August 21, 2009
Two Universes: Apple vs. RIM
Globe on Technology
Simon Avery outlines the differences between how RIM and Apple deal with phone companies.
“RIM has been the smartest, realizing from the earliest days of the BlackBerry that it needed to partner with carriers. In the start-up years, co-CEO Jim Balsillie traversed the globe convincing telecoms that the BlackBerry could make them a killing and that the key to success was partnership. He took his win-win sales pitch to dozens of wireless operators and eventually signed up hundreds. Apple, in contrast, has chosen a path of exclusivity, with AT&T in the U.S. being the first and most prominent example. The company has dictated the pricing terms for the iPhone and, in some cases, terms of the data plans. In the days ahead, the two different philosophies adopted by Apple and RIM will deliver some interesting results. RIM’s value proposition to carriers is well established where Apple’s is not.”
Microsoft Exchange 2010 poised to be a big hit with the enterprise
Network World
Microsoft Subnet writes why Microsoft’s Exchange 2010 solution is likely to be successful in the enterprise market.
“Exchange is now a nearly $2 billion business for Microsoft, the company says, and the users and systems integrators I talk to are equally excited about Exchange 2010 and its hybrid approach to the cloud. The hybrid approach allows users to keep some functions under their direct control in their data centers or on clients while offloading others – such as less-critical e-mail boxes – as a lower-cost service in the cloud.”
Apple to offer own-brand HDTV, claims analyst
Register Hardware
James Sherwood writes that Gene Munster, a senior analyst at investment bank, Piper Jaffray, predicts Apple will launch a branded television with integrated DVR capabilities.
“In the run-up to the launch of its branded TV in 2011, Apple will unveil a range of TV-focused gadgets, Munster predicted. For example, he believes that a set-top box with TV input and integrated DVR could be launched within months. An iTunes TV Pass offering unlimited pay monthly access to the library’s content archives could also launch within 12 months, Munster said, effectively replacing a consumer’s monthly cable bill.”