SendMe: Watch Out, iPhone App Makers BusinessWeek
Readers of a certain age will remember TV commercials aimed at showing that Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats appeal to both the adult and the kid in all of us. In the 30-second spot, grownups who crow about the cereal's nutritious value suddenly morph into younger versions of themselves who plug the cereal's sweet frosted side .
I'm a bit like that when it comes to mobile startups. The consumer in me welcomes the explosion of fun, useful, and innovative games, activities, and tools on smartphones. I'll admit that I've livened up many a dull train commute with rounds of Flight Control on my iPod touch.
On the other hand, the business reporter in me is getting bored by endless press releases and pitches from companies whose entire business model involves running an app on the Apple ( AAPL ) iPhone. We get it—the iPhone is awesome. On a recent visit to China, I was stunned at how many expats from the U.S. and Europe have flocked to the country and are spending their time developing iPhone games—this in a country that doesn't officially have the iPhone yet. Many said they were attracted not just by the large market opportunity but also the low-cost talent for designing casual games there. Fair enough.