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Dec 13, 07 - 02:46 pm Comment from: JAYGEE

Let the slagging off commence!

Dec 13, 07 - 02:47 pm Comment from: deepdish

Simple.

Most corporate IT personal and CIOs are MSCE nazis and hate anything not blessed by their M$ gods.

Dec 13, 07 - 02:47 pm Comment from: Mo

Forester sounds more and more like a ZDNet blog these days.

Dec 13, 07 - 02:49 pm Comment from: JadisOne

I wonder how much Microsoft paid for this "research" to be produced?

Dec 13, 07 - 02:50 pm Comment from: deepdish

To be fair, a lot of those complaints he listed are legitimate complaints.

Dec 13, 07 - 02:51 pm Comment from: Macromancer

11. Ignorant, lazy and lacking vision. Or is that 11,12 and 13?

Dec 13, 07 - 02:54 pm Comment from: Too Hot!

The complaints about the exclusivity of carriers and the lack of keyboard are there to just even the list out at 10 points. With the exception of the non-removable battery, the other complaints are fixable with software updates.

It's already in the corporate world starting right where it was developed, Apple Inc. And many corporate execs are buying them from other companies already. I'm afraid the IT departments are just going to have to support the iPhone whether they like it or not.

Dec 13, 07 - 03:05 pm Comment from: iamdj

What kills me about these types of articles is that they assume Apple hasn't or isn't thinking about how to better accommodate IT professionals and business.

Like Steve Jobs is reading this article and smacking his forehead.

#4 is the only one that matters.

-jcr

Jeez, how much did Microsoft pay Forrester for that?

Most of this is crap, and most of it has been answered before. But i particularly enjoyed (5). Now where have we heard that before?

"$500! Fully subsidized! With a plan! I said that is the most expensive phone in the world. And it doesn’t appeal to business customers because it doesn’t have a keyboard which makes it not a very good email machine."

http://daringfireball.net/2007/05/iphones_funny_price

No, it isn't the most expensive phone - the crappy Motorola Q actually costs more - and, no, it doesn't matter that it hasn't got a keyboard, because it has something better - multitouch.

I suppose Monkey Boy, and Monkey Boy's stooges, will keep repeating this one until they finally have a device that doesn't need a keyboard.

The iPhone is not an enterprise device for the sole reasons that it does not integrate with Exchange (yech!) and it is not end-to-end encrypted. With all the regulation out there, the latter of the two is an absolute must. Once Good or RIM extend their Exchange integration systems to the iPhone (or Apple does it - PLEASE!) then iPhone will be an enterprise device. I expect to replace my crappy brand new blackberry (horrible interface, horrible!) summer 2008 once the integration is complete. Apple will sell at least 10 million iPhone inside a year in the US following the integration - guaranteed!

This is stupid, as he said himself, it's first generation iPhone, it's a beginning. Next releases will kick ass and will shake IT depts.
IT Depts are the frozen breaks of technology.

Dec 13, 07 - 03:29 pm Comment from: Ampar

Number 9 is either deliberate FUD or laziness. Or both?

http://www.apple.com/batteries/replacements.html

What a lame report! Certainly puts anything else Forrester says into question whey they release junk like this.

I can't believe they are still shopping that "no hard keyboard" and "no replaceable battery" stuff around. What a laugh.

The whole list could be boiled down to:

1 - it's new and expensive
2 - it has limited support for corporate exchange servers

Number 1 is changing all the time, and Apple has all but announced that number 2 will be fixed in January.

Big deal.

It's also kind of misleading, because it says that the article is "10 reasons why corporate IT won't support the device" even though half the reasons they quote are reasons why a *buyer* might not buy it. How the hell does it matter to corporate IT support that the iPhone has a virtual keyboard? The user either likes that or doesn't, it has nothing to do with IT support.

Oh, and by the way, every company is saying that lack of keyboard is a big drawback, yet those same companies are working on multi-touch technologies ????

The MDN take is wrong and misses the point, as corporate IT departments have no reason to fear a consumer device.

Forrester Research has shed light on the legitimate reasons why IT should not support yet another device.

The iPhone will succeed in spite of these reasons, but it doesn't need corporate IT departments in order to sell units.

Rather than getting angry at a pretty reasonable article, it would be far better to focus on the markets Apple is actually targeting to see how successful the iPhone is.

Dec 13, 07 - 03:47 pm Comment from: ken1w

Five of those reasons may (?) have some merit for corporate use in some large-scale deployments. But still...

> Doesn’t accommodate third-party applications, including those internally developed.

In-house "software" these days is often done through a secure employee-only web site. There is no better mobile device for accessing web sites; it can even be the same web sites that employees access on their computers, which means no extra effort for IT to accommodate iPhones (unlike other mobile devices with limited browsers). Plus Apple is releasing the officially approved tools for creating iPhone apps in a few months.

The other five are desperate attempts to make a "top ten" list.

> Lacks a hard keypad that provides feedback.

So I suppose a numeric keypad is better for entering text. Are the fingers of corporate users somehow different from consumer users? Some people may like tiny chicklet keys better, but this surely is not one of the "top ten" reasons why the iPhone will not work in the corporate world.

> Comes with a premium price tag... AT&T;will not sell the iPhone to business accounts

I'll bet Apple will, like it sells Macs to business accounts. There may even be a discount.

> Is only the first generation

Gee. I guess this reason will go away when Apple releases an updated version. What a really stupid "top ten" reason.

> Lacks a removable battery

Not that one again. Surely IT can have a few spare iPhones so that workers can swap out their iPhone if it stops working, for ANY reason, just like they do for laptops. Then they can get the broken iPhone fixed.

> Lacks case studies

Gee. It's really surprising that a device that has been out for six months "lacks case studies." Another non-reason taking up a spot on the list just to make it ten reasons.

If this is the best the paid-off anti-iPhone lobby can come up with for why iPhone should be not used in the corporate world, Apple has got it made. It's very similar to the "why Mac OS X is not secure" articles. When I read those desperate attempts, I never felt MORE secure using a Mac. "We smell fear" is right.

Dec 13, 07 - 03:50 pm Comment from: MikeK

I think there are some valid points in comments 1 through 4. However, 5 through 10 are ridiculous.

Dec 13, 07 - 03:53 pm Comment from: 84 Mac Guy

Three points I'd like to make.

1) This article should have been combined with the Jackass article.

2) Innovation and user friendliness never, ever come from IT, so we should not be surprised.

3) Knowing how the bozos think makes it easier to get around them.

Dec 13, 07 - 03:53 pm Comment from: Mr. Peabody

Who gives a rat's ass about IT supporting the iPhone - Support the Mac!

Dec 13, 07 - 03:55 pm Comment from: Rainer

I agree that the non-existance of any kind of managebility (that includes encryption and remote clearing) is probably a show-stopper for a large-scale roll-out in Fortune 2000 world.
It's probably the only reason why RIM's Blackberry is so successful.
(I wonder what provisions AAPL has against SJ losing his phone and/or MacBook)
Anyway, once these two features are available, the only "line of defence" for any IT-department is the missing AD-integration and the un-happyness of the device with MS-Exchange.
On the other hand, Apple (in the person of Steve Jobs) never claimed that the iPhone was a business-phone. At least to the best of my knowledge.
So they never delivered what they didn't promise - big deal.

Still, the iPhone is a cool device. I really don't need one, but I still want one

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Dec 13, 07 - 04:05 pm Comment from: Hm...

I love #10. "There are no case studies ..." Let's follow that logic for a second. If IT should not adopt a technology until there are case studies of adoptions, then IT should never adopt a new tech as no one should have adopted it in order to produce a case study.

Sure would make the IT folks' job easier - never change anything. No, wait a minute. So that's why IT is so lousy where I work. It's starting to make sense. Our IT people have been MS-Forrested.

I think the article is pretty accurate. they are pretty legitimate reasons for IT depts not to want to support the iPhone. I have an iPhone it has some very frustrating short comings. And regards to the battery, IT wont take anything where something that simple should be shipped of to be fixed.

Since you can't get an iPhone on a corporate AT&T;contract and it lacks may of the integration abilities that corporations want/need - it is clear that iPhone v1.0 is a consumer device by intention.

The appeal of the iPhone, especially to executives, will provide the basis for investement into iPhone v2 that embodies the features v1 is lacking and provides for some sort of carrier agreement that allows bulk corporate contracts.

Dec 13, 07 - 04:25 pm Comment from: AlanAudio

Forrester Research are making quite a reputation for themselves, but maybe not the sort of reputation that they would like.

They were the people who last year made headlines by proclaiming that iTunes sales had dropped by 65%. When Apple produced actual figures, sales had actually gone up by 85%.

Analysts often make errors, but just how clueless do you have to be to report a drop of 65%, when it's really an increase of 85% ?

To see more examples of how Forrester have created misleading stories about Apple, look at
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/12/06/forresters-james-mcquivey-announces-the-death-of-itunes-again/

Dec 13, 07 - 04:26 pm Comment from: shiftOpt k

i can see some validity in some of their points.

Am reading the same article as everyone else? I don't see it as an "attack" on Apple or the iPhone; to me, it's more of a commentary on the state of most corporate IT departments. The fear of loss of control overrides the idea that the IT department exists to allow company employees to do their jobs. Knowledge is power, and IT types are most fearful of others' knowledge.

Dec 13, 07 - 05:26 pm Comment from: DRM sucks

"5. Lacks a hard keypad that provides feedback, which isn’t ideal for rapid and accurate input. … Many respected journalists have come to the conclusion that ultimately the keyboard “is a nonissue,”
but only after five days of use. In speaking with enterprise-class mobile device users on a daily basis, the vast majority have found that they need some form of tactile feedback from their QWERTY or numeric keyboards. "

I keep hearing about how the tactile feedback is like magic, but it seems like a bunch of bullshit to me. I have tried both types of keyboards and BOTH have a learning curve. I think "need" should probably be replaced with "are used to". If the first sentence essentially accepts that the keyboard is not an issue after 5 days, then how is it that high volume users "need" tactile feedback after 5 days? Does their amount of use make them immune to learning?

The following reason is why Blackberries will continue to reign in the corporate world:

"Can’t be remotely locked or wiped in the event of a lost or stolen device. …there is no way for IT to lock a device if — scratch that, when — users call the help desk and explain that they left their non-password-protected iPhone behind in a taxi…"

Until it can be synched with an Enterprise server and can be wiped clean remotely, Blackberry will rule the corporate environment. I don't believe that Blackberry owns it forever, but for the time being, it does. I am a CEO of a medium-sized company, and our IT department can install either a Mac or Windows workstation per the user's own preference. I use a Mac. Four of them in fact. I have an iPhone for personal use. But I will not allow deployment of iPhones to our sales and management personnel until the security issue is addressed and until it can sync with our Enterprise Server.

Number 11. It has a camera.

Number 12. It has wireless internet capability.

Number 13. It contains iTunes which could be downloaded if we could use the wireless.

We're not allowed to have our cell phones in the building if they have a camera or wireless internet capability.

They also removed right click and saving to the desktop. Our daily tasks are recorded along with our keystrokes. Our Level Four (Manager) was escorted out last week for checking her personal email on a Sunday when she was getting caught up on work,

Yes, I've been cleaning up my resume. They could have shortened the list by just saying it would require the IT department to lighten up and and actually embrace the 'T" in their department's name. Whoops, we just they just changed themselves to the IS department. SS is probably closer.

"Can’t be remotely locked or wiped in the event of a lost or stolen device. …there is no way for IT to lock a device if — scratch that, when — users call the help desk and explain that they left their non-password-protected iPhone behind in a taxi…"

I haven't put mine down since I bought it this summer... it's definitely not a blackberry...

I agree, it's not an attack on Apple. If it were the ten reasons would have been:
1. It's an Apple
2. It's an Apple
3. It's an Apple
4. It's an Apple
5. It's an Apple
6. It's an Apple
7. It's an Apple
8. It's an Apple
9. It's an Apple
10. It's an Apple

Dec 13, 07 - 07:10 pm Comment from: Road Warrior

What an eye roller:

1. Doesn’t natively blah blah blah... your server and security admins have to configure their infrastructure to do so or purchase blah blah blah. should read "server and security admins have to do actual work or purchase items that would take away from their games budget."

2. Doesn’t accommodate third-party applications: This means that IT personel would have to do some actual real elegant coding, which would take away from their installation, configuring and upgrading of [Insert favorite online first person shoot and destroy game here].

3. Encryption: Well maybe they should stop talking to the natives and develop their own encryption internally. Oh, wait, that would mean work for the IT department, such a shame if they actually had to support staff.

4. No remote locking: Just like all the USB flash drives out there that none of you are allowed to have or use at work...right?

5. Lacks a hard keypad: And other buttons that the IT people have come to love and need. They of course enforce their beliefs on the people that they are supposed to support, but then again, most IT people don't realize that is what they have been hired to do." From reading this, you would have to think that they don't support trackpads on portables. Talk about reaching for straws.

6. Has limited service provider support: As opposed to [insert imaginary device here] which can is supported by all carriers, speaks all languages, really sucks and turns into a case of beer at midnight.

7. Premium price tag: This would seriously affect the game budget for IT AND would have them look at total cost of ownership, something they dread to do as it would jepordize the reputation of IT being the heroin pushers of the information age...here kid, your first device is really cheap.

8. Is only the first generation: And there are tons of death knells about Apple (haven't seen much for 2007, but hey look at this data for 1997). Apple is a fly by night company, even Dell says they should sell and give the money back to the shareholders.

9. Removable battery: As compared to the electrical system, which never ever goes out, ever.

10. Case studies: Gee this reminds me of another device that experienced the same problem. I think it was called the wheel.

Dec 13, 07 - 07:33 pm Comment from: qka

And one reason they are wrong: the announcement from SAP that they will support the iPhone.

You can't get any more hardcore business software than SAP.

Dec 13, 07 - 07:42 pm Comment from: cuz i'm the taxman

Dear corporate a33hole,

Shut up and buy! Daddy needs a new pair of shoes. And also wants to retire early on his AAPL earnings.

Dec 13, 07 - 08:39 pm Comment from: British Mac Head

who gives a toss about IT support? I got my iPhone yesterday on O2 and gmail on imap rocks. Everyone knows exchange sucks compared to IMAP.

If iPhone is not good for business corporation then Apple can't use it for themselves. Here is the business case. Apple is running their business on iPhone the same way they run on Mac!

Dec 13, 07 - 10:21 pm Comment from: bobchr

When I drop my Q or Razr the battery pops out without fail. If it happens during a call well I geuss it goes to voicemail but it's still a pain to gather and reassemble the pieces. I guess these idiots don't consider longer more reliable battery life a positive. I have yet to get more than 14 months of life out of any Motorola phone. I expect to get 36 months out of this phone without a problem , do you know why? Because I've gotten that kind of life out of Mac Laptop batteries. FUD all the way.

Come on guys, an analyst - by definition - is in the prostitution business. You pay to get screwed. In more ways than one.

This is research? It's a mob hit. Bought and paid for by thugs, written by hacks. The idea that arrogant jackasses like this are considered impartial or even useful is pathetic.

After reading the article and comments I have just one thing to say.

Companies on the way out will like those reasons. Cause its OLD think. We can't.... because.

Companies on the way UP will like the iPhone. Several already have. One medical company puts paitents records, x-rays- ECG's, etc online for doctors on the go. The iPhone makes it easy. Another company uses the web for its sales people on the go. They switched to the iPhone cause it works great with their system.
And talk about training and web based support on the go, you just cannot beat the iPhone. (ease of use vs # of un-useable features).
Apple, iPhone, AppleTV, and companies that innovate, are the wave of the future.

Just ask IBM about making computers, Dell about selling computers, and MS about making software. The slippery slope of those who cannot move with the times is clear to see.

en

Dec 14, 07 - 01:49 pm Comment from: HolyMackerel

My work gave me an Xda Orbit today. Is this what normal Windows Mobile users are comparing with the iPhone? The interface and execution is absolutely AWEFUL.

And they allow these Windows Mobile in companies! We had an hour-long training course this afternoon on how to use the basic features.