iPhone Apps Effect on Society

Katherine Hasse

IT 103, Section

March 1, 2011

iPhone Apps Effect on Society

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Katherine Hasse

Introduction

            iPhone Apps are probably the number one reason why people buy an iPhone. Over 300,000 Apps are available through the iTunes store on the iPhone and about 5,000 more are offered each month (Ahlund). These Apps encompass any aspect of a user’s life from playing games, to finding the cheapest gas, to managing your money, to checking the weather, to social networking. There is virtually nothing this phone cannot do because new Apps constantly fill in gaps in consumer demand. The phone’s versatility due to its variety of Apps is a marketing strength. Children, adults, businessmen and recreational users can all find a use for the iPhone. Unlike other cellular devices, the iPhone does not need software updates; you simply upload the latest App instead. This ensures product longevity in an ever-changing information technology market.

Background

            Apple released the iPhone to the market on June 29, 2007 and sold three million units by the end of the year making it the fastest-selling smart phone ever. It has an 8-GB drive and allows users to purchase and download music and Apps through their iTunes accounts directly from their phones (Voelstein). It was several months after the iPhone was released before Apps were allowed on the phone. Developers working outside of Apple create apps, and Apple has to approve each App and keeps 30 cents on every dollar that customers spend. Other cell phone apps, such as those on a BlackBerry, are cumbersome to buy and install and usually involve visiting the app’s own website with a credit card. Apple eliminated this inconvenience by linking the App Store directly to iTunes (Ahlund).

Potential Benefits

            The iPhone has put the control of the cell phone industry back into the consumers, developers and manufactures’ hands. App sales demonstrate what consumers are interested in buying, which in turn allows developers and manufactures to make products that will sell. In February 2008, Steve Jobs, president and CEO of Apple released a developers kit so that anyone can write programs for the iPhone that they may submit to Apple for approval. This allows small developers to compete with large firms for part of the Apps market share (Vogelstein).

Legal and Ethical Issues

            The iPhone’s popularity does come with a price. It used to be that the iPhone was only offered through one service provider, AT&T. This allowed for monopolist-like activities on the part of AT&T. When buying an iPhone through AT&T, consumers must buy a two-year service contract. Also, when the upgrade to an iPhone 3G S was available, AT&T required consumers to buy a new contract but fined those who renewed their contracts before eighteen months had passed (Ayers). This past February the iPhone was release to Verizon who can now compete with AT&T and hopefully this will lower service contract abuse.

Security Concerns

            Apple has a reputation of strong security against hackers in their MAC line as well as the iPhone. However, there have been a few security concerns with the iPhone. One that relates to the AppStore is an App update that was found in February 2010 that could reconfigure the iPhone’s proxy settings, thus allowing hackers to redirect all traffic through a server of their choosing. It could also disable the use of Safari, Mail and other Apps and wreak havoc on the Wifi and Email settings. It also could set a configuration file so the once on the iPhone, the user could not remove it without wiping the entire handset. App updates are available through the AppStore and are munually installed by the user. Thus it is up to the user as to whether or not to install this viral “update.” Luckily the App update looked fraudulent and Apple quickly disposed of it (Kumparak).   

Social Problems

            Some people have become iPhone addicts, also known as iSyndrome. The iPhone is so customizable due to its App selection that people feel it is an intricate part of their lives. Many have their iPhones on them at all times and constantly check email, the weather, facebook, etc. This can lead to problems in social situations, such as a dinner with friends, where a user will not be able to put the iPhone away. Many people consider it rude to check your phone in a social situation and the iPhone is designed to encourage constant use of the device (Whitlock).

Further Required Research

            There has recently been a growing interest in cloud computing particularly with regard to Google and its association with Verizon’s Droid SmartPhone. It will be interesting to see how this affects the iPhone. Perhaps the iPhone will incorporate cloud computing into its reparatory. Security is also a growing concern among iPhone users as more business users are replacing their BlackBerrys with an iPhone. The security of documents, spreadsheets and emails are of new interest to iPhone consumers as they tie their business activities into the iPhone.  

Conclusion

            The iPhone and its Apps are the epitomy of the information technology market that is aimed toward consumers. The iPhone allows consumers to customize their phones and design the App market through their selections. Any developer can compete to publish their App with Apple and Apple’s recent expansion to Verizon has allowed for carrier service competition as well. While there are security concerns as the iPhone’s popularity and market share grows, there are comparatively few security issues as there are with computers of other hand-help devices. Socially, the iPhone is taking on society by a storm. It allows people to define and monitor their lives in ways never before possible. However, these opportunities bring with them increasing concerns over how the iPhone will be used in society and in social situations. New rules for iPhone users in social situations will undoubtedly emerge from this new technology. This is the epitome of new technology, is it not? Technology not only enhances our capacity for productivity but changes the way we perceive and interact with the world and with our fellow human beings.

Works Cited

Ahlund, A. (2010). The Top 40 iPhone Apps of 2010. Retrieved Mar. 1, 2011, from

            http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/26/top-40-iphone-apps-2010/

Ayers, L. (2009). Kiddie Camo or The iPhone 36 S? The Addict's Dilemma. Mac Life,

            1(31), 6.

Kumparak, G. (2010). Potentially nasty new iPhone security flaw discovered. Retrieved

            Mar. 1, 2011, from http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/02/03/potentially-nasty-                
             new-iphone-security-flaw-discovered/

Whitlock, M. (2008). Matt's Tech Law #4 - Cure Yourself of iSyndrome Before It's Too

            Late. Retrieved Mar. 1, 2011, from http://www.techlore.com/blog/entry/24504/Matt-  
             s-Tech-Law-4-Cure-Yourself-of- iSyndrome-Before-It-s-Too-Late/

Vogelstein, F. (2008). The Untold Story: How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry.

            Wired Magazine 2(16). Retrieved Mar. 1, 2011, from

            http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/16-

            02/ff_iphone?currentPage=4