Having acknowledged that Apple would appear to be the mobile development platform of choice at the moment, I have entered the Apple garden, and thus far have been delighted with the whole experience.
I have already built my first application and used AppMakr as an initial web based development tool, just to get up and running. Having subscribed to the Apple developer program, I now have access to the tools and ability to offer approved applications via the iTunes store.
Now the last real programming I did was on the 6510 processor, the divertive of the 6502 processor that fuelled the 1980’s home computer revolution. I am finding it really refreshing, because it’s an activity that is mentally taxing, yet free from a large degree of interference – you just simply get on, design, build and test. It’s also fun because the last code that I wrote was over 20 years ago whilst at Plymouth University, and we had nothing like the set of tools available today – I remember still writing code that would be batch tested overnight!
However I am conscious that this is only a short lived period in the evolution of the FBO Guides as my primary focus needs to be on the marketing and business development of the project, but at least I will have a grounding in the technologies that are being used, which I am sure will help in future product development.
I am really enjoying getting to grips with a new challenge, but also laying the foundations of the project, so I can go out and promote what I am working on to the business aviation community with a good understanding of how the product might evolve and what the possible is.
Roy 3rd June
Nokia 5230 running the AV8Services Application
Currently a lot of my focus is on the development of the FBO guide, and how to deliver the information to the prospective audience.
Given the very nature of the service, delivery on a mobile platform is taken as a given.
Having read this morning that the iPad has arrived, I started thinking about the mobile strategy and which platforms to deliver on.
I’ve always had a time for Apple and think that it’s healthy that alternative platforms exist. When the iPhone first came out I think it was universally regarded as “cool”. However as the other phone manufacturers have now caught up, I think Apple is over-rated and certainly overpriced.
I have discovered the iPad with mobile connectivity is going to use a non-standard SIM, what a joke ! – Does the iPad data have something magical about it ? – other than the ability to allow the mobile service providers to rip you off for the privilege of being an Apple user. I can see no technical reason, it’s purely a marketing scam.
Sorry it’s not innovative or “cool”, Apple – your doing just because you can.
My first exposure to mobile data was back in the late 90’s when I was working at Ideal Hardware, the Nokia banana made famous in the Matrix was all the rage – I wanted one and immediately set about using the 9600 baud data connectivity. Websites still where largely designed around a dial-up-audience. So I’ve seen the game evolve from day one.
Well yesterday I’ve invested in a new Nokia 5230 – OK it’s the budgetary mainstream for Nokia at the moment, but here are my four reasons for choosing Nokia over Apple
1/ It’s a phone first – At a meeting in central London the other day, the only attendees who could get a signal where those with Nokia phones. Your blackberry, iPhone or whatever is useless if it cannot communicate with the outside world.
Nokia built a lot of the mobile infrastructure and transmitters as well – it follows therefore that it should have a head start on the reception front
Round 1 – Nokia
2/ Cost of Ownership
Firstly I am with T-mobile, therefore I either need a jail break phone or to change to 02, at £50 per month for 18 months, so £900 worth of contract or £500 to purchase a phone.
Then we turn to data, I currently get unlimited (well I’ve never hit the barrier) as part of my monthly tariff, I think it added a £5 to the monthly costs. iPad option see to start around £20 per month for realistic monthly usage.
Round 2 – Nokia
3/ Extras
Lets see – Nokia’s entry level sub £100 touch phone has given me – full GPS mapping and directions for most of the known world, 10 tracks to download from the Music Store, 10GB of online accessible storage, e-mail clients and access.
Understand from my Apple friends that Apple’s policy is like a 1980’s BMW – anything you might desire is likely to be on the options list with a suitable price tag attached.
Round 3 – Nokia
4/ As a Development Platform
Now I don’t have a Mac, but to develop iPhone applications you need both an iPhone and a Mac computer and a later model intel chipset one at that.
Nokia have actually made the process of developing Apps so easy, that I already have one in the works already – due for publication in the next week or so
Round 4 – Nokia
So now back to the serious business of which platform
Market Share
Well, this is where we get to the power of marketing and brands – essentially I get the same functionality form my Nokia as my friends do from the iPhone – but Apple have taken a huge market share in the markets that matter to me in the past five years or so.
Market share for Q4 2009 is coming in at 40% for Apple in North America, v 11% for Nokia, and things are even better for Apple in Nokia’s backyard with market share at 68% and Nokia hanging in at 8%
So unless my specific aviation market feedback reflects that aviation professionals across Europe are bucking the trend, reluctantly the iPhone platform must be on the agenda and is more important than the Nokia one.
So on that note, whilst I will always champion Nokia, my head say’s it has to be Apple.
Roy 28th May 2010
