Steve Jobs dead

Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of consumer technology giant Apple, has died.

Apple today released an internal memo, sent from CEO Tim Cook to Apple employees, confirming that Jobs had passed away.

“I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today,” Cook’s memo read.

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” it went on.

Jobs fought a long battle with pancreatic cancer prior to his passing. He stepped down as Apple’s CEO less than two months ago, saying he could no longer meet his duties as chief executive.

Voice+Data doesn’t typically run news on consumer technology, but Jobs’ contribution to technology was, and will be, far reaching, extending beyond the confines of consumer tech.

Apple has faced criticism over the years, with claims of poor working conditions at its Shenzhen factories, and stories of worker suicides at the plants but Jobs’ influence is undeniable: his work took gadgetry out of obscurity and placed it in the centre of popular consciousness.

Jobs has had an effect on IT that will resound for many years after his passing.

Jobs' vision remains

Jan Dawson, Chief Telecoms Analyst at Ovum, said of Jobs: "In just the last four years, he has reinvented the smartphone and the tablet computer, and previously he had also changed the music industry dramatically with the introduction of the iPod and iTunes. His death will be felt deeply at Apple, the company he founded and recently led for fourteen years, but also throughout the industry."

Dawson said that yesterday's iPhone 4S launch confirmed that Jobs' vision and strategy will most likely remain with Apple for some time.

"[It] was a reminder of the vision and strategy Steve Jobs laid out for Apple during his time as CEO, with iOS the software platform that will drive the company forward, iCloud and the related services the next-generation model for consuming and sharing content among devices, Siri as an indication of a new phone interface, and beautiful, high spec hardware to contain it all," Dawson said.

However, the company's strategy of annual iPhone and iPad release cycles could backfire.

"The risk, if there is one, is that Apple continues to rely on single 'hero' devices in its two major product lines, iPhone and iPad, with an annual release cycle. If one of those devices ever turns out to be a dud, it will put a huge dent in the company's revenues and margins. However, yesterday's launch should pave the way for at least another year of success in the smartphone business, and future releases are likely to continue that pattern," Dawson said.