Adobe’s latest Influence Marketing: Will it take a bite out of Apple?

Adobe just launched a full fledged ad campaign today targeting Apple and its firm stance against allowing flash on the iphone and ipad. Below is a sample of their campaign if you have not already seen it:

This is clearly a desperate approach to get Apple consumers on the Adobe bandwagon. Will it work? Probably not…

I am an Apple enthusiast (have an iphone, ipad, apple tv, macbook air and macbook pro). Do I really care that I can’t access flash on my mobile products? A little. Do I feel Apple is taking away part of my freedom of being able to freely experience the web? Kinda. Will it stop me from buying the next iphone 4G or new cool Apple device? No. Will it stop others? Probably not. Apple is driving such innovation and superior technology in the market that consumers are willing to accept their experiences to be limited in some manner because it is more than made up for with other features in their products.

Pushing flash out of the iphone and ipad is one of Apple’s business growth strategies. They see the power and influence they have on the market and are exerting it as it relates to their competitive positioning. Sure, its a bit of bullying. However, its just business and consumers are rolling with it (and clearly have no issue given the sales figures Apple is seeing). Ultimately, I think Apple will win and that is why you are seeing desperate attempts from Adobe like the above. Moreover, with the HTML5 starting to emerge and put additional pressure on Adobe, they have reason to be scared. Personally, I don’t think Adobe has an answer to the dilemma they are in and this is why they are resorting to this type of desperate influence marketing.

-KKF