Jacobs Media consultant Ralph Cipolla boldly inserts himself into the debate about the iPhone's impending success - or lack thereof.

Anyone who consults, markets, or consults marketers has read, re-read, and can recite by rote all of Ries & Trout’s “22 Immutable Laws of Marketing.”  In 1994, Al Ries formed “Ries & Ries” with his daughter, former New York City Advertising Agency Account Executive, Laura.  Laura’s blogs are engaging and insightful, often in a contrarian manner.  For the last three months, she has offered a series of iPhone missives, predicting the “iPhone Is likely to be the biggest flop of the 21st century.”

Laura’s key point is that the iPhone is a convergence product because it ties together “multiple functions into one device...

Convergence means compromise.  Convergence products capture the imagination of the media and public but the devices can never deliver on their promise of nirvana because all convergence devices are doomed by compromise.” 
-- What is driving the iPhone hype? June 19, 2007

OK, Laura, but let’s consider a set of essential business tools.  Many were once expensive, large, inconvenient to operate and transport, and others were just too numerous to manage, making travel difficult, and all but eliminating the prospect of taking the office on the road or even home at night.  All were ultimately combined into one “convergence device” - the laptop.  It combines the now extinct word processor with devices that can create and present spreadsheets and slide-shows (remember the overhead projector?)  It combines the ability to compose, send and receive email, and allows one to browse, download, and save content from the Internet.

Laura is also concerned that no one has actually been able to sample the iPhone, making it an untested product.  And to that I say, “brilliant.”  It has only served to compound rampant curiosity, all but ensuring millions of hits to the iPhone site and long lines in front of your local Apple and/or AT&T store.

A final word on the need for the convergence of art and science.  Too often, consultants and marketers dive head-first into data, theory, and philosophy, ignoring the “art” or “gut” one needs when assessing consumer needs and behavior.  In a word, the iPhone is freakin’ cool.  I agree with the fundamentals of Laura Ries’ convergence vs. divergence argument, but her point is off the mark with respect to the iPhone.  The multi-use-Swiss Army Knife/SmartPhone is a successful part of our gadget-craving culture desires?

And in the final analysis, the success of the iPhone will probably rest on the notion of branding – something that Laura Ries should know a great deal about.  It’s not always about the very best product – it’s usually about the best branded product.  If you ask a motorcycle expert about the best-made, best-designed bikes, he’ll probably tell you that the Harley-Davidson is nowhere near the top.  However, the Harley is the brand for guys like us to buy.  It’s not the performance of the bike or its torque or brakes – it’s about what that brand says about us.

That’s been the case for iPods.  They are fraught with problems – poor battery life, iTunes issues, clunky performance.  Yet, they’re the mp3 player that everyone wants.  They look great, they feel great, and they say a lot about the owner.  They may not be the very best or most economical players on the market, but they are the brand that everyone wants.

So why would you bet against Steve Jobs at this point in the game?  If anyone understands how technology’s form and function converges, it’s Apple.  The iPhone answers all the needs that we continue to see in our own research – a sleek, small, elegant, and cool device that combines many different functions into one great-looking package.

We've enjoyed watching the "CGM Train" pick up speed over the past couple of years.  Since we started recommending listener-generated content back in '05, it's been gratifying to watch stations become focused on their audiences, while creating media that is sometimes memorable and often buzz-worthy.

The list of radio stations that have put CGM to good use is too long to go into here, but whether the format is Classic Rock or Alternative, we've been impressed with the results.  We're also seeing strong indicators in focus groups that these initiatives are shaping perceptions in a good way - giving listeners that strong Neo-laden sense that stations care what they think, and provide them with ways to make contributions to brands they love.

So, what's the problem?  For radio, there haven't been many.  CGM campaigns tend to be economical, user-friendly, not difficult to administrate, and fun.  Compared to hiring an agency, paying obscene prices for creative, and hoping for the best, CGM has proved to be a smart way to go.

But for bigger advertisers, there have been some serious speed bumps.  Several of these were highlighted in a recent New York Times piece called, "The High Price of Creating Free Ads."  The article documents the travails faced by Heinz.  Despite offering up a $57,000 prize for the best TV spot that highlights their world-famous ketchup, the results have apparently been far from great.  And the company has discovered that creating systems for judging and even censoring many of the submissions have become cumbersome and pricey.

Maybe that's part of the problem.  Approaching CGM efforts as traditional campaigns is the first mistake.  You get what you get, including consumers mentioning competitors, doing gross stunts, and even parodying your brand.  Part of making CGM work is ceding some control - which is clearly something that H.J. Heinz is not willing to do.  While some of the entries might be embarrassing and end up on YouTube, you're going for the buzz in these campaigns, not the art.

There's also a matter of brand passion, and in that context, great radio stations have a big edge.  Maybe gobs of money will motivate consumers to create ads for all kinds of consumer brands, but a popular radio station often has a degree of loyalty that transcends Doritos or MasterCard.  And the "live & local" aspect of radio truly helps build that relationship.