Poor iPhone Sales in Europe

While in Cambridge and London for SVc2UK I asked a number of different people -- students, professors, entrepreneurs and even taxi drivers -- how the iPhone was being received in Europe. Everyone agreed that it was an attractive device, but no one thought that it could satisfy their needs! Here is a list of reasons given that show the differences between the US and European mobile markets:

Slow network speed

Low camera resolution

No ability to record movies

No GPS

No integration with automobile mobile

Can't use Bluetooth to move files around...

This last one was especially interesting -- a few people told me that they now use their mobiles as storage devices for files -- word or powerpoint documents -- so that when they are at a meeting they can say "oh, let me transfer this white paper to your computer via bluetooth." Wow. I hadn't even thought of doing that with my mobile!

Apple - iPhone | 8GB - MA712LL/A (iPhone)

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Cambridge Union Society (SVC2UK)

Cambridge Union Society
Originally uploaded by Ted Shelton

On our first evening in Cambridge for the "Silicon Valley comes to the United Kingdom" (SVC2UK) event, we were invited to dine and debate at the Cambridge Union Society. Founded in 1811, the Society formulated the following proposition for the evening:

This house maintains that Europe, not Silicon Valley, will become the best place to build future billion dollar companies."

I am sorry to report that your team from Silicon Valley did not prevail in opposing this motion in front of the partisan European audience. However, a wonderful evening for all was experienced by 600 students, faculty, and business people from the Cambridge area.

SVc2UK

I am so far behind in blogging the events these past few days here in Cambridge. Somehow I thought I'd be able to write about everything as it was happening. But Ellen Levy and Sherry Couto have kept us all on our toes with a tightly packed schedule -- not that I am complaining! I am having an enormous amount of fun at the first ever Silicon Valley Comes to the United Kingdom -- SVc2UK for short!

The event is the joint work of Ellen Levy's new organization,Silicon Valley Connect, (which I expect you will be hearing a lot more about in the months and years to come) and Sherry Couto via her association with the Cambridge Judge school of business and NESTA. Ellen is an incredible person and I feel fortunate to have known and worked with her for over a decade. This is my first time meeting Sherry, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have a very high regard for her as well. Between the two of them, I expect that just about anything is possible!

And the schedule that they created for us is proof of their amazing abilities. Beginning on Thursday evening with a debate between the Cambridge and Silicon Valley business communities, attended by 600 students and faculty, and continuing through two days of classes at Judge, and countless opportunities to participate in the Cambridge community, I am awed (and exhausted).

I would write more now, but we are off to yet another event and then on to London where we will be engaged in yet more classes.