beaus pete

Actually after two years they will...AT&T has it exclusive for the next two years and then it is up for all as long as they want to pay and Apple would be stupid to limit it to AT&T!

skinnyone

Apple has just now tried to make its phone more of a commodity than a niche so they might open it up to other carriers. It all depends on how their play of trading margins for volume will shake out.

BarracksSi

Don't forget about the OS underneath and the tools available to program for it. I haven't heard so many app writers get so excited about a phone; it's almost like nobody doesn't like it. And, frankly, I'm surprised.

It's important because the full functionality is only realized by the applications that run on it. The way it's looking now, the iPhone is simply the best mobile platform for developers. Go watch the keynote presentation from Monday and forget about the unveiling of the iPhone itself, because all the important stuff is in the first two-thirds.

Slickest interface = iPhone; best dev tools = iPhone.

mimis

Nokia N series cellphones: GPS navigation, bluetooth, 8 Gb memory for mp3 storage plus Nokia Sportstracker training software (free to download), turns the phone to a cyclocomputer. My Edge 205 is no longer necessary for rides up to 3 hours (battery issue..)

Murrays

Flash back a few years and there were lots of products that were promised to be better than iPods. While it may be true that some players did some things better than iPods, the market is owned by Apple.

The interesting stat is that something like 70% of the smart phone internet traffic came from iPhones despite less than 1 year worth of sales vs. the combined installed base of all other smartphones. So while some might think of the interface as fluff, it can actually make the difference between actually using the features available.

-murray

patentcad

I read several news reports yesterday that indicated AT&T's iPhone exclusive is for another four years. Of course that may be re-negotiated or even possibly regulated out of existence by Congress. Stay tuned.

akatsuki

T-mobile doesn't have much of a 3G network yet and Verizon uses a different technology so they would have to build a different model. Sprint is sinking quickly and will probably be out of business soon.

So who should they go with?

The more important thing to me is the restriction on GPS software in the SDK. No guidance programs allowed, which means the GPS feature is basically useless.

BarracksSi

That didn't stop TomTom from showing their iPhone app (although "showing" does not necessarily equal "available").

Still, there's been speculation on how or when someone would be allowed to build a turn-by-turn guidance map. It could be specifically licensed and therefore allowed from certain companies, or they're restricted so that Apple can stay away from liability issues resulting from bad directions (not unusual in guidance systems).

I've been able to get along fine with either Blackberry's or Google's map applications on my Pearl (and even -- omigod -- paper maps.. yes, they still exist), so I still don't see the big deal with turn-by-turn nav systems.

bryroth

...Someone really needs to post something that convinces us beyond doubt that we each NEED an iphone. That is the point of this thread, right?

steaktaco

Nope. No one really needs an iPhone.

dark13star

Or a bicycle, for that matter.

deburn

I would be extremely surprised if any phone from an existing manufacturer comes anywhere close to the intuitive elegance and beauty of the iphone. I mean they've had how many years/decades to improve cell phones?? All these companies think like engineers and design for engineers.

Of all, though Blackberry has the best chance IMO

Exactly!!!

deburn

275.00

bryroth

Like I said in an earlier post, if the interface is the most important thing to you then Iphone will always win hands down. If functionality is most important (email, cut/paste, existing 3rd party apps) then in my opinion BlackBerry is already better. Its just my opinion!

Back to the bike issue- I still think any phone with a GPS is limited, because they always steer you to the main roads, or highways, which isn't always a help.

deburn

That isnt the point of this thread. See the OP

patentcad

Resistance is still futile you weenies. Look deep into his eyes....

bryroth

What I'm trying to say is don't ask for reasons to justify buying this cool new toy. Just do it because you like it.

bryroth

Yeah... what he said.

patentcad

You'll all have Macs some day.

Oh yes.

Macs, and ipods and iphones, oh my.

PipinFan

If one day you own one,you will change your point of view.

PipinFan

I see an smart guy with great ideas for the 21st century and beyond.

milliron

Yeah, but in a few years, it will all be one device.

patentcad

Either way, you're all F'd.

steaktaco

Doubt it.

eb314

I have a Cingular 8125 (which is much older than the iPhone) but is touch screen. It may not be as sleek or stylish, but it's a much better phone. Why? Because not only is it touch screen, but it also has a REAL KEYBOARD. I will never buy a phone that doesn't have real keys, because being young and hip, I write a lot of text messages. The latest version is the AT&T Tilt I think it's called. I'd take that over the iPhone any day.