iPhone OS Version 3.0 – Why Now?

It would be easy to think that the announcement of next week’s preview of iPhone Version 3 can be attributed to the annual cycle that Apple seems to be on with regard to both the operating system and the hardware for the iPhone and the iPod Touch.

I, however, think it can be attributed to something else.

I think the fact that Apple is moving so quickly to preview the next iPhone OS (I suspect it will be previewed next week but not available until June or July) has to do with outside factors and forces. I think it is the result of Apple, for the first time, feeling some real competition and pressure with regards to the iPhone, its operating system, and the applications it offers.

And the pressure is coming from at least two sources.

It would be easy to think that the announcement of next week’s preview of iPhone Version 3 can be attributed to the annual cycle that Apple seems to be on with regard to both the operating system and the hardware for the iPhone and the iPod Touch.

I, however, think it can be attributed to something else.

I think the fact that Apple is moving so quickly to preview the next iPhone OS (I suspect it will be previewed next week but not available until June or July) has to do with outside factors and forces. I think it is the result of Apple, for the first time, feeling some real competition and pressure with regards to the iPhone, its operating system, and the applications it offers.

And the pressure is coming from at least two sources.

First– the Palm Pre.

If it lives up to some of the initial hype the upcoming Palm Pre will be some stiff competition for the iPhone. It, unlike our current iPhones will run apps in the background, have real bluetooth and more. In fact, if you look at some of the lists of many possible upgrades in OSX iPhone 3.0 they mimic features that will be part of the Pre’s feature-set.

Moreover, even if it does not live up to the hype, the Pre has already stolen some of the iPhone’s spotlight. At any time, but especially in this economy and at this point in the iPhone’s ascent, that isn’t a good thing.

Yesterday’s announcement, of the upcoming announcement, of the upcoming (but not soon) Version 3.0 stole back some of that buzz. Well done Apple!
 
Second- Jailbreaking

The jailbreaking community Is growing. It is finding more and more acceptance and as the applications available only to those who have chosen to free their iPhones mature the momentum continues to build.

There were two recent events of note that only serve to speed up this process. First, this week saw the release of a formal application store for jailbreak apps. That makes a clear statement about how well established the jailbreak market already is and serves to encourage developers to keep building jailbreak apps. The second event that is part of the jailbreak community building steam is the announcement today that syncing apps between a computer and an iPhone is now possible. That too further establishes the permanence of the jailbreak community.

And jailbreaking does offer some significant advantages. It allows apps to be released that are not under Apple’s strict, often erratic, control. Moreover, jailbreaking means that a lot of the functionality we are missing, such as background app and tethering, can be added. By Apple updating the OS and including at least some of these features they will (may?) substantially slow the growing momentum.

Sure, there was no doubt that Version 3.0 of the iPhone operating system was coming at some point, but I believe that both of these factors have contributed to Apple doing it NOW. It’s another example of competition being good for innovation. In this case, it’s especially true for those of us who love our iPhones and iPod Touches.