Mike Butcher

On the eve of its launch, courtesy of Frukt Music, comes an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the iPhone:

Strengths:

- Apple approach: a)great product, b)simple usability, c) clear communication

- Dual-contact touch screen, twice the resolution of average computer screen, full-detail web pages with easy zoom-in feature, easy-view photo software, extra Google maps functionality (traffic details, fake GPS), easy music/phonecall switchover via headphone button, integrated email, phone and web features and other technological advancements will appeal to early adopter Apple fans

- Relies on tried-and-tested iTunes software – already a hit with consumers

- Easy to activate iPhone at home using iTunes

- YouTube link-up allows users to view videos over WiFi

Weaknesses:

- Apparently no way to record video – so no instant uploads to YouTube

- Sealed-in battery. Must send it back to Apple for a replacement.

- No memory card slot

- Over-the-air content delivery not part of initial iPhone plan (although not a critical concern: for every iPod bought, only 20 tracks on average are iTunes purchased, most are transferred from CD or illegally downloaded)

- Strength/Weakness: High price point ($499/$599 at launch) will only attract early adopters (J.D. Power: Typical U.S. phone user in 2006 paid $94 for a mobile). Although, for the initial model, perhaps early adopters are the sole target market (modest Apple sales targets of 10M globally by 2008, less than 1% of the mobile handset market)