Why iPhone?

Why is Apple’s iPhone the eight hundred pound gorilla of smartphones? Is it the sleek design? Is it the multi-touch screen? Is it the convenience of having so many functions in a single device? Is it the apps, AT&T or iTunes? Is it all of the above or none of the above? This article will explore these questions through the eyes of a small panel of iPhone users.

Photo by Josh BancroftFirst up is Phil, a database engineer. He explains that there are three major phones in his geek-infested world, the iPhone, the Blackberry and the Android. He admits looking at each of the others, and even being very tempted from time to time. However, Phil says that, ultimately, it is the app store that keeps bringing him back to the iPhone. Plus, he raves about the reliability and customer service.

Carol is anything but a techie. She likes the iPhone for its convenience. The camera and the GPS map features are a must for her real estate business. She readily admits to not using all of the features of the phone, but finds it invaluable nonetheless.

Barry converted from a competing smartphone when the iPhone added synch with Microsoft Exchange to its feature set. An advertising exec, his whole family, including two teenage boys, has iPhones, albeit for different reasons. His sons enjoy the built-in iPod and the games that can be downloaded. Barry and his wife enjoy no longer being in the phone of the month club, along with having the whole family speaking the same language for a change.

For Annie, it is all about the apps. Her favorite is one that has saved her on more than one occasion. It is the one that helps her find a decent public restroom when she is out and about. She has also benefitted from being able to quickly locate the nearest taxi company when she has been stuck for a ride. She is into music and movies, and the various apps in the entertainment genre are highly prized by her.

Joe, whose kids bought him an iPhone, likes the availability of accessories and the fact that there is so much competition helping to drive prices down. He has been a long-time Apple user, having had an iPod Touch before getting the iPhone for his last birthday.

But it is not all wine and roses for Apple. Sandra gave back her iPhone and returned to Blackberry. Her complaints seemed to be related to the telephone signal coverage she was receiving.

Generally, however, people who use the iPhone seem to like the iPhone, although most do not come close to utilizing the full capacity of the iPhone’s rich feature set. Each user seems to be unique in what they like about the iPhone, and in what they dislike. It does seem though that there is more to like than dislike, as evidenced by the continuing widespread adoption of the device.

Clearly, the iPhone is here to stay. Businesses are supporting it more and more as an option for their employees using smartphones. It is popular across many age groups and in many economic classes. It is praised by geeks and technical novices alike. It is truly the eight hundred pound gorilla of the smartphone world.