Real Estate Related September 22, 2009

What is the hype of the IPhone?

So Redfin just launched a I phone app, John L. Scott just launched a Iphone app, who hasn’t launched a Iphone app? “Windermere that’s who”  You may ask “what is all the hype, everyone has an Iphone?”  Really? Well I don’t and I don’t intend to get one anytime soon. There are a few reasons why. For starters AT&T can’t seem to provide a services that is better if not the same as Sprint in coverage. They have a data plan that I would have to sell my first born to afford.  My blackberry does just fine finding a great place for me to enjoy a nice dinner from time to time.

All kidding aside lets look at the facts. In a recent article in Fortune magazine (Read it) How Blackberry Does it by Jessi Hempel.  It really gives you a good idea of the penetration Apple has over RIM. IF Windermere were to invest money in anything we want to make sure we have a good ROI.  What is our penetration look like in the Apple real estate app world. This article shows that It isn’t really Apple that is taking the Hand Held world by storm but rather Blackberry.

I get it that it is cool and hip, but remember we are in business and when your in business you have to make sure you do things at the right time and get the biggest impact. Here is a graph showing what has happened from 2006 to 2009 in the handheld world.

Hmmmm! So 11% as of 2009 Q1. Doesn’t sound like a huge number when it comes to making a large impact. That said do we need a handheld real estate application sure we do. Lets let AT&T get out of the Apple contract and see what happens then. I’m pretty sure that number will grow larger but for today word on the street the handheld app form redfin and John L Scott isn’t setting the world on fire from what I can tell.