Gizmodo listed these quotes from 2007 before the launch of the iPhone. Most of them from Apple’s competitors, and how they predicted the iPhone was doomed. Were they honestly surprised by Apple’s success, or were they posturing because they knew that it would dramatically change their business?
Go to the full article to see a video of Steve Ballmer laughing at the iPhone.
John C. Dvorak
Apple should pull the plug on the iPhone… What Apple risks here is its reputation as a hot company that can do no wrong. If it’s smart it will call the iPhone a ‘reference design’ and pass it to some suckers to build with someone else’s marketing budget. Then it can wash its hands of any marketplace failures… Otherwise I’d advise people to cover their eyes. You are not going to like what you’ll see.
Jon Rubinstein, Palm CEO
Is there a toaster that also knows how to brew coffee? There is no such combined device, because it would not make anything better than an individual toaster or coffee machine. It works the same way with the iPod, the digital camera or mobile phone: it is important to have specialized devices.
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO
There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance. It’s a $500 subsidized item. They may make a lot of money. But if you actually take a look at the 1.3 billion phones that get sold, I’d prefer to have our software in 60% or 70% or 80% of them, than I would to have 2% or 3%, which is what Apple might get.
Ed Colligan, ex-Palm CEO
We’ve learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone. PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.
Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia Chief Strategist
Tags: 2007, iPhone, reviewsThe development of mobile phones will be similar in PCs. Even with the Mac, Apple has attracted much attention at first, but they have still remained a niche manufacturer. That will be in mobile phones as well.
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