iPhone Apps Work On iPhones!!!
One of the most annoying questions we get here about our iPhone Apps are do they work on other devices, such as the Blackberry, Android or Palm Pre. We ever have people asking us if they work on iPod Classics. This question comes to us typically about twice per week, and sometimes more.
The question is not phrased, "do you have a non-iPhone (i.e. Blackberry, Android, etc) version of your iPhone App." Instead it is phrased, "can I download the iPhone App and then install it on my non-iPhone." After about the fifth time hearing this question, I began to lose it. Now when I get this question via email or phone, I reply as follows:
iPhone Apps only work on iPhones
I don't say it in a disrespectful way, but I say it without saying - no I am sorry, the Blackberry doesn't support iPhone Apps. I say reply by making sure to say, "iPhone Apps" work on "iPhones."
The picture above is my brother-in-law's old Blackberry sporting an iPhone home screen theme. That was from back in October 2007, when I had the first generation iPhone, well before there were 3rd-party apps for the iPhone.
Update: I realized after someone left a comment on this post on our Facebook page that this may come off the wrong way. I wanted to share this person's comment and my response directly in this post:
Steven Geller said: Dude, you have a lot to learn about how to speak to your customers. I own most of your stuff, AND I use a blackberry and it would be amazing if it would work on the BB too. When people ask you, take it as the compliment it is, your apps are great, it would be good to have it work on the BB. You have to chill...seriously...
I replied: Steven, I treat my customers extremely well. Just look at the reviews for our Siddur in the iTunes App Store. They love us. But BB users are not our customers. I am just tired of answering the same Q over and over again.
Published April 30, 2010 by:
Barry
Barry Schwartz is the CEO of RustyBrick, a New York Web service firm specializing in customized online technology that helps companies decrease costs and increase sales. Barry is also the founder of the Search Engine Roundtable and the News Editor of Search Engine Land. He is well known & respected for his expertise in the search marketing industry. Barry graduated from the City University of New York and lives with his family in the NYC region.
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6 COMMENTS
posted by dos on: May 3, 2010 06:41pm
Wow.. customers questions are considered annoyances.. Nice one
posted by Barry Schwartz on: May 3, 2010 06:45pm
Agreed, we love our customers. Ask them. I am never annoyed by a customer's questions. BB users are not our customers.
posted by Gill G on: Mar 28, 2011 12:49pm
I agree with Steven. When I opened this reply to my question I was amazed at your crassness.
posted by LaLa<3 on: Mar 3, 2011 04:15am
I have a Blackberry Torch & my brother has an iPhone 4. I really like alot of the apps on the iPhone but I just wished they were made for the blackberry as well...:/
posted by david on: May 4, 2010 08:32am
No Barry, BB users are your potential customers.... Don't forget that everybody want to change their phone every year or every two year (twice a year for me ;-) I had an iPhone, and I was amazed by your Siddur app. I think that it's the only 8.99€ app that I bought from the AppStore. (and I bought Kosher, Tehilim, and all the others jewish apps...) Now, I changed my phone and I get a Blackberry for my work, and the Android Nexus One for my home. I will also be very happy to get your best apps on these phones !! And the first thing I did on Android market was to looking for Rustybrick app (and I found only Shabbat shalom app) :-) If you are very annoyed to answer to your potential customers, just take 5 minutes to write a nice basic email like, "you're glad than they like and they want your app, but for now your apps work only on iphone and Ipod... (smthg like that)" and next time, when you get this question, just copy/paste (3 sec) your basic answer Think about it ;-) and don't forget BB/Android users ... ;-) We are all the same : we like new high-technology
posted by Barry Schwartz on: May 4, 2010 10:31am
David, We will likely do an Android version, but there are limitations in the Hebrew support, which we have blogged. There is likely no way we will do a BB version anytime in the near future. I am sorry - but BB is just not a comparable device to an iPhone or Android device. To be honest, most of the time I am very nice - this blog post just expresses how I feel inside.