Analyst warns businesses off iPhone 3G

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An American analyst has warned businesses to wait before adopting Apple’s latest iPhone.

The 3G version of the popular smartphone was launched in the UK earlier this month.

But principal analyst and founder of Enderle Group, Rob Enderle said IT managers should not rush into allowing the iPhone 3G into their enterprises for a few weeks, until any potential flaws have been uncovered.

Apple tends to lead its launches on the hype surrounding products, he said.

And it “does such a good job controlling initial product reviews that problems associated with the 3G iPhone probably won’t be known until after it launches, when the raft of independent reviews become available,” added Enderle.

The warning comes only a week after UK analyst firm Ovum also questioned the iPhone’s ability to handle business applications, like the business intelligence mobility features specifically released for the device by Oracle last week.

Madan Sheina, Ovum principal analyst, said the hype and ‘cool’ appeal of the will only get the iPhone so far in an enterprise IT environment.

“It will take a lot more for the iPhone to appeal to the world of business computing, let alone BI, and drive adoption to levels reached by that of RIM or Windows Mobile in the enterprise segment,” she said.

The iPhone has been able to capitalise on the growing coverage and capacity of mobile networks and the narrowing gap in functionality between laptops and handheld, PDA-type devices.

As a result “application software vendors will no doubt continue to see opportunities for phone/handheld computer convergence,” added Sheina.

“In the meantime, BI is still a long way away from becoming part of the morning commute.”

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