Version sees the Apple "iSlate" as a disruptive product

[Cmax]

Brian Ullem -- the head of Verizon's emerging devices group, said in a recent interview that: "The Apple tablet, if it debuts as expected early next year, has the potential to be a disruptive product".

Not sure what he meant by "disruptive" -- any ideas? My guess is Apple's "iSlate" will be opened to any wireless provider and as such Verizon is a bit concerned their network will suffer the same as AT&T in handling the iPhone.

Source:
http://news.cnet.com/nanotech/?keyword=slate+computer

 

[belvdr]

It's "Verizon" not "Version".

 

[DakotaGuy]

He probably means disrupt as in "change" the marketplace for tablets. I doubt Apple will release one that works with Verizon unless it has a removable network card. My guess is it will be AT&T exclusive considering Apple's close relationship with AT&T on the iPhone.

 

[Cmax]

It's "Verizon" not "Version".

Thanks for that!

Spell check failed me yet again -- need to be more watchful.

 

[Cmax]

My guess is it will be AT&T exclusive considering Apple's close relationship with AT&T on the iPhone.

That's just it -- reports abound of problems with the AT&T wireless network in handling iPhone traffic. So, as a clean "slate", why wouldn't Apple not allow folks to choose from any wireless provider in their new "iSlate" product?

 

[MikhailT]

Disruptive is the term used in the industry to refer to innovations that improve or change something that was not expected or suddenly. iPhone was a disruptive product that changed the way we use our phones in terms of mobile application, web surfing, touch screen display, and so on. iPod was another one, as well as the Ford's car.

Read up more on wikipedia.


He is right in that iSlate have the highest protential to be a disruptive technology. Tablets has been lagging in sales for years, it never really took off, Apple could bring the one device that changes everything for the tablets. They have a good record of disruptive technologies.

 

[kdarling]

He simply means that Verizon, like other carriers, is looking forward to any technology that brings in new customers for their 3G and 4G networks.

Many rumors do seem to point towards an Apple tablet that can work on Verizon. I think that's more likely than a Verizon iPhone.

 

[SactoGuy18]

The problem with tablet computers up till today is the lack of a really compelling use for the device. But Apple's iSlate could change all that, because we know that Apple has been working with newspaper and magazine publishers to develop full electronic version of newspapers and magazines designed specifically to support these new devices.

Time Incorporated's recent "fantasy demo" of a tablet version of its Sports Illustrated magazine only scratches the surface of what this change will do.

 

[clevin]

The problem with tablet computers up till today is the lack of a really compelling use for the device. But Apple's iSlate could change all that, because we know that Apple has been working with newspaper and magazine publishers to develop full electronic version of newspapers and magazines designed specifically to support these new devices.

Time Incorporated's recent "fantasy demo" of a tablet version of its Sports Illustrated magazine only scratches the surface of what this change will do.

it wont be a significant market.

 

[arkitect]

it wont be a significant market.

You may well speculate that, and I am not saying you are wrong, but right now none of us know that to be true.

Let's wait and see until a few months after whatever it is Apple is working on has been released.

 

[eawmp1]

1984 Mac...disruptive
iPod...disruptive
iPhone...disruptive
iSlate...disruption TBD

Let's face it, evolving technology is disruptive

 

[MikhailT]

it wont be a significant market.

People said the same thing about netbooks and yet it's the fastest growing market right now.

The thing is, so many things are about social networking and majority of the cloud services. That's the big difference between now and the past several years. The tablet is the perfect cloud client. Two years ago, people wouldn't spend all day catching up with their friends online and twittering stuff. Today is completely different. If Apple's tablet provide an amazing experience of integrating all of the cloud services app (via app store) with touch screen capability that feels natural, it could be a serious industry changer. Of course there's higher chance of it being a small market product like the mini but there are some chances of it being a product leader like the iPhone.

Also, Apple doesn't care about significant markets, they create an ecosystem of their own products that could earn them more profit than a large market share could. Look at how much profit Apple earned just by having only one phone on the market.

 

[cderalow]

one could also observe the kindle etc and the growing market they're sharing.

figure this as a tablet:

large, widescreen video iPod
phone
media reader
web navigator
gps device


access to the app store

 

[Gav2k]

The islate will be successful mainly due to the iPhone as alot more people now look at apple products due to the massive sales on the iPhone.

 

[t0mat0]

This disrupts the sale of netbooks in say O2/Orange/carphone Warehouse/AT&T/Verizon etc shops. It will also likely change B&N, Waterstones etc shop sales of eReaders.

eReaders is an area like GPS SatNavs - it's going to get hit with convergence in about 3 months, and be a category that decrease, whilst the number of devices that can do ePublication reading on a decent >5 inch screen increases.

eInk is also going to get disrupted - the eReader doesn't do video - a decent slate will do better than eInk B&W, and also do colour, video etc.

If Apple goes the subsidy route, and sells via the carriers they know, an international launch could happen v quickly - and Apple could ramp up production. See the 10 million in 1 calendar year stretch goal for the iPhone.
10 million Tablets/eReader capable Apple computers is a big disruption.

Publication industry is about to have the experience the Music Industry had with the iPod/iPhone & iTunes.