These forums are great for this type of discussion - obviously these predictions are worth the money you paid for them - here it goes.
Fact: AT&T will not sell this phone through its corporate channel.
- After speaking with multiple AT&T corporate sales reps, AT&T will only sell the iPhone to individuals - "NO CORPORATE LIABILITY". Further, they will not allow you to purchase the phone as an individual and later change it to a corporate account. They stated the reason for this policy is that "the iPhone is a consumer entertainment product - not a true business product". They specifically referred to the inability of the iPhone to sync with Exchange.
Prediction: I believe there are three reasons for AT&T's policy.
1. They don't have enough initial supply to satisfy consumer and corporate demand. Corporate users who don't want to shell out the $500 / $600 on there own will still want it but be forced to wait - they will be thrilled when AT&T changes their policy.
2. Once the consumer demand is fulfilled (and sales become stagnant) corporations will be allowed to purchase the unit. Thus giving a post release boost to sales. Wall Street wants to see continued sales growth - this gives it to them.
3. Full Exchange support will happen within 3 months of launch - either from Apple/AT&T or a 3rd party. There are too many Exchange implementations and too much of a business opportunity not to have this happen. AT&T / Apple may be putting the finishing touches on this support - and then sell it to us as a premium service from AT&T. Anther way to nickel and dime us to death. This will also give AT&T its justification to reclassify the unit as a corporate / business class device.
Other predictions:
1. The 1st gen iPhone has some obvious limitations (no 3G, fixed battery, only 4/8 GB of storage (very small for a video iPod)). Early adopters won't want to live 2 years knowing that the 2nd gen units will be released in 6 months to a year. When the second generation iPhone is released, Apple will have a program that allows you to send in your phone and have it quickly upgraded for a fee. Apple did a similar thing a number of years ago with the Duo Dock.
2. A 2 year contact maybe longer than the actual life of the battery (depends on usage). How can you be expected to pay for a contract with a unit that can't stay powered-up.
3. 3G is already built-in but turned off. Just like the MacBook Pro's wireless "N". Time constraints may not of allowed them to enable it at launch.
Fact: AT&T will not sell this phone through its corporate channel.
- After speaking with multiple AT&T corporate sales reps, AT&T will only sell the iPhone to individuals - "NO CORPORATE LIABILITY". Further, they will not allow you to purchase the phone as an individual and later change it to a corporate account. They stated the reason for this policy is that "the iPhone is a consumer entertainment product - not a true business product". They specifically referred to the inability of the iPhone to sync with Exchange.
Prediction: I believe there are three reasons for AT&T's policy.
1. They don't have enough initial supply to satisfy consumer and corporate demand. Corporate users who don't want to shell out the $500 / $600 on there own will still want it but be forced to wait - they will be thrilled when AT&T changes their policy.
2. Once the consumer demand is fulfilled (and sales become stagnant) corporations will be allowed to purchase the unit. Thus giving a post release boost to sales. Wall Street wants to see continued sales growth - this gives it to them.
3. Full Exchange support will happen within 3 months of launch - either from Apple/AT&T or a 3rd party. There are too many Exchange implementations and too much of a business opportunity not to have this happen. AT&T / Apple may be putting the finishing touches on this support - and then sell it to us as a premium service from AT&T. Anther way to nickel and dime us to death. This will also give AT&T its justification to reclassify the unit as a corporate / business class device.
Other predictions:
1. The 1st gen iPhone has some obvious limitations (no 3G, fixed battery, only 4/8 GB of storage (very small for a video iPod)). Early adopters won't want to live 2 years knowing that the 2nd gen units will be released in 6 months to a year. When the second generation iPhone is released, Apple will have a program that allows you to send in your phone and have it quickly upgraded for a fee. Apple did a similar thing a number of years ago with the Duo Dock.
2. A 2 year contact maybe longer than the actual life of the battery (depends on usage). How can you be expected to pay for a contract with a unit that can't stay powered-up.
3. 3G is already built-in but turned off. Just like the MacBook Pro's wireless "N". Time constraints may not of allowed them to enable it at launch.
How certain is this?
