UAE Inc not yet keen on iPhone

[Magnus]

Scott Shuey writes in Gulf News:

While the iPhone is easily the hottest phone on the market today, Apple's trend-setting device isn't catching on with business people in the UAE.

Despite efforts by Apple to market the new iPhone 3G, which was released on Friday in 21 countries, to business users, few in Dubai say they would use the phone for work, even if it was available in the region.

There are plans to release the device in some countries in the Middle East, but no dates have been announced.

The new iPhone has several features aimed at the enterprise market, including a faster third-generation data connection, the ability to synchronise e-mail, contacts and calenders with Microsoft Outlook, and the ability to connect securely to corporate networks.

While predictions on whether the business community will embrace the new iPhone are scarce, some analysts see the device putting some pressure on Research in Motion (RIM), which makes the Blackberry.

Citi Investment Research analyst Jim Suva wrote in a note to clients, that RIM faces "limited [albeit increasing] competition".

Not impressed

However, previous experiences with the original iPhone haven't impressed business users in Dubai.

Sean Emery, an executive for a media company who is also an Apple Macintosh user, says he loves the iPhone for personal use, but adds he hasn't been able to use it in a business environment because of the device's inability to load contacts from his SIM card and problems with sending messages. He is also unhappy with the device's typing interface.

Emery also says the level of support for the phone is an issue since Apple will not support "cracked" iPhones, which are phones that have been unlocked to work on networks other than those Apple has partnered with.

All iPhones sold in the UAE have been cracked, since Apple has not officially launched the phone in the region.

Since the iPhone has not been configured to run on either of the UAE two licenced telecom operators, the phone has not been added to the list of "approved devices" in many companies, which means users cannot connect it to their employers' network.

Samer Constantini, who works for a networking company, had to consider that issue when he purchased a phone.

His company requires him to have specific software on his phone such as VPN software and even some custom-built applications.

"With the iPhone, I wouldn't have access to many of the tools and secure e-mails I require for work," he says.

Another issue that has made the first-generation iPhone unpalatable for business use was its inability to synchronise with Microsoft Outlook.

Neil Garner, who works in the research industry, says the synchronisation issue is one of the chief reasons he doesn't use the iPhone, even though he'd like to. Garner says he is also concerned about how the new iPhone would sync with his company's network.

"I need to connect with full web access," he says.

Functions and network operability aren't the only issue keeping business users from using the iPhone.

Magnus Nystedt, who runs a local Mac User Group, and even publishes a magazine about Apple and Apple products, says the main thing keeping him from using the device as a business tool is the cost of using a mobile with a GPRS connection in the UAE.

Just visiting the homepage of his Apple-related website, emiratesmac.com, would result in a 500k download. Depending on the pricing plan, that could cost users with a GPRS connection as much as Dh5.

Pricing plan

He says "I won't switch unless there is a [pricing] plan similar to what's available for Blackberry," which is what he currently uses.

Of course, there are devices some people just like more than the iPhone.

Andy Nehme, a business developer manager in Dubai, says he uses a Blackberry 8820, which he's grown to love using. "I would definitely look at buying the iPhone because I have an iPod Touch and I love the interface," he says.

"But if you put the [Blackberry] Bold and the iPhone in front if me, I'd take the Blackberry."

Woot - we got a link in Gulf News! Thank you Scott!

You can comment on the article on the Gulf News web site. So go to the story there and put in a comment.

[fangpyre]

A fair review.
Thanks Scott.

The iPhone is not perfect.
And the fact that BlackBerry comes with a plan makes it VERY hard to compete.

The iPhone 3G should resolve most corporate issues.
But if there is no reasonable data plan, it won't happen here.

[venky83]

I completely agree with Scott on this one. The iPhone 1.0 is definitely not ready for a large enterprise. In fact, like he points out the lack of Outlook integration is a major issue, lets see if the upgrade to 2.0 firmware will help us.

[noixe]

umm, i agree totally with wat's written there except for the fact that the iPhone still has a HUGE market in the UAE. maybe not for business users, cuz seriously, th prices are a bit too mch, and yet, every second person hanging out in the mall of watching a movie or just driving has an iPhone in his hand... whoever draws up a contract,if ever, with apple in this country will make much more than they already are

[hanzo]

The iPhone continues to be my "personal" phone, but in my particular situation it would make for a lousy business phone. Namely the camera is a problem with regards to security.

Taking into account the amount of email I read/respond to on my blackberry, the iPhone really isn't suited for that. But I do adore it outside of work.

[noixe]

exactly, i dont think iPhone make a really good business phone, especially because of the keyboard(its very nice, the virtual keyboard, but the real ones are easier, more precise and nicer)... about the camera, i think they should come with a version that dsnt have a camera since many buildings dont allow camera phones inside them (i think Emirates Media building is one of them)...

[Magnus]

Personally I'm really excited about the Blackberry Bold. I carry a Curve now for business and it's a really great little phone. Will be interesting to see whether Etisalat or Du will change their Blackberry plans to include unlimited 3G traffic from the new Blackberry. But even without that issue, the Bold is a pretty sweet device it seems.

[fangpyre]

I don't think the keyboard is that bad.
I actually think it is better than most keyboards out there.
Also, the letters are nice big and clear, and multilingual (without the compromise)

[venky83]

I like the BB but I hate browsing on it.... the browser is so so so worse especially after using an iPhone

[noixe]

its big for a virtual keyboard, no doubt, especially compared to the windows 6 keyboards, but its still not fluent enuff as the real keyboards, i remember the best one i had was the iMate PDA2K, and i wud type without even luking@the keyboard, and i guess its the same on blackberry aswell, but wit the iPhone, not so mch