Apple mobile phones are trackers of how the mobile market behaves and of how they are used. The new iPhone, even if it is not the revolution it was thought to be, gives valuable insights on the state of the field.
Changes
What is new exactly? First the look, glass was abandoned in favor of aluminum. Then the speed, the new A6 chip makes it twice as fast as the previous iPhone. A new connector standard also appears. But of all the changes it is the screen which catches most attention. It increased from 3.5 to 4 inches. The increase in screen size is directly linked to the rise of the use of mobiles in our life. It results in a will to have a more comfortable experience when using mobile devices. A bigger screen brings a better experience for long use. Telephones and tablets are a new marker and create new ways of consuming and accessing information.
Consequences
Firstly, there is a quick increase in the use of mobile devises for finding information on the Internet. Mobile phones, tablets now benefit from much quicker Internet connection than before with the development of LTE/4G. They are always ready to be used and one can almost instantly look for information through them. Their screens which get bigger and bigger and offer better definition allow showing more and more information at once. Moreover, the new cloud possibilities allow a user to synchronize it browsing experience from a Mac to an iPhone or an iPad really pushing forward the use of mobile devices.
Secondly, social networks are more and more used to share information. A constant connection to twitter and now Facebook makes it easier than ever before to share a trip picture, the photograph of a meal, a new product bought, etc. Social network become the center of much activity and influence purchasing decisions. They can be very beneficial to firms but also hurt their reputation quickly. A social network watch therefore becomes necessary for some firms.
Third is the steady increase of geolocalisation services. As more and more smartphone with GPS appear the services allowing for geolocalisation develop meaning one can now send location along with message or pictures. It makes it easy to find the restaurant where your friends enjoyed such a great meal or the resort or hotel where they had their best experience. Geolocalisation related services become strong marketing tools for targeting local customers for local businesses. They become more and more efficient as more people start using smartphones and tablets.
Once again the iPhone 5 is not a revolution. It though affirms again that we entered the era characterized by constant connection and holds many opportunities.