Research Proposal on "iPhone 3g"

Research Proposal 21 pages (5819 words) Sources: 40 Style: Harvard

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Smartphones Comparison

Smartphones

Context of the Problem

Research Question and Sub-questions

Organization of the Study

COMPARISON of the APPLE I-PHONE to OTHER "SMARTPHONES"

"In today's age of high-speed Internet and smartphones, unlimited information is only a few key strokes or mouse clicks away"

(Guillot 2009).

Context of the Problem

Smartphones

Back in time, teachers sometimes struggled to ensure students brought their own communications technology to class. In "What's That in Your Students' Pockets?," Jim Hirsch (2007) recounts that past "technology" tools consisted of a pen or a No. 2 pencil paper, and paper to write on. In addition to a pen, pencil and paper, the wide array of personal communications technology devices a student may bring into schools and classrooms may include an iPhone 3G or other smartphone (Hirsch). In the work place, consumer-targeted smartphones, which continually claim cooler features currently cause "some telecom pros to wonder which devices are beneficial for their end users, and which are a waste of company time and money. Whether in school, in the workplace or in personal environments, the use of smartphones, Craig Guillot (2009) asserts in "Top of the Line: Businesses find leading the search on Google trumps paper directories," will continue to spread and expand the presence of the Web.

A 2008 survey of 2,000 individuals, implemented by WebVisible and Nielsen, found that approximately 82% of the study participants used Web searches to locate information on local businesses, compared with 57% who utilized paper phone books (Guillot 2009). The continuing increase in the use of online searches for information attributes to the fact the iPhone 3G currently headlines one contemporary global phenomenon, the smartphones' growth. The number of smartphone units, as well as the proliferation of brands and styles depicts one the key trends in the wireless world during 2008. In line with the smartphone's growth, this qualitative study, which utilizes the case study design, compares/contrasts the Apple i-Phone 3G with four other contemporary smartphones. The technology and applications, as well as the special features of the Apple i-Phone 3G is compared and contrasted to the following four "top selling" smartphones:

1. Research in Motion's BlackBerry 8100 Pearl

2. Motorola Q

3. Samsung BlackJack II SGH-i617

4. Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607

Statement of the Problem

"3G"

In "The 5 Top Selling Smartphones," Phil Goldstein (2009) reports that sales of the iPhone 3G contribute to bolstering at&T Mobility into becoming the top carrier in terms of smartphone growth. "3G," denotes third-generation wireless cell phone networks. "First-generation networks were analog, and second-generation networks were relatively low-bandwidth digital networks" (Van Horn 2006 ¶ 9). Due to bandwidth constraints, the majority of contemporary cell phone users currently operate on "two-and-a-half generation" with relatively slow Internet access. True 3G networks are wireless networks with broadband speeds generally equal to between half and one high-speed DSL or cable connection. With 3G networks, one may stream or download high-quality video to portable devices such as cell phones, PDAs (portable digital assistants), and laptop computers. Using 3G networks, one may also participate in two-way video conferencing on portable devices

On its promotional Web page for the iPhone 3G, apple proclaims this particular smartphone "with fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange,, as well as the new App Store" puts a myriad of features at the owner's fingertips. But wait, there's more. Just like its predecessor, the original iPhone, iPhone 3G simultaneously serves as a three-in-one product (Features 2009):

1. A revolutionary phone,

2. A widescreen iPod, and

3. A breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser. (Features 2009 p.1)

A myriad of similar advertisements bombard consumers as manufactures of smartphones, as well as service providers/carrier seek to contract them, which sometimes contributes to questioning if any major differences exist in smartphones. Understanding the differences between smartphones, the researcher asserts, will help the consumer choose the smartphone to best fill his/her needs.

Research Question

To contribute to the exploration of a number of differences in smartphones, the focus for this study, the researcher purports the following research question: What primary difference, if any, sets the Apple i-Phone 3G apart from other smartphones? Addressing this question also contributes to maintain the focus for this study.

Research Design and Methodology

A case study research design provides the researcher a basic blueprint to guide in crafting his/her study. When the researcher utilizes the case study methodology, a form of qualitative descriptive research, he/she closely examines "an individual or small participant pool, drawing conclusions only about that participant or group and only in that specific context" (Case Studies 2008, Introduction and Definition section). The write of Case Studies (2008) stipulates that researchers who implement the case study methodology typically focus on exploration and description. For this study, as the researcher explored and described the Apple i-Phone 3G, the study compares and contrasts this phone with other smartphones.

Along with implementing an abbreviated survey of five questions to 10 smartphone owners, the researcher conducted a methodical search through a variety of sources retrieved from search engines, which included, however, were not be not limited to: (a): Highbeam Research database; (b): Google Books database; (c): Questia Media database.

Significance of the Study

As the use of smartphones to conduct online searches currently surpasses paper directories, and the use of smartphones projected to continue to increase, the researcher purports this study to be significant. Smartphone manufacturers and suppliers, along with service providers, routinely sponsor a myriad of advertisements, which clamor to try to convince consumers to "buy me." With current economic constraints also factoring into buying decisions, as this study contributes to enhancing the consumer's understanding of smartphones, the researcher asserts, it may also benefit the reader with considerations regarding which smart phone offers "the best buy."

The NPD Group, the leader in market research for the wireless industry, reports that from January through July 2008, consumer sales of smartphones to U.S. consumers totaled 9 million units, increasing 84% over the sales during the same time period during 2007. Although "overall handset sales and revenues declined in the U.S., smartphone revenue increased 71% -- reaching nearly $1.7 billion" (the NPD Group: Smartphones 2008 ¶ 1). The launch of Apple's iPhone 3G during July 2008, contributed to Apple rising to second in smartphone unit sales, behind RIM.

Organization of the Study

Chapter I: Introduction

Chapter I of this study presents the study's focus, while it also relates the background of the phenomenon, the technology and applications and the special features of the Apple i-Phone 3G, as compared and contrasted to a: Research in Motion's BlackBerry 8100 Pearl; b: Motorola Q; c: Samsung BlackJack II SGH-i617 d: Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607.

This introductory chapter of the also relates considerations regarding its 10 subsections.

Chapter II: Review of the Literature

In Chapter II, the researcher presents the literature reviewed for the study. Information for this section of the study was retrieved from Web sites; articles; books; newspaper excerpts; etc., relevant to considerations of the technology and applications, as well as the special features of the Apple i-Phone 3G, as compared and contrasted to a: Research in Motion's BlackBerry 8100 Pearl; b: Motorola Q; c: Samsung BlackJack II SGH-i617 d: Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607.

The researcher initially accessed and reviewed more than 60 credible sources to narrow down the more than 40 noted in the reference section in this study. The literature review chapter presents a sampling of literature to support the research questions the study addresses. The researcher specifically relating to the study's focus exists.

Chapter III: Methodology

During Chapter III of the study, the researcher relates the methodology the researcher utilized to investigate the technology and applications, as well as the special features of the Apple i-Phone 3G, as compared and contrasted to a: Research in Motion's BlackBerry 8100 Pearl; b: Motorola Q; c: Samsung BlackJack II SGH-i617 d: Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607.

This chapter also presents the overall methods and techniques the researcher implemented to conduct this qualitative case study.

Chapter IV: Analysis

During Chapter IV of the study, the researcher examines the information retrieved/reviewed/related for this study, and in turn dissects results relevant to the technology and applications, as well as the special features of the Apple i-Phone 3G, as compared and contrasted to a: Research in Motion's BlackBerry 8100 Pearl; b: Motorola Q; c: Samsung BlackJack II SGH-i617 d: Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607. The researcher additional notes the study's most relevant findings in this chapter. The researcher adapts, creates, and presents a variety of tables and graphs to depict particular, vital noteworthy information/data from the collection of documents reviewed in the literature review chapter. The analysis of information the researcher retrieved from the documented available evidence contributes to the results the researcher draws from the research to answer the research questions (Pope et al., 2000).

Chapter V: Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendations

During Chapter V, in the discussion section, the researcher recounts the study scenario and further expounds on the findings from the retrieved information and analysis chapter. In the conclusion… READ MORE

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