daylite licences and support.
Still, s’a good thing.
Ryan says:
@Ira As of now we have no plans to develop for any of the other platforms.
AtlantaRealEstate says:
This is correct!
Rob