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Dec 14, 07 - 03:36 pm Comment from: kirkgray

That was research?!?

I thought it was one of those PC World lists -- 10 things we loved about the Commodore 64, 10 ways to get e-mail from a broken server, 10 ways to get cyber sex from a Russian chatbot, etc.

I had no idea someone was trying to pass it off as research.

Dec 14, 07 - 04:03 pm Comment from: qka

And an upcoming reason for IT to support iPhones: SAP.

'Nuff said.

Seems like Forrester has it in for Apple. They're always predicting the downfall of one Apple product or another.

It's obvious what's broken at Forrester - they don't use iPhones!

Dec 14, 07 - 04:11 pm Comment from: theloniousMac

Sillyness.

There are certainly rational reasons to be upset with Apple concerning certain aspects of the iPhone, and Apple is addressing these issues. The Forrester report ignores these issues and goes for a level of FUD based charlatanism only the most prolific of liars could appreciate.

I'm far more concerned that Forrester is calling this "crap" research and allow their name to add credibility to it.

My guess is they didn't get free iPhones for "testing."

Dec 14, 07 - 04:16 pm Comment from: ken1w

I guess there's your "case study," Forrester (fake) Research.

Great tools will find their way into business, no matter what the paided-off media may publish as actual "research." With businesses using web-based applications (secure employee-only web sites) more and more, there is no better tool mobile professionals. No other mobile phone allows access to the same web sites accessed by employees from computers (unlike other devices with limited browsers). Any "real" issues with iPhone will no doubt be addressed by Apple and others in the coming months.

Dec 14, 07 - 04:22 pm Comment from: TowerTone

KICK ASS!

After a couple of improvements, iPhone will be a killer device for business.

I just formed a new company, it's called "Fair and Honest Research". I have taken my inspiration from Forrester Research, and modeled my company after them.

It took us a while but we have also just completed a thorough and exhaustive research study. In our study we have determined that 100% of all IT departments should support the iPhone and end support for all other smart phones. Gee I hope Forbes picks up our study and runs with it!

P.S. Full disclosure . . . I'm long APPL and the sample for our study was kind of small . . . well really small actually . . . and there is no we . . . I just asked kinda myself.

Actually I'm not impressed or moved by Goble's story. The fact that his team is more productive on the iPhone is great...but as the article states, they were on a myriad of devices before. Any device standardization will help improve team productivity - if they had all gone to BlackBerry or (to a lesser degree) Treo, they could have seen the same results. Forrester's list can be debunked in many areas but not all. iPhone is still a consumer-oriented phone and until Apple markets and sells to business it won't be taken seriously by IT departments. Begrudgingly supported, yes, but it's not yet an enterprise device.

Dec 14, 07 - 05:02 pm Comment from: Ampar

"Because the summary promptly contradicts the lede of the article . . ."

Is that short(s) for lederhosen?

@Shininis

OOOHhhhhhhhhhh, Like The Enderle Group... Gottcha!

As theRob says I am not impressed by this article either. The fact that this particular business user doesn't get the valid concerns expressed by Forrester doesn't mean that their analysis is flawed.

However, Forrester underestimates the power of users who tend to ignore IT when they want to get things done quickly. The iPhone is such an improvement over previous technologies that IT will have to support them like it or not. Remember, IT doesn't run the business, they are usually regarded as an obstacle to progress. If users clamor for technology they will get it. If it were any different we would still be using dumb terminals.

Dec 14, 07 - 06:10 pm Comment from: Winston

@Ampar: "lede" is journalist lingo for the first paragraph of the story -- it's a deliberate misspelling of "lead," done to avoid confusion with the metal (Pb) of the same spelling.

Incidentally, this is also why that little band that played a reunion gig on Monday spells its name "Led" Zeppelin -- to get you to think of a zeppelin made of the 82nd element in the periodic table, not the first zeppelin in an armada.

I had the opportunity to compare my iPhone with my boss's new company issued Blackberry. That thing was horrible with email attachments, especially Excel spreadsheets. There are at least 5 steps just to open the attachment. Then when he opened the same spreadsheet I had on my iPhone, his was unreadable. All of the columns were too narrow to display the data. He had to go through even more clicks to expand the columns. Then he couldn't figure out how to scroll left or right. Any time saving for getting email pushed were just blown out the door with this mess of a system.

Dec 14, 07 - 06:46 pm Comment from: Petey

So, when all mobile phones have touch screens in 2 years time I suppose the IT genius will dismiss those as well?

I bet he dont dismiss the windows mobile ones...

Carl should know, since he's a former Forrester Research analyst

The fact that this particular business user doesn't get the valid concerns expressed by Forrester doesn't mean that their analysis is flawed.

The Forrester article wasn't research. It was a paid hit piece consisting of cut and pasting iPhone complaints out of whiny anti-Apple sites. Most of the Forrester points are completely invalid or apply to any number of phones, never mind smart phones or the iPhone. The fact that they singled out the iPhone is clear indication of the bias.

Dec 14, 07 - 07:37 pm Comment from: Kit-N

Cliff Clavin lives! He changed his name to Winston.

Dec 14, 07 - 07:43 pm Comment from: Ampar

Winston: Um, thanks. I think. Sorry I forgot to use the sarcasm tag. Again. But I'll certainly follow your Leeds.

Dec 14, 07 - 07:46 pm Comment from: Ampar

Re: Led Zeppelin. Yeah, I'm still Mooning over that name Plant. I'll Grant you that.

This is a pretty weak response. Goble's rebuttals amount to:

1. Fast communication isn't important to me.
2. I don't use any non-web-based, non-flash apps.
3. Data encryption aren't important to me.
4. Data confidentiality/security aren't important to me.
5. I got used to the keyboard.
6. I have time on my hands to deal with absurd accounting.
7. The devices pay for themselves in productivity.
8. I have time to deal with first-gen product kinks.
9. I've never considered carrying a spare phone battery.
10. I thought this would get me publicity.

Most of these reasons don't apply to most businesses.

Dec 14, 07 - 08:43 pm Comment from: Ampar

"Most of these reasons don't apply to most businesses."

Most is a bold assertion. Can you back that up with something other than anecdotal evidence?

Dec 14, 07 - 10:39 pm Comment from: scut

I thought both the original attack and this article fell more than a bit short. The research is hardly that...and this one company's experience (while interesting) is hardly a rebuttal. It's blah, blah, blah all the way around.

My company's IT sent a message that they would not support the iPhone. I thumbed my nose and set up a Synchronica's Mobile account and am happily receiving, sending and synching with my Exchange/Entourage account. Since I synch my Entourage calendar with iCal, my iPhone calendar is always updated too.

Goble's rebuttal was extremely weak.

But then again this is iPhone 1.0.

Take a glance at the first generation iPods...

Dudn't matter. It's selling like hotcakes, can only get better in time, spawn different models, and will eventually be sold unlocked. And when competitors come up with better products, Apple will have moved out of range again.

Dec 15, 07 - 11:25 am Comment from: bobchr

I don't understand one thing. If ATT doesn't offer corporate accounts on the Iphone use another work around. Get a Family account with different extensions. A family account for a nice traditional Mormon family. Anybody remember the King family? Yeah I got you family plan right here!!!

"Any device standardization will help improve team productivity..."

Hmmm... no, don't think so.

Standardization is one of the old, tired main points that the PC/Windows crowd touted forever as a reason to eliminate Macs.

Didn't work then and it doesn't really work now. Basicly because the reasoning is flawed. It presumes devices (such as those mention in your rebuttal) work perfectly and without problems.

This is not to say that Macs/iPhones are perfect... but, they just work better (overall) than most of everything else that is available.

Forrester would get hung if they said such about Windows mobile devices! Someone got paid under the table to talk dirty... Microsoft will go to great lengths to spread FUD about!

Dec 15, 07 - 08:15 pm Comment from: kenh

Re: ""Any device standardization will help improve team productivity..."

Yeah, right, speaking as a teacher whose school system is phasing out Macs for Windows standardization.

Because of security and support costs, all the Windows machines have for software is Office.

Kids can't do decent webpages, presentations graphic design, etc.

Isn't standardization wonderful?

Dec 16, 07 - 01:26 am Comment from: Road Warrior

Nice to see someone come to straighten out that record. Still, it is very indicative on how IT have usurped power from corporations, leading to some devestating effects. Not to mention MS makes their whole process so complicated and obtuse you need a course to understand it all.

People are waking up, nice to see. Let the macs sell and the stock rise.

Forrester gives iPhone a thumb down.
Goble & Associates give iPhone a thumbs up.

What about the other hundreds of thousands of businesses who considered the iPhone? A sample size of two is insufficient to measure the real world acceptance or rejection of iPhone much less the reason(s) why.

Still, why didn't MDN dissect Forrester's criticisms line by line with intelligent counter responses? That would be helpful, eh?

Dec 16, 07 - 12:47 pm Comment from: ahcas

@kenh:
Yeah, right, speaking as a teacher whose school system is phasing out Macs for Windows standardization.

Because of security and support costs, all the Windows machines have for software is Office.

Kids can't do decent webpages, presentations graphic design, etc.

If your school system wants to standardize, and making sure everyone has Office, I wonder if they have considered the logical conclusion:

Standardize on Macs!
Get everyone using Macs, everyone using Office, then they can standardize everyone on iLife for websites, graphics etc or any other software WITHOUT any "security and support costs"!

Please pass on my recommendations!