I am really enjoying the cat and mouse game that Apple and Palm are playing with the Pre’s ability to sync to iTunes. Forever, the iTunes advantage was that it sold a TON of Apple products (iPods, iPod Touch-es or iPhones), while at the same time selling a TON of Apple-sponsored content (music, movies, applications).
The little skirmish has me thinking about the impact of a crowded smartphone market. When iTunes was only the primary vehicle for iPods (and to the exclusion of other music players), everything was copacetic because the iPod dominated the music player market. The functionality of the iPod far exceeded even the closest competitor, so the delivery device mattered less than the fact that something connected to the best player on the market to its content.
The smartphone market is a little different. In the smartphone market, there are compromises everywhere. Physical keyboard or not, AT&T or not, and the list goes on. Plus, the cellphone/smartphone market is so huge, it’s really going to be difficult to own it all – if you’re Apple. Unlike the music player market, the smartphone market has been pretty well-established for a while before Apple entered the market. Plus, the world of cellphone contracts means that it is difficult to capture the market by inspiration. There is always that pesky cancelation penalty hanging around.
I guess what I’m saying is that I wonder why Apple just doesn’t give up this fight. Palm Pre-ses syncing with iTunes just means selling more music and/or movies. It means more people being introduced to the beauty of Apple design (and perhaps moving to iPhones when the time is right) and potentially more Mac sales.
By the way, as I was writing this post, I saw an ad for AT&T wireless. Lots of phones being displayed. The one phone not displayed at all? The best selling phone, of course – the iPhone.