Jobs Discusses Product Strategies
- May 12th, 2007
- Apple News, iPhone
- Alex Brooks
During last weeks annual shareholders meeting Steve Jobs was questioned on the future of current Apple products and what’s planned in the future. A brief overview was offered immediately after the meeting but now more details have been revealed.
When question on Apple’s mobile phone strategy Jobs pulled an iPhone out of his pocket and began to talk of the potential the mobile market has for Apple, but he was keen to express that “we’re [Apple] beginners, and we have a lot to learn.”
It has been rumoured by some sites that multiple Apple execs were seen using iPhone’s before and after the meeting. “A few of us have been using the iPhone a lot,” Jobs said during his question and answer session. “If you wanted it back, you would have to pry it from our dead hands.”
Steve Jobs reiterated that the iPhone will ship next month and in volume.
When Jobs was asked about third party iPhone applications he replied that Apple was “wrestling” with the decision to allow companies to develop for the iPhone.
One comment from a shareholder suggested that Apple take on a similar strategy to Microsoft and develop a low cost version of Mac OS X for developing countries. “Do you think we should offer Mac OS 9?” Jobs wittily replied.
“I think Apple could sell the developing world Tiger while selling Leopard here,” the shareholder replied. Jobs paused for a moment and said that could be an option.
Finally Jobs was asked about the future of the .Mac service, in particular noting Apple’s minimal efforts to upgrade the service.
Jobs admitted that .Mac was languishing, “We have not achieved our full potential,” he said, adding that the company planned to soon release a new set of initiatives for .Mac.