Apple iPhone ad says hello to Oscars women

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 26 February 2007 16:36

Your IT - Mobility

Apple wants to remind US viewers that the iPhone is coming in June, through a very cool 30-second spot that aired during the Academy Awards – and it’s now available to watch at Apple’s US website!

Billed as the ‘Superbowl for Women’ thanks to a strong female audience, a TV spot during Academy Awards is the place that Apple has chosen to showcase its new iPhone TV ad, which is now on display at Apple’s website.

The ad starts with an old fashioned black rotary phone ringing to be answered by Lucille Ball from ‘I Love Lucy’ and continues with a series of clips of famous actors from TV shows and movies answering the phone and saying ‘hello’. Other actors include Will Ferrell, Audrey Tatou saying ‘bonjour’ as Amelie, Dustin Hoffman, Harrison Ford, Billy Crystal, Cameron Diaz, Pixar’s Mr Incredible, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael Douglas and many others.

After that, a spinning iPhone appears, with the name and picture of John Appleseed showing as the caller ID of an incoming call, after which the words “Coming in June” appear. No actual reference to the word iPhone is made, with the white Apple logo appearing after that to end the commercial.

In the US, the iPhone ad aired during the Oscar ceremony’s first ad break after the presentation of the awards for art direction and scientific and technical achievements.

It’s the first sign of commercial activity from Apple around the iPhone since the launch, with plenty of speculation filling the airwaves in between, along with a settlement between Cisco and Apple for shared use of the iPhone name.

In associated news, a rumor has emerged on AppleInsider of a 3G iPhone to appear in 2008, with more information available at a recent iTWire article from colleague Stephen Withers. 

Either way, with the US launch only three months away, the volume of the ringtones of anticipation will only get louder and more urgent. It’s a call that many want to answer!