opinion

An iPhone for Christmas

Well, it finally happened after all this time: last night, Santa Claus came a bit early and brought my lovely wife and I a pair of shiny new 32GB iPhone 3G S's.

No longer will I have to read about all of the cool apps and things that I can do with this little digital powerhouse. I can now use these tools for myself — and share some of the better ones with you here at XBIZ. I tell you this not to boast about our cool new toys, er, "tools," but to delve into some of the basic consumer psychology of our purchase process.

You see, we did not need to buy new phones. My Motorola Razr worked just fine for making calls; and as a top-of-the-line Razr, my photos, videos and Internet access using it were "ok." I had added a bunch of memory to it so it could hold more photos, but rarely used it for calling anyone. Likewise, my wife found her pink Razr comforting and was reluctant to upgrade.

But she likes to text with her kids — and the Razr's keypad is woefully small — so the iPhone's full keyboard and larger display make that easier and were her hot button. For me, however, what pushed me over the edge were the brackets.

In the macro-sense, the iPhone's appeal transcends basic telephone call making to include all of its many other uses — uses that are enabled or enhanced by using a variety of unique brackets to extend the iPhone's capabilities. For example, a small bracket enables you to mount the iPhone to your car's windshield for use as a GPS.

What got me, however, was the bracket that mounts the iPhone to your video camera, allowing it to be used as a teleprompter — as long as you have the app and service to enable it. In one version, the iPhone is a direct display device, suitable for smaller DV type cams. A larger version uses the iPhone as the monitor in a more typical "mirror and hood" setup, suitable for bigger cameras and studio settings.

This breadth of gee-whiz functionality is far too compelling to ignore, and far too handy not to have, so we relented and put the units at the top of our Christmas list. Old Saint Nick must have been nearby (or at least close to the AT&T Small Business Center), because he heard our requests and presto — a whole new level of technology is now ours.

The lesson here is that even if your customer does not need a product or service, he still may purchase and use it for sundry purposes far removed from what the manufacturer may have originally intended. For example, using a phone as a flashlight when putting your key into the car door at night.

Savvy marketers will find new and innovative uses or 'benefits' for their offers and keep presenting them until traction is established with consumers — and be ready to capitalize on unexpected sources of synergistic sales.

Apple tried to sell me an iPhone for a couple of years now, without success.

An ad for a teleprompter bracket in a B&H Photo / Video mailer finally sealed the deal.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Strategies to Bring Pleasure Brands into the Spotlight

Every brand dreams about landing a feature in The New York Times or Men’s Health — and pleasure brands are no exception. After all, mainstream media coverage isn’t just a vanity milestone. It builds trust, attracts new audiences and opens doors to connecting with retailers, partnerships, and investors.

Hail Groo ·
profile

WIA Profile: Salima

When Salima first entered the adult space in her mid-20s, becoming a power player wasn’t even on her radar. She was simply looking to learn. Over the years, however, her instinct for strategy, trust in her teams and commitment to creator-first innovation led her from the trade show floor to the executive suite.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

How the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act Could Impact Adult Businesses

Congress is considering a bill that would change the well-settled definition of obscenity and create extensive new risks for the adult industry. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, makes a mockery of the First Amendment and should be roundly rejected.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

Is Your Retail Business Sextech-Ready?

Sextech isn’t just a niche novelty anymore; it’s the future of sexual wellness. From wearable sex toys that provide biofeedback to interactive sex toys with AI capabilities, sextech has made significant progress over the past few years.

Kate Kozlova ·
opinion

What US Sites Need to Know About UK's Online Safety Act

In a high-risk space like the adult industry, overlooking or ignoring ever-changing rules and regulations can cost you dearly. In the United Kingdom, significant change has now arrived in the form of the Online Safety Act — and failure to comply with its requirements could cost merchants millions of dollars in fines.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Top Product Launch Tactics to Boost Q4 Sales

According to recent industry insights, over 70% of sexual wellness brands finalize their Q4 lineups between July and early September. This is a high-stakes window for launching new products.

Matthew Spindler ·
opinion

Understanding the MATCH List and How to Avoid Getting Blacklisted

Business is booming, sales are steady and your customer base is growing. Everything seems to be running smoothly — until suddenly, Stripe pulls the plug. With one cold, automated email, your payment processing is shut down. No warning, no explanation.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Scroll-Stopping Social Media Strategies to Capture Short Attention Spans

Attention spans are shrinking across all types of media. No matter how innovative a concept may be, if it doesn’t stop the scroll, it’s quickly forgotten. That’s why Netflix has intentionally been simplifying its content, with executives directing writers to create scripts that are less complex and nuanced, and more second-screen-friendly.

Naima Karp ·
profile

Malik Delgaty Lifts, Pounds and Performs With Heart

Malik Delgaty is America’s favorite straight gay porn star. With his “boy next door” good looks, French accent and Adonis build, it’s no shock that this 6-foot-3 Canadian import has become a regular for Men.com — not to mention consistently being the most searched gay porn star over the last few years.

Ness Miller ·
profile

Sophia Locke Talks Second Acts and Self-Love

Sophia Locke has the kind of presence that instantly makes you want to lean in. She’s confident, effortlessly glamorous and exudes sincerity. Chatting with her feels like catching up over lattes with your best friend — who happens to casually drop that she’s filming three Adult Time features next month.

Jackie Backman ·
Show More