Unified Communications Coming to iPhone
The iPhone isn’t a business device. The iPhone isn’t for business applications. Hogwash. The VAR Guy NEVER believed all of those crazy statements from tech pundits. He has long suspected that Cisco Systems and other companies would find ways to write unified applications for the iPhone. Today, Apple finally bowed to demand and announced a software development kit for the iPhone. The move paves the way for the iPhone to increasingly support business applications.
Apple’s timing was super-smart. First, focus on the consumer market. Then, let those early adopters bring the iPhone into work — stirring iPhone demand within the executive ranks. Now, introduce a software development kit to more closely link the iPhone to corporate applications.
Smart. Very smart. And exactly what the mobile device market needs. Apple and Cisco had been kicking around a potential iPhone-unified communications relationship over the summer. But the talks broke down.
Rather than betting the house on Cisco-specific applications, Apple can now offer a level playing field to all third-party software developers through the SDK, which is slated to debut in February.
[…] The VAR Guy started today with a breakfast meeting. He was discussing business with two PR pros when one of them #8212; let#8217;s call him LaDanian #8212; asked The VAR Guy why hadn#8217;t broken down and purchased the iPhone yet. Good question. The VAR Guy had spent the past two days at a MuniWireless conference, where the iPhone buzz was overwhelming. And he#8217;s been blogging non-stop about the iPhone#8217;s promise as a business device. […]
[…] is using the iPhone to access NetSuite applications. And Apple in February will introduce an iPhone software development kit that brings even more business apps to the […]
[…] Nothing ever came of those discussions. But Cisco#8217;s software development team as well as Apple#8217;s forthcoming software development kit should allow the iPhone to integrate more tightly with Cisco-powered networks. […]