The genius of the Apple App Store

The other day I heard a guy complain that he just didn’t understand all the fuss about the iPhone, when there are so many mobile devices that have more powerful specs and more features to them.

Well, I understand why he doesn’t understand the fuss. He’s simply looking in the wrong place. He should be looking at the Apple App Store, because that is the truly genius invention of the iPhone era so far.

Now why is that so. Numerous reasons.

First and foremost its simple and easy to use. The barriers to entry are so, so low. You don’t have to be a geek to install something on your phone. If you can buy a music track on iTunes and sync it to your iPod, you can buy an app and sync it to your iPhone. It’s really that simple.

Next, it’s reasonably priced. It’s almost commodity level. You can buy 10 apps and still feel like you haven’t overspend. You can even get a lot for free, and if you sync through a USB cable it really is and remains free. What a value proposition.

Lastly, the App Store in effect lets you decide the functionality for your phone yourself. Why buy a phone with 100 different features, if you only use three or four? Why not just install them as apps as you go along? It just makes so much more sense.

Baron Conway sums it up brillantly on the Threeminds blog:

What Apple really has done is to create a workable, enjoyable and simple cross device digital distribution model. It is a win-win-win model: For the consumer, for the producer of content and of course for Apple.

Absolutely. And that is precisely the part that guy didn’t get. The App Store is a game changer for usability on mobile devices. It brings choice and ease to the consumer. Yes, it’s truly genius and it more than offsets the proprietary Apple platform, the lacks on the hardware technical side and overcluttered functionality found on so many other phones.

Vad NU! is a consultancy company owned by Mads Kristensen and specialized in helping clients take advantage of the business opportunities created by new media. Click to learn how I can help you and your company.