BU Now » iPhone

Apple draws antitrust suspicions

Dick Taffe — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:39:26 +0000

Federal antitrust enforcers are considering a probe into Apple Inc. after changes in the company’s licensing agreement with iPhone application developers that forbids the use of software tools other than Apple’s to build programs or the transmission of analytical data to third parties like advertisers. It’s yet to be decided if the inquiry would be conducted by the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice. School of Management Professor Michael Salinger, a former FTC director, says there was a time when the DoJ might have gone easier on Apple than the FTC.

“During the Bush years, Apple would surely have preferred that DoJ get the case. I question whether that is still true.”

Contact Michael Salinger, 617-353-4408, salinger@bu.edu

Palm bought by H-P

Dick Taffe — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:15:32 +0000

Struggling smart-phone pioneer Palm Inc., unable to keep up with Apple’s iPhone or RIM’s Blackberry, is being bought out by Hewlett-Packard for around $1.4 billion in cash. School of Management Professor N. Venkat Venkatraman, chair of the Information Systems Department, says he has his doubts if H-P CEO Mark Hurd can make this bet pay off.

“But if he can develop a series of devices (netbooks, smartphones and other devices) using Palm WebOS, then H-P could emerge as a serious competitor to Apple, Google, Nokia, RIMM and Microsoft. “

Contact N. Venkat Venkatraman, 617-353-7117, venkat@bu.edu

Apple planning non-AT&T iPhone

Dick Taffe — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:40:29 +0000

In what could break the AT&T monopoly on iPhone sales in the U.S., Apple Inc. reportedly is planning to produce an iPhone that can be sold by other carriers like Verizon using the CDMA wireless network. School of Management Professor N. Venkat Venkatraman, chairman of the Information Systems Department, says it’s a strategic move by Apple to establish superiority in the USA.

“Consumers love Verizon’s network and that has allowed Google’s Android to gain a stronghold. This will ensure that consumers get iPhone on their favorite network and then Apple can migrate them to iPad and other future devices.”

Contact N. Venkat Venkatraman, 617-353-7117, venkat@bu.edu

Measuring Calories on the iPhone

Lauren Davalla — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:29:20 +0000

Nutrition graduate student Larry Istrail recently launched an innovative new iPhone Application called PhotoCalorie allowing users to snap photos of their snacks and meals, enter a short description, and track their calorie intakes. The App, which is currently offered to Apple customers free of charge, also allows users to keep a visual food journal which he hopes will help them communicate with their doctors about what they are really eating and, hopefully, improve eating habits.

Apple may offer iPhone via Verizon

Dick Taffe — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:39:44 +0000

School of Management Professor N. Venkat Venkatraman, chairman of the Information Systems Department, says word that Apple may be expanding its iPhone offerings beyond the AT&T network to include the Verizon network shows Apple’s market power.

“Apple is the market leader — not because of share but due to its ability to define the rules of the game. With its iPhone, it redefined the rules of engagement with the network carriers. Over the last two years, they have succeeded in making sure that their point of view is embraced by the carriers.

“Now, as it seeks to expand beyond a niche market, Apple is again trying to write the new rules of engagement. Will it continue with exclusive links with AT&T and forego market expansion possibilities or offer different products for different carriers?

“I think it will offer different products for different carriers in the next go-around. And in doing so, Apple retains its role as a leader in setting the rules. It has huge power by virtue of its app store and billion downloads.

“The carriers have to decide if they are competitors to Apple’s app store or partners in co-creating the ecosystem.”

Contact N. Venkat Venkatraman, 617-353-7117, venkat@bu.edu

Marketers of Apple’s “Baby Shaker” should be fired

Dick Taffe — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:51:27 +0000

Apple, Inc., apologized for allowing the iPhone game “Baby Shaker” – that let a player quiet a virtual crying infant by shaking the device – to be distributed through iPhone App Stores. College of Communication Professor Peter Morrissey, an expert in PR reputation management, says the marketers should be fired.

“This was a bad idea gone bad. The reputation issues are obvious. They can apologize, but this is not enough. People get fired and companies close for lesser things in both the real world and in the fantasy-game world. Those responsible for marketing this game should have gone out of business, aka, fired.”

Contact Peter Morrissey, 617-353-1020, pmorriss@bu.edu