LG Prada as IPOD and IPhone alternative

[michelepri]

I live in Europe and here, it seems like Apple has no plans to release the phone in the immediate future. And even if they do, requiring 2 years subscription is not considered acceptable to most consumers at it would be in the US. Besides, we wouldn't even know what carriers they pick. If they stick with Vodafone or TIM that would be OK. But ifthey go with 3 or funny operators like E-Plus and O2 then most people and all business users would stay away.

Also, Ipod videos have not been updated for 2 years and are no longer an atractive option. So what is the solution? I bought an LG Prada the other day. sure it's not as nice as an IPhone, and you get absolutely NO support from the manufacturer at all. But it works well as a phone and on all networks. Also it's great for music, accepts a variety of formats for audio and video. You can see videos full screen in 3:4 or panoramic mode with full screen touch functionality.

For now, LG seems to be the only European Iphone and the only modern Ipod Video at all.

 

[discodave]

I live in Europe and here, it seems like Apple has no plans to release the phone in the immediate future. And even if they do, requiring 2 years subscription is not considered acceptable to most consumers at it would be in the US. Besides, we wouldn't even know what carriers they pick. If they stick with Vodafone or TIM that would be OK. But ifthey go with 3 or funny operators like E-Plus and O2 then most people and all business users would stay away.

Also, Ipod videos have not been updated for 2 years and are no longer an atractive option. So what is the solution? I bought an LG Prada the other day. sure it's not as nice as an IPhone, and you get absolutely NO support from the manufacturer at all. But it works well as a phone and on all networks. Also it's great for music, accepts a variety of formats for audio and video. You can see videos full screen in 3:4 or panoramic mode with full screen touch functionality.

For now, LG seems to be the only European Iphone and the only modern Ipod Video at all.

I'm sorry, but the LG Prada does not function anything like an iPod with Video. As for your comments about O2 being a funny network...

O2 has the largest customer base in the UK with about 20-25% market share. It also has around 40% market share in Ireland. When it was tied to BT years ago, it snapped up a large proportion of business users that it still retains over other networks.

Therefore, business and most users would not stay away if Apple went with O2. Stop spreading nonsense.

 

[sk3pt1c]

i don't think that Apple would go with 02 just because it has a large market share in the UK, wake up guys, we're talking about EUROPE here, not the UK.
if they do go for a specific provider, they'll go for one that has a big marketshare throughout Europe, probably Vodafone. but i have a feeling they won't, and they'll just sell it provider-free over here cause otherwise no-one will buy it... maybe later than the US release, so they have time to see how much interest it generates over here...

 

[michelepri]

Prada, Europe and Networks

As sk3pt1c said, UK and Ireland are a limited market compared to the whole of Europe. O2 is maybe good in those countries,but it has a very limited presence elsewhere. And where it is present (Germany) it does not have a great reputation. Vodafone is almost everywhere in the world and I think it's easier for Apple to work with one large company instead of a miriade of small networks. Another possibility is Working directly with large national companies like T-Mobile and TIM. In Italy TIM has very advanced features, probably the most innovative in all of Europe.

I hope Apple will not require contracts with one single company in Europe. Most Europeans are used to a sense of network freedom when it comes to cell phones.

I know Prada is not as good as the Iphone, but as stated before, it's not a matter of choice between the two. It's the only available option here. And after all, it's really not that bad.

As for the Ipod Video, I am sure the IPhone will give us beautiful and superior Ipod Video functionality, but just as for the telephone, Europeans will not have access to it for a very long time. So we have to compare with what is available now in the market, and there are only two decent choices: Prada and Ipod Video. Prada is more modern and has a nicer and larger screen. Ipod video has a large hard disk but it's an essentially old device with outdated form and technology.

Obviously it's not Apple's fault if the competition is completely unable to come out with anything decent. Except for the Prada phone of course. With lack of competitive pressure Apple can easily afford selling older stuff.

By the way, what a strange approach from Microsoft to copy an outdated Apple device and launch it on the market two years later. They thought they would seduce consumers with their wireless song transfers but most consumers are clearly expecting very different features, like large screen with high resolution.

 

[discodave]

I hope Apple will not require contracts with one single company in Europe. Most Europeans are used to a sense of network freedom when it comes to cell phones.

If they do, I higghly doubt it will be T-Mobile but likely to be Vodafone or Orange.

I know Prada is not as good as the iPhone, but as stated before, it's not a matter of choice between the two. It's the only available option here. And after all, it's really not that bad.

It's not bad as a phone (except being quite difficult to use with what has been reviewed as a poor touch recognition system), but it is nothing compared to an iPod with Video.

As for the iPod Video, I am sure the iPhone will give us beautiful and superior iPod Video functionality, but just as for the telephone, Europeans will not have access to it for a very long time.

Complete rubbish. If the movie store is launched here in the UK and Europe this year, which Steve said it would be (and I have every faith in that until told otherwise), when the iPhone launches we will be able to purchase video for it from ITMS. Again, the iPhone is only months away in Europe until we are told otherwise.

So we have to compare with what is available now in the market, and there are only two decent choices: Prada and Ipod Video. Prada is more modern and has a nicer and larger screen. Ipod video has a large hard disk but it's an essentially old device with outdated form and technology.

The Prada does not have a better quality screen, from what I have seen it is actually not all that. I wouldn't even compare it to the iPod Video screen which is much brighter. The iPod is not outdated. Nor is it poorer because it uses a HD. The only thing the iPod could benefit from is a redesign to permit a larger screen. That, to me, is its only pitfall. And compared to the Prada, there ain't even much in that statement.

BTW, it is iPhone and iPod, not Iphone/Ipod

 

[Nickygoat]

As sk3pt1c said, UK and Ireland are a limited market compared to the whole of Europe. O2 is maybe good in those countries,but it has a very limited presence elsewhere. And where it is present (Germany) it does not have a great reputation. Vodafone is almost everywhere in the world and I think it's easier for Apple to work with one large company instead of a miriade of small networks. Another possibility is Working directly with large national companies like T-Mobile and TIM. In Italy TIM has very advanced features, probably the most innovative in all of Europe.

You realise that O2 is owned by Telefonica, right? The 2nd largest mobile group in Europe - Vodafone is the largest.

Telefonica has nearly double (200 million) the number of mobile customers than T-Mobile (110 million), 75 million of those in Europe. Vodafone has 98 million customers in Europe. Sadly however, looking at your location, 92.1% of those Voda customers are prepay - unlikely to be looking at an iPhone - linky. You also might want to check up on the ARPU numbers and the number of contract and business customers. Voda has lots of customers but doesn't make a great deal of money from them.

Oh and T-Mobile themselves state that the UK is the leading European market.

Just wanted to highlight the phrase "funny mobile operators"

Besides, if Apple wanted to work with Vodafone don't you think it would have signed up with them in the US?

What a completely pointless argument though - it's not even being released here for months

 

[michelepri]

]Oh and T-Mobile themselves state that the UK is the leading European market.

Yes, nothing against the UK market. I'm sure it's the leading European market, but that's still smaller than the entire European market

Just wanted to highlight the phrase "funny mobile operators"

Don't take that so personally Telefonica is huge and O2 has a large customer base. But in Germany O3 is not a good network. They are actually very, very bad. Don't forget that O2 came to Germany by taking over a very lame German mobile operator. You keep the management and change the name, but it takes work to change the mentality. Vodafone in Germany used to be D2 in the 1990s, and you have no idea what a horrible company they were. Vodafone changed things quite a bit but just like O2 maintained some of the highest prices in Europe. The service is much better now. Until very few years ago Germans didn't always expect their mobile phones to work reliably.

Besides, if Apple wanted to work with Vodafone don't you think it would have signed up with them in the US?

Not sure. I don't know if Vodafone is in the USA, and if they are, their presence and infrastructure is nothing like AT&T

What a completely pointless argument though - it's not even being released here for months

That's exactly my point! If I could see the IPhone being released in a relatively short time, I wouldn't be here talking about the Prada phone. But for now it's the best we get in Europe.

 

[Nickygoat]

Yes, nothing against the UK market. I'm sure it's the leading European market, but that's still smaller than the entire European market

By definition, if you're one of those crazy people who think that the UK is part of Europe , then the UK market must be smaller than the whole European market.

Don't take that so personally Telefonica is huge and O2 has a large customer base. But in Germany O3 is not a good network. They are actually very, very bad. Don't forget that O2 came to Germany by taking over a very lame German mobile operator. You keep the management and change the name, but it takes work to change the mentality. Vodafone in Germany used to be D2 in the 1990s, and you have no idea what a horrible company they were. Vodafone changed things quite a bit but just like O2 maintained some of the highest prices in Europe. The service is much better now. Until very few years ago Germans didn't always expect their mobile phones to work reliably.

Didn't take it personally

Not sure. I don't know if Vodafone is in the USA, and if they are, their presence and infrastructure is nothing like AT&T

Vodafone has a 45% share in Verizon wireless: 60.7 million customers and $38 billion revenues - linky. AT&T? 61 million customers and $37.5 billion revenues - another linky.
Besides, Verizon were offered the iPhone and refused, suggesting that they're not going to get the chance in Europe.

That's exactly my point! If I could see the IPhone being released in a relatively short time, I wouldn't be here talking about the Prada phone. But for now it's the best we get in Europe.

If the choice is between the Prada and nothing I'll stick with nothing. The iPhone is scheduled for release Q4 in Europe. That's only 3 months (and a bit) away, ready for the run up to Christmas so it's not really that far away.
You should be getting used to waiting for Apple products

 

[michelepri]

updates

Vodafone has a 45% share in Verizon wireless: 60.7 million customers and $38 billion revenues - linky. AT&T? 61 million customers and $37.5 billion revenues - another linky.
Besides, Verizon were offered the iPhone and refused, suggesting that they're not going to get the chance in Europe.

Oh! I didn't know that part. That's interesting information. So Vodafone IS everywhere after all. If they had any innovative ideas they would have great chances to dominate new markets. I am not in the UK at the moment so I don´t know much about BT, but from all that I read they seem to be the most innovative telecommunication company ever.

As for the IPhone, they didn't accept Apple's offer because ATT came out with a better deal for Apple, with some revenue sharing. I don´t know if Apple will go for similar deals in Europe, as I believe they should adopt an entirely different strategy. In this case Vodafone Europe might take the IPhone. It is also not excluded that Apple will follow a single operator approach in Europe. I would love to see their phone work with all operators here and unlocked. This could be a problem for Apple however because someone could buy an European Iphone on Ebay and use it in the US with another oeprator.

If the choice is between the Prada and nothing I'll stick with nothing. The iPhone is scheduled for release Q4 in Europe. That's only 3 months (and a bit) away, ready for the run up to Christmas so it's not really that far away.

Why is the choice so drastic? If and when the IPhone comes out I can always sell the Prada on Ebay. If Apple says October I think they mean end of october. That´s 5 months away. And still, I don´t see any deal or commitment coming from Apple. The wait could easily be over 6 months.

You should be getting used to waiting for Apple products

I am very annoyed with waiting for Apple products. I am using a Macbook Pro for video and photography and hate to see PC laptops coming with more innovating designs and better specs. Macbook pro is not bad but it seriously needs work. The battery issue, bootcamp not working, leopard coming out late, Aperture being unusable, Final Cut Studio 2 coming out without improvements for DVD Studio Pro, and no new Ipods.

Once again, they can do that because all other operating systems literally suck. I would never work with Windows or Linux. But if OSX worked on a Sony Vaio or a Samsung Tablet, I would probably consider getting one of those.

 

[needthephone]

LG is a facelss conglomerate run by grey businessmen. They are derivative, not innovative.

Apple is run by a maverick genius who risks his company with every product.

I'm fed up with buying crap souless products from companies run by bottom line business men with no imagination.

I love the way apple has a go, even if it will risk everything. The iphone could be a disaster but I don't think it will

Who Dares Wins (SAS Moto)


On the subject of BT (British Telecom) They can claim to actually invented the URL. They are behind many telecoms innovations most people are unaware of due to licencing deals.
http://www.cptech.org/ip/business/hyperlink.html

 

[bartelby]

Apple is run by a maverick genius who risks his company with every product.

Hardly...

 

[edesignuk]

By the way, what a strange approach from Microsoft to copy an outdated Apple device and launch it on the market two years later. They thought they would seduce consumers with their wireless song transfers but most consumers are clearly expecting very different features, like large screen with high resolution.

How did Microsoft get dragged in to this conversation about the LG Prada and the iPhone?

 

[NewMacGirl]

Hey, I know a bit about BT !!!

Yes they are a very under rated company....

1977 first optical fibre launch
1979 first digital network demonstration
1985 first transoceanic optical fibre cable (TAT 8)
1985 first cellular radio (Cellnet)
1990 first world’s largest fibre to the home trial
1994 first major ADSL trial
1995 first optical packet routing demo
2000 world’s first GPRS network
2000 world’s first telephony IP network
2001 first VDSL trial
2004 first 21st Century Network trials
2005 world’s first fully converged fixed-mobile service (Fusion phone)
Facts about BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions with a group turnover of UK £18.6 billion or US $34 billion.
BT delivers IT and networking services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services, through our 3 main Lines of Business:
BT Retail, providing communications services to over 20m UK consumers and businesses
BT Wholesale, providing UK network services and solutions to fixed and mobile operators and service providers
BT Global Services, providing IT and networking solutions in more than 130 countries and offering international carrier services
Our strategic focus is to defend the traditional core of our business whilst aggressively growing our “new wave” (i.e. ICT, mobility and broadband) business. Innovation in our portfolio, networks and systems has therefore never been more critical. And we are making good progress. Aside from the launching of 21CN trials successfully, BT has achieved:

32% growth of new wave turnover with UK £4.5 billion or US $ 8 billion compared to 30% growth in 2004, representing 24% of BT’s overall group turnover in 2005
Reached 5 million broadband DSL connections in early April 2005 which is a full year ahead of target. This now puts the UK as having the highest levels of broadband access of any country in the G8 group of nations

 

[needthephone]

OK maybe I got carried away but the iphone is a huge risk-once you start talking about mobile phone numbers even a 1% failure rate could ruin apple's reputation. Apple could go from hero to zero very quickly if they screw the phone up.

 

[RichP]

I would think Vodafone because they have a decent asian presence as well. Of course, we already know it has to be a GSM carrier (do you guys have CDMA in europe? its pretty big in japan/korea)

LG prada is ok, but the secret of the iphone is the interface, not form factor.