Ken Segall, who played a significant role in naming Apple products, believes it’s time for the iPhone to undergo a name change. The legendary figure, who greatly influenced Apple’s image and marketing strategy, shared his thoughts in an interview with Wired.
Ken Segall, known for working extensively with Apple’s founder Steve Jobs on product launches, was the creative director at the advertising agency responsible for many iconic Apple campaigns. He is credited with creating the “i” prefix in iPhone, iPad, iMac, and other Apple devices. In his interview, Segall suggested that Apple should now move away from using this prefix.
According to Segall, the “i” in product names originally signified that the devices were internet-connected. However, since almost all devices are now internet-enabled, the prefix has lost its significance. Segall added, “There may be marketing experts who see the idea of dropping this prefix as madness.”
In reality, Apple has gradually started phasing out the “i” prefix. In recent years, the company has launched several new devices like the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Vision Pro, none of which carry the “i” prefix. While Segall presents logical arguments for this change, it seems that Apple making a name change for the iPhone would be a challenging decision.