iPod vTouch – September 2008?

I’m keep hearing about the technology; WiMax vs 3G vs WiMax, Skype or SIP etc. Andy wrote a post suggesting that Video would be a key component defining what next in IP communications. That’s getting closer to why it might matter. There are comments here, here, here, and here. None of these really tell me a story. None really promote a scenario where I can see what a company or companies may do which excites you and me in such a way that our behavior changes. There was also no time put on it. When will this happen by? I’d suggest it could be quicker than you think (although it almost always never is)

Let’s be clear Skype changed behavior, first with audio that was better than the phone and more recently with video that from my perspective is best in class (although it still lacks multiparty video -SHAME and a decent mobile client).

Create a Scenario:

So where’s a story that might just illustrate what can change, who will adopt it and where video is most likely to pop out? In what product can it be introduced without cannibalizing other products and also enhancing reasons and rationales to trade up.

Many of my readers know I have quite a passion for the iPhone. I’ve also really enjoyed my various iPods. So this is a little scenario about the upcoming iPod vTouch. It’s really simple. To make it credible it also helps to have a few mocked up or real newspaper or blog headlines. It makes it all more plausible. Eg in 2029 Steve Job’s Clone takes over. Seriously these are more here and now.

• iPod Touch VoIP Phone Calling – January 2008 present as: “Geeks announce Free Calls for all iPod users”
• New iPhone Clone – iPod Touch? February 2008 present as: Sprint provides Parents with $120 per year Unlimited Talk Text Video plan for iPod users.

Introducing iPod vTouch:

Sometime in September 2008 Apple will announce the iPod vTouch. It will come after the 3G iPhone which will be going live in I don’t know how many countries now. It’s a new enhanced video version that will let you share and chat in video and about videos over WiFi. Unlike the iPhone the iPod vTouch doesn’t have a camera on the back or a phone inside. By contrast it has a webcam on the front next to the screen and naturally it will have to have a mic. Likely to be crippled or require an upgrade. So quite likely that the headphones may have a mic. That keeps the speakers and mic outside of the body just like the current iPhone. The dongle mic speaker is then an option.

So now we have an iPod vTouch that does video calls. It doesn’t matter whether you hold it in video or portrait mode. It leaves enough upgrades open and differences to still make the iPhone more attractive to those that have the money.

What can the iPod vTouch provide.

• Video Calls. I don’t really care whether SIP or Skype. Either one can / could work on the iPhone platform.
• Video in Video… Watch the YouTube video together and talk about it at the same time. Share your music in a call. The iPod touch can usher in the next generation of communication.
• Mobility. For many kids and in many markets the PC is shared and in a central room or area. The beauty of the iPod vTouch is you now get your mini computer to surf the web, talk to friends, to use anywhere in the house. If you thought portable phones were preferred then this takes BFF’s (best friends forever) to a new level with a webcam.

Why this strategy makes sense.
It introduces a new iPod to young users who aren’t going to get the iPhone yet. Their next step will be the iPhone in 3+ years time. They won’t want anything else. Apple quickly gets a youthful platform that will introduce and use the video in new ways. The freedom to access video chat in any hotspot will make many activities on the PC obsolete or tired. On the iPhone this will have the same impact for us oldies when you add in GPS.

It fits with Apple’s strategy which effectively start younger than Nokia et al. Phones are demanded by kids, and few can demand the iPhone from their parents. Unless it is always on the price premium is too large and the plans aren’t justified. So this puts a highly mobile internet device in their hands. It works at all their friends places. it provides them with their first webcams (in many cases, and they will use it) and they can use the VoIP connection to play the music, share the video etc together.

Video for Apple is what Music was five years ago. Last night I was watching vTap videos on my iPhone while watching TV (weird I know). Sharing short video is the way forward. Whether live; putting the camera on the front makes it easier for two or three to be in the picture which will sell a lot of speaker /mic for the iPod. All the iLike programs then become more powerful. Who’s playing what etc. Battery life can also be managed differently on the iPod.

It will add a presence capability to the contact list. It has to come anyways. eg Contact is online in a WiFi zone you can call now etc. Probably even tie it into facebook etc.

Will it Succeed?
We simply don’t know. We know that both the iPod and iPhone are basically the same device. The Touch is such an elegant device that it got me and I’m sure many others to go out and get an iPhone. Ie the kids brought it into the house. They will even argue and begin using the vTouch to keep down their mobile minute usage. Thus again teaching their parents about low cost calling, transferring their landline to VoIP and so on….

Concurrently you have an iPhone 3G about to launch. It will be enterprise ready. In fact yesterday talking to someone at HP it would appear that they are testing the iPhone Enterprise inside. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised It’s the perfect enterprise client for Apple and now they just need all of EDS and HP using it… It won’t take long for SIP / VoIP to make its way into the cost savings plans.

Apple is closing in on creating a platform that is bigger than the total PC market. If they stick to enabling it like upgrading MAC’S and keep encouraging others to build on it both software and hardware then it becomes very interesting. Their strategy is working when Fedex replaces their delivery thingy with an iPhone. Oh and that version… may have a slightly larger screen. Same platform.

What’s it mean to others?
I think Apple’s smart phone competitors will be pulling their hair out. Sony may have the talent inside to address it. Nokia I’d like to their what next. Motorola well they are history and it appears so is the Windows Mobile platform. Blackberry? big?. Nintendo would be fun to work with. What should PC manufacturers do? HP, Dell, Lenovo or Acer?

Finally, does this have anything to do with WiMax? Well WiMax is symmetrical and would encourage P2P sharing of this type. Prototyping next generation sharing on the iPod Platform (which has also sold millions) could make selling in a bigger proposition to the carrier easier.

Can it come quicker than we think? If Apple wants to win they have to move all the social networking onto and into the phone pronto. Video is a key component today on the PC. I can’t wait to have it on my iPhone V even if it remains limited to WiFi for now. Oh and now where is the home phone?????? Anyone seen the iPod? Mum Dad, get me an iPhone. You can have my old vTouch to replace the home phone. Altec Lansing speakers can ring and ring. Now anyone in the house can video phone for free!

Plausible or not? You tell me.

Tagged as: apple, iphone, ipod, ipodtouch, scenarios, VoIP, WiMax