By Rigor C. Arellano
One of the most successful and well-loved companies in the world launched its new iPhone sans a decades-old technology, the headphone port. In a word, it was “Courage.” In memes: Dongle.
Some argue that it’s arrogance, choosing company profits over consumer convenience. Others offer explanations as to why taking the controversial leap towards a more wireless future now is indeed bold, especially from an entrepreneur’s standpoint.
But whether you’re rooting for Apple, Samsung, Google or Huawei; there’s something we can all take away from big company decisions like this: an example.
Think long-term
Nobody with limited resources, time and energy (who doesn’t?), would plan to put up a sustainable means of living for it to last only a few weeks. Thus, the efforts you take now must be drivers toward your end goal.
Think iTunes.
Before it’s launch, music was ubiquitously believed to be sold and enjoyed only by purchasing entire albums. Apple changed that when it made music downloadable at a dollar each, eventually entitling us to listen to music we liked anywhere, anytime. Till this day, it continues to bring in revenues for the company, and even, the music industry itself.
Apple is undoubtedly no short-term thinker. It thinks differently; it thinks ahead. And going back to its newest phone, some analysts actually speculate that the removal of the headphone port on the iPhone 7 is a step towards what the company will have (figuratively and literally) in store for its users next year, the iPhone’s 10th anniversary.
Side note
Should you purchase the iPhone 7 or wait till next year? It depends.
If you’re the kind of consumer who replaces your smartphone every two years to take advantage of new technology, then go for it. And in the spirit of planning ahead, getting enrolled under the iPhone Upgrade Program would probably suit you better.
Also, it’s the first iPhone that is dust and water resistant (like ip67 class; goodbye liquid damage) that starts at 32GB of storage and is priced the same as the iPhone 6s Plus.
If you happen to lack the money (or will) yet to buy the new iPhone, remember that being content with your current iPhone isn’t a crime. It’s never good to impulse-buy, especially if it would risk you going beyond your means.
Besides, iOS 10 is free, which according to this tech guide, feels like having a new phone anyway once installed on your phone.
Change isn’t easy
Chris Myers for Forbes placed it right: Consumers are a finicky bunch. We crave innovation yet dislike transition.
But whether we’ll stay loyal to a brand, or for those of us in the middle-ground to become actual promoters, relies mainly on an entrepreneur’s ideals and intentions. It also helps a lot if you make any major product or service shift desirable for us in the long haul, despite feeling the pains of adjustment.
Were our benefits in mind when you planned and implemented the change? We can tell.
When Apple finally confirmed the fears of some, bidding the headphone jack adios, some point out that it’s only because it wants us to buy the AirPods or other of the wireless headphones that Beats is offering. Perhaps. Is it a deplorable act for a business to do so? Certainly not.
Will we be heading onto a future of missing AirPods, or one of realized sci-fi dreams of a wireless world and where a virtual assistant is summoned by a simple tap on the ear? Time will reveal.
Meanwhile, here is a video from Business Insider of an Apple user testing out its AirPods:
Don’t rush it to profit
Much ado with quality has much to do with customer loyalty. Throw in an awesome system for support, and you’ll be remembered as a company that cares.
It is a lesson that Samsung knows very well, having gained a steady number of followers around the globe through the years. In an unfortunate series of events however this 2016, the highly-anticipated Galaxy Note 7 came out too early. Rather, too soon.
Samsung execs apparently heard a rumor that nothing heavy is going to happen with the new iPhone 7, and thus rushed all processes to beat the Apple product in both features and release date.
Of course, no well-meaning company would deliberately cause its customers any harm. (Because just why?) But the tighter deadlines that suppliers and processors had to meet apparently resulted to many of the products bursting into flames. And Samsung is sadly reaping lawsuitts.
Perhaps that adage is true: Haste makes waste.
Failure may be a drawback, even for big companies. But nevertheless, it is an unmistakable and important part of entrepreneurship—if you find the means and will to learn from it. That takes courage and more.