DominoKeys.com

InvestorPlace.com has a report out about how Apple’s iPhone is closing in on RIM/BlackBerry in a number of categories. While the BlackBerry is the defacto standard for mobile business devices, there is a clear trend that even business users are moving to the iPhone.

With the release of Lotus Notes/Traveler support for the iPhone we have seen an amazing amount of interest. We have limited our deployment of iPhones to ensure we do our due diligence of testing it in our environment but continue to have daily inquiries about the status of that testing. I’ve never seen so many people interested in “beta testing” something for our group. I’ve also NEVER seen people offer to pay for the device out of their own pocket if they can simply get one with their company-issued cell phone number attached. I’ve even had a few people who have asked if they can buy the device AND pay the additional monthly service costs, if any.

Hmmm… perhaps I’m sitting on a profit center and don’t even know it?

This report suggests not only that there continues to be a strong migration to the iPhone (although, not necessarily at the expense moving away from RIM) but that the customer satisfaction for using the iPhone continues to be very strong… an item I find interesting in light of a variety of articles suggesting that as many as 30% of iPhone calls are dropped (I’ve never experienced anything anywhere near that number).

Regardless, I find it interesting that a device which has nominally changed in three generations (face it, it hasn’t changed significantly) still has so much interest that people are still wanting to migrate to it; love it when they have it; and willing to pay out of their own pocket so they can have it. Amazing!

Tags: blackberry, iphone, marketing, mobile, notes, traveler

I was talking to a friend who’s at a Notes shop that’s considering jumping to Exchange. This is a movement that’s been happening for a long time and is largely due to an under-utilization of Notes (which is due to a lack of understanding in the company about what Notes can do). I encouraged him to call his Lotus rep and get some people in there who can get them excited about Notes again (which he’s doing). I also offered to stop by and show off some of the stuff I’ve worked on.

But one comment he shared with me from their CEO really struck me. It went something like this: ‘The fact that Lotus doesn’t have a similar product to Exchange that works with the iPhone at or above the level of functionality my Blackberry does today, really demonstrates a lack of understanding of, and responsiveness to, the marketplace.’

Now… that’s not really a fair comment. First, its not entirely Lotus’ fault; some of the blame resides with Apple – although even I don’t have an explanation for why the two can’t work together to fill this need. Second, while I do agree that the iPhone is important, I don’t know that you can pin all of Lotus’ market understanding on the lack of an iPhone product (yes, there is “uber-lite” but he did specify the whole “at or above the level” of his current Blackberry’s functionality – and uber-lite doesn’t really fit that “requirement”).

Finally, while it might be a nice soundbite to say that the lack of an iPhone application that’s on par with Blackberry is why they’re jumping ship – its not the case. It may be the last straw, but its not the root cause (at least in this company’s case).

But it brings up a good point that I see/hear from people frequently: the VIPs of the company are the ones who want the iPhone, are willing to pay whatever the price is and want it to connect to Notes with no reduction in functionality compared to their current phone (in most cases Blackberry or a GOOD based device). These people (CIOs, CEOs, CFOs, VPs, etc.) require special care by IT shops and their inability to have the iPhone causes them to ask questions about Notes. If they’re not deeply committed to Notes, those questions seem to cut deeper into the status quo. And, oh yeah, they’re the people making decisions and holding the checkbooks.

So at the end of the day, perhaps the best reason I’ve heard for why there should be an iPhone-Notes application (one that’s comparable to what’s available for Exchange shops) is simple: because my boss wants it.

Tags: blackberry, good, iphones, lotus notes