Even if you are wanting to say no right now (to my question), I think the obvious answer for most would be YES – if it meant big bucks.  All the talk about iPhone and Walmart – if true – is going to bring big business to Apple.

What does this do to the value of the Apple brand though?  I first read this story here, and when I read they may be offering a $99 version (not a 4G one people) of the phone it aggrivated me.  Why? Like many others – I am the idiot that paid $399 for the iPhone that runs 1/2 as fast as the one now and cost 2X as much.  Lets not talk about the fact that I bought an XBox when it was $100 bucks more.  I guess I like paying more for stuff.

Back to the issue:

As a person who pushes and teaches others the value of branding (especially online) I have to wonder what kind of an effect this is really going to have on the Apple brand?  I really hope people let me know their thoughts here too. If you were planning on buying an iPhone soon, does this change your opinion, or does it make you happy because its going to be a lot cheaper?

What are people saying about this on Twitter?

I did a little searching on Twitter about the iPhone and Walmart to get some ideas of what others were thinking.  Here is 10 randomly selected ones from the first page of results (not to be hand picking negative ones only (like I have seen others do today) even though most are taking this as amusing news.

1. JimmyJett: Wondering how the iPhone will be recieved at WalMart. Maybe they should come in John Deer green?
2. Aimee_B_Loved: WalMart is going to start carrying the iPhone. *points and laughs* Who’s the not cool one now?! bwahahahahaha… Still me, isn’t it? Crap.
3. douglaspaul: RT @ZDNetBlogs: CONFIRMED: 2 iPhone models to sell @ Walmart this month! – http://tinyurl.com/663tya (expand): doesn’t this dimish the iphone a bit?
4. homeshopr: is excited about the possibility of a $99 iPhone. You can get it at Walmart at the end of the month. http://tinyurl.com/5zldwu
5. jason2bemac: #mac Confirmed: iPhone Coming to Walmart By the End of December: Some analysts still say that the $99 iPhone.. http://tinyurl.com/6744cm
6. monaaa: Why is the iPhone coming to Walmart such big news? ( I agree on this one, but I bring it up because of my question about Branding )
7. azbizreporter: Would you buy an iPhone from WalMart? http://tinyurl.com/5t8qvk
8. drecruits: Are you to “hip” to own an iPhone purchased at Walmart? http://tinyurl.com/683u7y
9. bgrantpaul: @robertsnell Perhaps a 4GB Walmart branded iPhone will be added incentive for Rogers to get their act together? Wishful thinking.
10. techwatching_cl: TechSpot: Walmart employees back iPhone launch rumors – http://techwatching.com/cluster/107435

Again I pose the question –

What kind of effects do you think this will have on the Apple brand?  They have been selling iPods in Walmart for as long as I can remember, and that has not seem to hurt.  I personally don’t think this is that big of a deal, but I must pose the question as a person who helps others build brands.  Walmart has a lot of negativity out there, and a lot of people hate them for their labor and business practives.  A lot of those people that hate are in the tech croud that buy Macs and iPhones – that is why I ask the question.  As a person who owns an iPhone, iPod and 4 Apple computers – it just makes me laugh more then anything and say to myself – Good for Apple, they are going to make a lot more money!

Update -

What people are telling me via Twitter:

shagunvatsa @matt_siltala The thought of a $99 iPhone infuriates me for I paid well over $300 for my 8GB. More bucks for Apple at the cost of its image!

Google App Install:

It’s as simple as all the other apps you can download from Apple, simple click on the Apps icon on your iPhone and either search for Google or just go to the Top 25 Free Apps page and it’ll be there, it almost always is…and yet it is FREE. Click on the App, click on Free, click on Install, and bang…the download begins. After a few minutes you’ll be in Google App heaven ;o)

First Open:

When you first open the Google App you’ll see a screen with the following instructions: “For voice search, just bring the phone to your ear and speak.” I did just that with my son yelling in my ear and I got a scrambled mess for my search results. Although the phone did make out what that I had said something, the search results were way off from what I stated (more on that to come).

Features of Google App:

Along with the Voice Search features the Google App is loaded with other Apps within the App. By clicking the Apps button at the bottom you can gain quick access to online Google Apps such as Gmail, Calendar, Docs, etc. From the settings button you can access search settings to turn on SafeSearch, on/off Voice Search, etc…nothing really that special in the settings.

Does Voice Search Work?

Because my first test of the Voice Search netted me bad results I decided to give it a real test and 9 out of 10 times the phone got my audio search strand correct. Here is what I searched for and the results I got:

1. Spoken term: memory foam mattress, results: memory foam mattress

2. Spoken term: byu cougars, results: byu cougars (they are going to kill Utah BTW)

3. Spoken term: search engine optimization, results: search engine optimization

4. Spoken term: social media optimization, results: social media optimization

5. Spoken term: honda motorcycle, results: honda motorcycle

6. Spoken term: cool beans, results: cool beans

7. Spoken term: Jennifer Garner, results: Jennifer Garner

8. Spoken term: Barack Obama, results: Barack Obama

9. Spoken term: link:www.google.com, results: linksys colin www.google.com

10. Spoken term: money management software, results: money management software

As you can see, the App did great with all my standard search terms, but when tossing in an advanced search request to show the links pointing to Google, the phone got confused. Overall, though…it’s an amazing application and Voice Search is a great feature, earning it a coveted icon spot on my iPhone’s homepage!