iPhone or Not

Awesome post. Thank you for the helpful information! All the best.

Everyone has their computer and phone preferences. I know agents and brokers who love their iphones and wouldn't dream of going back to their Palms and Treos. I like Davids logical approach, but my analysis led me to a different conclusion. The iPhone should be on your list of phones to look at if you're in the market for a sophisticated PDA in an area where AT&T has good service.

Brad, point well taken!  Thanks for commenting!

Dominic, you are welcome, thanks for commenting!

Dave, everyone has their own ideas and style.  For me, it would just be best to wait for more features to be available.  I'm glad it's working for you!  My best to you!

I say wait six months and see what competition is has spawned.  I haven't heard many positives from friends with them besides that they look cool.

1. It costs too much - okay that's better self explanatory.  At $500 to $600, this just puts it in an expensive category.

The price just dropped to $399 yesterday.

1. It doesn't fully support ActiveSync - this means you can not get your contacts and calendar entries from your computer to your iPhone.  ActiveSync is to be supported in the future, but for now you might want to wait.

I have NO problem getting my calendar and contacts to sync.  Took all of 5 minutes without reading a manual of any kind.  Works absolutely flawlessly.

1. Replacement Battery - this just seems like a bad idea from the beginning.  You must return your iPhone to get the battery replaced.  No spare is available.  A big reason for you to wait.

However, no batteries have needed replacing YET.  So much of the battery issue is pure speculation...

1. No Keyboard - Apple made the conscious choice not to provide this feature, but in world of thumb texting and email, wouldn't you think you would find a way to make this an add-on?

There IS a keyboard, just no buttons.  Works flawlessly. 

1. Third party Applications - for palm and windows mobile users, there are lots of choices for downloading applications to the phone.  And in the real estate business, the lockboxes and other features needed must be installed to avoid having several devices to keep track of.

The iPhone can be updated unlike other cell phones.  Third party apps will be coming.

1. Only one Provider - AT&T is the only provider.  Okay, there is a hack that may be available to use for other carriers, but if you use it, you may be voiding the warranty.  Verizon and Sprint provide a large customer base that cannot be avoided.  There must be a future plan, another reason to wait.

Was hesitatant about switching from Verizon.  Not a problem.  AT&T is just as bad (or just as good!) as Verizon, depending on your perspective.  Absolutely NO complaints about AT&T despite what I had heard.

1. Slow technology - the technology used for the iPhone on AT&T's network is called EDGE.  This is an older and slower technology to the Verizon and Sprint faster EV-DO Rev A network.  Phones need to have fast access to the internet, we don't want to wait!

It's not the fastest, but it's not as horrible as you might think.  Plus, access to Wifi is very easy these days, and it SPEEDS along.

1. Camera Features - no zoom or flash could be an issue.  It does have 2 megapixels, but maybe that's why the price is up there!

Never had an issue with no flash... the photos look fine.  Zoom?  Had it on my other phone and never used it.  You want a CAMERA, get a camera.  Cell phone cameras are never good.  None. 

1. Syncing requires iTunes - not everyone has or wants to have iTunes installed on their computer.  In business cases, you may not be allowed to use iTunes as it may be restricted.

True.  It's not a bad program.  With most cell phones you have to use SOME type of software.  Come on, get iTunes.  It won't kill ya.

1. Dead Zone - there are reports that state a problem where the display loses the sensitivity to touch.  Since this is the way you use the iPhone, that could be a problem.

Never had a problem.  Never heard of the problem.

I know a half dozen people with these phones who are more than THRILLED with the device.  A friend of mine (realtor) just bought one yesterday and emailed me saying she's in 'heaven'.  She's techno-challenged and she figured it all out in about 30 minutes.

The satisfaction rate on the iPhone is about 90%, which is far greater than ANY other phone.  And more iPhones were sold in July than ANY other smart phone.

I would say it's one of the greatest things I've ever purchased.  I'm not even mad about the $200 price drop.... it was worth the price I paid. 

I suspect there are more business people waiting for all tfese "whiz bang" devices to prove their worth before investing lotsa' cash.  My first laptop needed to be connecte to my cell to be wireless - now I just have a pc card - much better.

I am not going to offer an opinion - I am not informed enough at the moment.  I have handled the iPhone and am impressed with the interface, as with most Apple designs.  But I would ask if sales were near capacity and customers were highly satisfied, as indicated,  why did they just lower the price by $200 if there were no market pressure to do so.

Fred, thank you for the first hand experience update!

Karen, congratulations on your move to the tech world!

Ted, I like to wait until the bug release has been issued before using any type of software or hardware.  I can wait until there are updates and price reductions!

Thank you for providing your feedback. Without it, we only have one opinion!

There seems to be a lot of media hype about the slowness of Edge. Edge has presence in most places. In fact, I haven't found an area where I don't have Edge access. 

While boating in Newport, Rhode Island our boat entered the Atlantic Ocean. Guess what? I was still on the Edge network... and I was using it.

When I'm in a big city, there is an open WiFi just about everywhere I go.

I can't use the iphone with Verizon.......  I asked..... they said they have something simular coming out.... they didn't want to pay the cost to get it and AT&T jumped all over it.

Roland:  Actually Verizon was offered the iPhone first - they turned it down.  Verizon CRIPPLES many features of their phones that ARE available with other carriers (like transferring photos via Bluetooth for free... they cripple that on some phones so they can CHARGE you to transfer photos!). Apple wanted most of the control, Verizon wouldn't allow that and AT & T did.

I would MUCH prefer dealing with Apple than AT & T OR Verizon.  Apple's customer service is second to none. 

I cancelled Verizon the day iPhone came out. I paid $175 cancellation charge AND the full price for  the iPhone before they dropped the  price $200.

I still don't regret it ONE BIT.  It's not a perfect phone, but it's damn close.  AT & T is not perfect, but it's no worse than Verizon really (I was with them for 10 years).  My Verizon phone works in places my iPhone doesn't, but the same is true in reverse.  Basically, both companies are flawed and definitely not perfect.

But the phone is amazing and I would absolutely put up with a less than quality AT & T network just to have the phone - it's THAT good.  Changed my life in many ways actually.

David, I think the i phone is pretty cool looking, but I'm with Verizon. They have something similar in the Voyager, but, in my opinion, most of the cell phones put too much emphasis on entertainment and not as much on business applications. I'm considering a Blackberry but it increases my monthly cell phone bill to add the data package. Right now I just have a regular LG cell with mobile web and a separate palm.

I also looked at the ipod touch as a Palm replacement, but, it has even fewer organizer functions. I wish more companies would look at business applications. Right now, I think it is Blackberry or Palm.

To me, the I phone is cute, and fun, but I want email and comunication....Blackberry with Verizon is the obvious chioce fom...Plus, I can use it for the MLS

The ipod touch has now added software upgrades and there is a rumor (see brighthand.com) of a $100 price drop and opening up to 3rd party applications. When all that is done, the iPod touch could be a good replacement for a Palm PDA. Does anyone have experience using the touch as a PDA (with the upgrades)?