We polled a few execs on the impact of Apple's content store after one year and 1.5bn downloads.
Last week we marked the App Store's first birthday by musing on what the revolution might mean for the future of the mobile content biz, both positively and negatively.
Then earlier today we reported the news that downloads from the store had passed the 1.5 billion mark.
But what does the mobile content industry itself think about a platform that has turned established business models on their head? We asked a few luminaries just that...
"Pre-App Store, there was a widely accepted truism that ‘people don’t download apps’. Post-App Store, it’s obvious that they love to, provided it’s easy and that they understand what the app does. The App Store has added a huge new dimension for AdMob… many developers, including ad agencies with sponsored apps, give their apps extra visibility by advertising in other apps – it’s simply the most efficient route to market.”
Jason Spero, AdMob
“The biggest impact is the awareness it has created about the nearly limitless capabilities of smartphones. This is a vital mindset shift for consumers. There have also been important learnings about what it takes to create an exceptional user experience. This is a great advantage for the next generation of app development.”
Are Traasdahl, Thumbplay
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“It’s moths to a light. Suddenly, everyone ‘gets’ mobile and wants to invest in it. Apps are back on the map and interest in WAP is declining sharply. This will be temporary, and a unified app and WAP strategy seems most sensible to me.”
Shashi Fernando, Saffron Digital
“In a few months’ time we will see where the customer goes and which store will survive. But alternatives to the operator business model are always welcome.”
Bibiana Hesseler, mobivention
“It’s changed the way brands and publishers think about mobile advertising. The impact on agencies has been phenomenal, particularly in the US, where large numbers of agency employees are experiencing the Apple revolution first hand.”
Stephen Upstone. AdInfuse
“Given our successes with Zippo and A&E, the app store has helped us to broaden our relationships with brands, agencies and media companies. As the iPhone delivers a real entertainment experience, it’s also opened up the opportunity for us to create our own products.”
Jon Vlassopulos, Moderati
“We’ve seen a surge in non-iPhone apps from sites such as GetJar, which can in part be put down to iPhone. People get a great iPhone app, then show it friends who have other devices, then these friends then go and look for apps of their own...”
Scott Seaborn, OgilvyOne
“It hasn’t affected our business. Yet. No doubt it will when we can work out how to get Apple to allow content retailing competition
for iTunes.”
Dave Moreau, Fonestarz
“It’s finally got MoS focusing on apps. I’m spending a lot of my time focusing on new ideas and developing new apps.”
Patrick Hagenaar, Ministry of Sound
