First iPhone, now iChange, what next?

created by swiss automaker, rinspeed, the ‘iChange’ is a concept that basically replaces the dashboard and key vehicle controls with the iPhone.

with the iphone, the driver can transform at the push of a button, from a single-seater sports car to a vehicle that accommodates three people. the extra seats are contained under rear end of the teardrop-shaped panel which pops up, creating more room. other features of the car include lightweight (only 2324 lbs), an electric motor, solar panels powering the cooling system, a smart fuel consumption and battery system, etc.

in my humble opinion, iPhone will not be around forever and it will eventually be replaced by a smaller, sleeker, smarter phone. by the time the car goes into production, apple will probably come up with another kick-ass product to replace the iPhone. and what if the iPhone breaks down, does that mean the car won't start or function properly? hm... doesn't seem too practical to base the concept around a phone.

maybe it's immature to criticize, so let's revisit this after the geneva motor show.

A Potential iPhone Killer?

the 3G service providers in HK are all trying to out-do hutchison's iphone offering with devices from other vendors and a cheaper tariff plan. although no device or mobile gadget can live up to apple's cool and trendy lifestyle reputation, hutchison's tariff for one is a setback for many consumers, including myself. so i've decided to revisit my mobile purchasing plan.

after several weeks of reading consumer IT magazines, browsing on the internet and getting insider info, i've decided to go with my second option, the moto ming 2. adding a data plan onto my existing one would probably be a lot wiser, given that i do not have to be tied down for two years and pay a premium for the device.

so feast your eyes on what could become a potential iphone killer... although i am uncertain at the specs and exact retail price, my prediction of the moto ming 2 (features: 3G, GPS, applications add-ons, etc.) would range from HK$3800-4000. lets see whether my prediction is correct come august.

A Brand That Speaks For Itself

instead of talking about how great the 3g iphone is, highlighting the specs and talk about what everyone else is talking about, i would like to look at this from a marketer's perspective.

apple has simply created not just an iconic brand, but a lifestyle which everyone is after. the introduction of the macbook air, ipod and iphone are great examples of how apple has turned its products around to becoming must haves.

i am sure not how much apple spends on advertising, pr, online, etc., but i believe majority of publicity is self-generated by end-users / consumers who are in love with the brand. let me give you some examples of the buzz that has generated after steve jobs made the announcement of the 3g iphone at the apple's worldwide developers conference.

source: blogpulse

source: google trends

source: factiva (iphone mentions)

source: factiva (apple mentions)

there you have it. apple has done it again. for those that weren't able to wait for the 3g version and got the aftermarket 2g version, time to upgrade?