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Can iPhones go corporate?

The consumer wonder is no office whiz.

By Jon Fortt, senior writer
January 7, 2009: 6:12 AM ET

(Fortune Magazine) -- Don't believe the hype. The iPhone still has some real shortcomings, especially as a business tool. So if you tell your IT manager you want to ditch your BlackBerry, expect him to hand you this list of iPhone shortcomings:

No e-mail search. BlackBerry addicts can find that old memo in a flash. iPhone users? Nope.

No copy and paste. Seems pretty basic, but the iPhone won't do it.

No removable battery. When the battery dies, so does the phone.

No choice of carriers or manufacturers. Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) makes it, AT&T (T, Fortune 500) services it, period. So no haggling with competitors for a better deal.

No meeting invitations. You can put that lunch date on your Exchange calendar, but you can't invite everyone else.

Apple won't comment, but the company clearly covets corporate users. It has improved the way the iPhone talks to business e-mail systems, for example. Will the iPhone learn to copy and paste in 2009? It may need to if it wants to work in an office.  To top of page

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