THE JUNGLE REPORT

Did Apple discover the cure for cancer? From all the hype in the media and technology gurus, you’d think that this has to be the next best invention since sliced bread.

Come to find out, it’s just a phone that plays music, called iPhone.

Well, for your information, I already have a Siemens SX-66 from 3 years ago, that did just that. It has the Windows Mobile OS in it. In fact, even though I bought it with Cingular, I managed to unlock it. And now I use it in India with any wireless carrier as well, since it’s a GSM phone. All I have to do is change the SIM card. It also plays music, with the built-in windows media player. It has a slot for SD cards for memory expansion. And what do you know, it also has a browser for surfing the web.

iPhone does not even have a SIM card, and so it cannot be used with anyone else besides AT&T.

Don’t get me wrong. I think Apple is a great innovative company, especially since the return of Steve Jobs. I don’t use any of their products yet, but certainly they have been a leading global company and a great success story.

I’m just amazed at the incredible hype developed for this iPhone product in the media. They’re even talking and writing about it here in India, and iPhone is not even available here.

Just goes to show, marketing is everything. And for Apple, free marketing is even better.