iBetter?

Yesterday Apple announced its latest software update. The revision will include over 100 new features and benefits which will enable programmers and developers to create new apps for iPhone users. Some of the features promising benefit the end user will be MMS messaging, cut, copy and paste functions, the ability to sync Google Calendar with your iPhone, Bluetooth connections to other iPhone users, Push notification features, extra search functions, plus many many more.
I for one am waiting with breath that in baited, as an iPhone user, I think this is a great move for Apple. It will help to keep the existing customers and also attract new customer to convert to apple technology.

With critics labeling it as a ‘great gadget but a bad phone’, it is more important that ever for Apple to update the iPhone. The current restraints on the iPhone have been (for myself at least) very frustrating, with even the most standard of functions unavailable i.e. MMS messaging. With the advanced technology of apple devices and being market leaders in their field, there seems no logical reason for iPhones not to possess this level of functionality. Have Apple been purposely holding back on these in order create the hype and media coverage that they are obviously getting, and of which will only increase leading up to the official launch of the update?? I believe that this could be the case, and in my opinion a bold move, but one that has and will continue to pay off for them as the popularity and brand strength of Apple and the iPhone go from strength to strength. Philip Schiller, Apple's SVP of worldwide product marketing, has been quoted as saying ‘The changes would keep the iPhone years ahead of its rivals.’ I think that this statement is well founded, as long as Apple and the app developers keep on their toes!!

With ‘Jailbreaking’ technology becoming more widely available to users, it is increasingly important for Apple to keep ahead of the game, the new 3.0 update will give Apple the advantage and eliminate the need for most illegal ‘jailbreaks’. The increased availabilities of basic functionality, along with new and existing features apple will defiantly have competitive advantage and offer a near perfect range!! (In my bias opinion anyway).

The Strategy

I have begun to write my new marketing strategy today. Sales are on the decline (as they are for most people) and for the first time in company history people are starting to panic!

We are more than half way through the month and there have been no sales what so ever so far. People are starting to realise that something needs to be done to pull in new business - enter me! On closer analysis of the sales techniques that have been used in the past I immediately spotted huge gaps in the market and in procedures. I have rushed together a core marketing plan and strategy (which I will need to heavily expand on over the coming week) and was amazed at people reactions to the fact that half of the techniques I suggested had never even been thought of.

Writing the strategy is going to be a LOT of work. There has been no research, gap analysis, customer information, competitor profiling or geographic work done what so ever. I am actually enjoying to all the nitty gritty parts of the plan and am even looking forward to presenting this to the MD and starting off the implementation plan!

YouTube Cull & The Mixed View

I can understand the mixed opinion of the recent YouTube cleanup. On the request of more royalties being paid the songwriters and artists for videos submitted by YouTube users, Google have removed a large number of ‘Premium Music videos’ and privately made video including mainstream music. This decision came in response to PRS, who collect royalties for artists, asking Google pay charges to songwriters and composers. They could not come to any fixed deal, with Google calling PRS’s request as ‘too Prohibitive’ . In response to the removal bid Google have made, UK music has labelled the company as being ‘exploitative’.

I am in very mixed opinions on this issue, on one hand I agree that songwriters and composers are rightfully entitled to royalties when their music is used. The music business is seeing a decline as it stands, with an increase of illegal downloading and file sharing sites popping up all over the net, I can understand the perceived importance of demands made by the industry body. Refusal to pay sent out a message to the music industry that they do not agree with charges but the main sufferers of this exercise are the YouTube users…. Without the permissions of official music videos and tracks, the great success and usage of the site will fall dramatically, meaning a decrease in profits for the owners. The use of these tracks and videos are again a mixed bag, It could be seen as free advertising for the artists/ record companies etc, as people can review songs with removing them from the site, in this sense I disagree with UK Music for their actions.

So what is the answer? Do Google pay the charges laid out and risk having to charge users for the service or should UK Music re-evaluate their demands and come to an agreement with Google?