iPhoneStudies 2007: Your personal iPhone Experience

My name is Alexander Reppel and I am a Lecturer in Marketing at Royal Holloway, University of London in the UK. From time to time, I conduct studies in the Apple community (see for example here and here) and this time, I would like to find out more about your iPhone experience.

This study is part of a research project that I am currently involved with. The research looks into the adoption process of new products in different countries. Because the iPhone is currently only available in the United States, we would like to start with the perspective of US-customers and later compare their views with those of people from other countries.

I am interested in your personal iPhone story - what you think about the device, how you use it and how you feel about it. Emotional and technical issues are equally interesting to me.

For this, I have summarised a few questions that you might be able to answer. These are suggestions only and I would like you to write down whatever you consider interesting and relevant - what matters to me is your personal iPhone story. Submission of responses is possible in a variety of ways (see below) and any personal data you may wish to provide will be kept confidential and your name will be changed. If you are unsure about anything or wish to learn more about this research project, feel free to send me an e-mail.

Some questions you might be able to answer:

• About your iPhone
• Do you already own an iPhone? Do you use one?
• When did you buy it? Did you wait in line on the first day to get one?
• Do you remember when you first heard about the iPhone? When did you decide to buy one?
• Did you already own a mobile phone or iPod? Since when?
• What computer system do you use at home? Do you use a different system at work?
• What you think about your iPhone
• What were your expectations regarding the iPhone before you purchased it? Were they fulfilled? Were your disappointed?
• What were the main reasons for your purchase of an iPhone?
• What are the best features of your iPhone? Is there a feature you are disappointed with or that you miss? Why?
• What you do with your iPhone
• Where do you take your iPhone? How does this differ from your previous mobile phone?
• How do you use your iPhone? How does the device feel?
• Is there something that differentiates the iPhone from other mobile phones? How does the iPhone compare to your previous mobile phone?
• How would you describe the relationship you have with your iPhone? For example, is there something you frequently think when you see or use the device?
• How you talk about your iPhone
• How many people do you know that also own or use an iPhone?
• Do you show your iPhone to friends? Could you give an example of a "typical" conversation about the iPhone?
• Do you actively search for information about iPhone online? What kind of information are you particularly interested in?
• How satisfied you are with your iPhone
• How satisfied are you with your iPhone? Would you buy it again?
• Would you recommend others to buy an iPhone? Did you already recommend? If so, to whom?
• Did you encounter any difficulties or even major issues with your iPhone?
• If so, what was your immediate reaction? Did you talk to someone? Did you complain to someone? Was your problem solved? How was your complaint handled? What did they do well, what could have been done better?

These questions are suggestions only, please answer only those you consider relevant and provide as much detail as you like. Your contribution really matters and you can submit your responses through one of the means summarised below. View submission options »

Several ways for you to participate in this research project:*

• E-Mail:
  Send me an email with your responses; add any images you consider relevant - either images you have made with your iPhone or those that are about your iPhone
• File upload:
  Submit your responses and relevant images in a text document (TXT, RTF, or Word DOC) by using the online submissions page
• Instant Messenging:
  Please contact me via email if you would like to discuss your iPhone experience via text-based Instant Messenging (Let me know which system you prefer)
• Audio-/Video-based Chats:
  Please contact me via email if you would like to discuss your iPhone experience via Audio- or Video-based Instant Messenging (Skype, iChat available)
• Telephone:
  If you would like me to give you a call, please contact me via email or call me in the UK at +44 (0) 1784 276117

 

* Please note that by submitting your answers to me in any form you are formally consenting to participate in this project project. If you later change your mind, you can let me know and I will not consider your results in my final analysis! Any questions? Just send me an email!