Podcast consensus

Points of consensus

▶The first-generation iPhone, revealed in January 2007, launched with a significant collaboration between Apple and Google, with Google's CEO Eric Schmidt appearing on stage and Google providing backend services for the native Maps and YouTube apps.Feb 2026

▶The original iPhone lacked several hardware and software features compared to its contemporaries, including a physical keyboard, a removable battery, an app market, and turn-by-turn navigation.Feb 2026

▶The iPhone's launch had an immediate and profound impact on its competitors, specifically causing the Google Android team to completely abandon its BlackBerry-style prototype in favor of a touchscreen device.Feb 2026

▶Apple maintains a closed ecosystem on the iPhone by requiring all third-party browsers to use its WebKit engine, a policy that some speculate is intended to favor native apps over web apps.Feb 2026

Points of debate

▶The relationship between Apple and Google regarding the iPhone shifted dramatically from public collaboration at its launch to intense, private animosity, with Steve Jobs reportedly accusing Google of wanting to 'kill the iPhone'.Feb 2026

▶While the iPhone achieved over 50% market share by 2009, its initial version was missing key features that competitors like the Motorola Droid and the Android OS used as points of differentiation.Feb 2026

▶The iPhone launched as a closed device with no App Store or third-party developer access, contrasting with the later ecosystem strategy that prioritized native apps, allegedly to the point of limiting browser performance.Feb 2026

▶The native Maps application on the first iPhone was developed by Apple using Google's data, but it was functionally inferior to later Google-developed versions, lacking features like automatic turn-by-turn navigation.Feb 2026

Key themes

▶The Apple-Google 'Frenemy' DynamicFeb 2026

The relationship surrounding the iPhone began as a public partnership, with Google's CEO on stage at the launch and Google powering key apps like Maps and YouTube. This quickly devolved into intense competition, reportedly marked by Steve Jobs' declaration that Google wanted to 'kill the iPhone', fundamentally shaping the smartphone OS wars.

This rapid shift from collaboration to rivalry underscores the high stakes of platform control in the mobile era, demonstrating that initial partnerships can be fleeting when core business models are threatened.

▶Disruptive Launch and Market RedefinitionFeb 2026

The iPhone's January 2007 unveiling was a seismic event that immediately reset the trajectory of the mobile industry. It forced Google's Android team to scrap its existing prototype for a touchscreen-centric design and allowed Apple to capture over 50% of the smartphone market within two years.

The iPhone's success was not just about its own features, but its ability to render competitors' roadmaps obsolete overnight, highlighting the power of a paradigm-shifting user experience over an iterative feature list.

▶The Closed Ecosystem StrategyFeb 2026

From its launch without an App Store to its current policy requiring all browsers to use the WebKit engine, the iPhone has been defined by a tightly controlled ecosystem. This control prevents competing browser engines like Chromium from running natively and has led to speculation that Apple intentionally limits web performance to bolster its native app economy.

Apple's platform control is a core strategic moat that creates a powerful, integrated user experience but also invites regulatory scrutiny and limits user choice, a tension that will continue to define its business.

▶Early Feature Gaps and Competitive ResponseFeb 2026

Despite its revolutionary interface, the first-generation iPhone lacked features common in other devices, such as a physical keyboard, removable battery, app market, and turn-by-turn navigation. This created an opening for competitors like the Motorola Droid, which Verizon heavily marketed as a more feature-rich alternative to stem subscriber losses to AT&T.

The iPhone's initial success demonstrates that a superior user experience can outweigh a checklist of features, but also shows how specific feature gaps can be effectively exploited by competitors to carve out significant market share.

Source episodes

Timeline

January 2007

The iPhone is revealed by Steve Jobs, featuring Google CEO Eric Schmidt on stage to demonstrate a collaboration on the native Maps and YouTube applications.

Post-January 2007

In direct response to the iPhone's reveal, Google's Android team abandons its BlackBerry-style 'Sooner' prototype to pivot to a touchscreen-based operating system.

July 2007

The first-generation iPhone ships to customers. The device lacks an App Store, third-party developer access, and features like automatic turn-by-turn navigation.

Circa 2008-2009

The Apple-Google relationship deteriorates into intense rivalry, with Steve Jobs reportedly accusing Google of attempting to destroy the iPhone.

By 2009

The iPhone captures over 50% of the smartphone market share, establishing its dominant position.

Circa 2009

Competitors like the Motorola Droid are launched, backed by carriers like Verizon, and marketed based on hardware and software features the contemporary iPhone lacked.

Suggested prompts

How did the initial collaboration between Apple and Google on the first iPhone influence the subsequent competitive landscape of the mobile OS market? &nearr;To what extent did the iPhone's initial lack of features (e.g., physical keyboard, removable battery, App Store) create a market opportunity for competitors like the Motorola Droid? &nearr;What are the long-term strategic implications of Apple's requirement for all iOS browsers to use the WebKit engine? &nearr;How did the iPhone's launch fundamentally alter Google's product strategy for Android, and what were the consequences of that pivot? &nearr;

Key concepts

Apple-Google Collaboration 1 ep Apple-Google Competition 1 ep iPhone Launch & Impact 1 ep Hardware & Feature Comparison 1 ep WebKit & Browser Engine 1 ep Ecosystem Strategy 2 ep Motorola Droid 1 ep Android OS Development 1 ep Maps & Navigation 1 ep

Notable quotes

“Google wants to kill the iPhone. We won't let them.”

Acquired Host · Alphabet Inc. (Audio)

Report last updated: Apr 8, 2026

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