Below is a comment I left over at scobeliezer.com.
Pardon my cynicism, but I have to ask this question.
Could Apple have planned the iPocalypse on purpose?
I ask because Apple is full of smart people. They have to be or they would not have produced the consistently top rate products, marketing, and brand management we have observed to this point. Could this same organization really not foresee the capacity issues they might face during the release of iPhone 2.0?
Just count the number of iPhones you shipped to vendors and multiply by the resources required during the average activation process. That's the amount of resources you need. Plus 20%. This is simple planning. What happened to Apple's calculations?
That raises the question: Could this just be a deft marketing move on Apple's part?
Actually, what does Apple have to lose through such a marketing plan? They are essentially inconveniencing the hard core Mac Addicts that will buy Apple products regardless of the circumstance. These folks are in Apple's pocket and will take a little abuse for the privilege of being one of the first with the newest shiny Apple toy. (I mean that in the least offensive way possible.) Apple probably isn't risking the population of users that are considering a switch, and more profits for Apple.
So now Apple as traded a little political capital with its hard core fans for the chance to say that iPhone 2.0 was so popular it crashed the iPhone activation infrastructure. That is actually a pretty powerful statement of popularity. Why not spend the political capital with its hard core users?
Now for the disclaimers. I'm a recent Mac convert and love my MBP. I'm currently strategizing a pitch to justify purchasing an iPhone 2.0 to my wife. If the iPocalypse is a planned marketing event, I think it's brilliant. I probably over-simplified things a little.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put an Apple sticker on my tinfoil hat.
Have a great weekend!
Pardon my cynicism, but I have to ask this question.
Could Apple have planned the iPocalypse on purpose?
I ask because Apple is full of smart people. They have to be or they would not have produced the consistently top rate products, marketing, and brand management we have observed to this point. Could this same organization really not foresee the capacity issues they might face during the release of iPhone 2.0?
Just count the number of iPhones you shipped to vendors and multiply by the resources required during the average activation process. That's the amount of resources you need. Plus 20%. This is simple planning. What happened to Apple's calculations?
That raises the question: Could this just be a deft marketing move on Apple's part?
Actually, what does Apple have to lose through such a marketing plan? They are essentially inconveniencing the hard core Mac Addicts that will buy Apple products regardless of the circumstance. These folks are in Apple's pocket and will take a little abuse for the privilege of being one of the first with the newest shiny Apple toy. (I mean that in the least offensive way possible.) Apple probably isn't risking the population of users that are considering a switch, and more profits for Apple.
So now Apple as traded a little political capital with its hard core fans for the chance to say that iPhone 2.0 was so popular it crashed the iPhone activation infrastructure. That is actually a pretty powerful statement of popularity. Why not spend the political capital with its hard core users?
Now for the disclaimers. I'm a recent Mac convert and love my MBP. I'm currently strategizing a pitch to justify purchasing an iPhone 2.0 to my wife. If the iPocalypse is a planned marketing event, I think it's brilliant. I probably over-simplified things a little.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put an Apple sticker on my tinfoil hat.
Have a great weekend!
