Comments on: Apple unveils iPhone 2, both the phone and the business

Everyone knew the iPhone 3G was coming, but Apple quietly changed the way the iPhone is sold Monday in addition to releasing a next-generation product.

[Arrgster]

Doesn't make sense to just go with at&t. I would like an iphone but there is no way I'm switching to at&t for one. I would have to pay a penalty to verizon, and I like verizon.

why box themselves in like that.. I don't get it.

[fredross1]

I'm not a tech savy, but have been using the iphone since its debut. My observations are: att is about the worst carrier in the new orleans area..., dropped calls, voice mail sometimes arrives a day late, horrible reception, poor signal strength, etc. The audio on the iphone is poor at best - most times you can't hear the party your speaking to, the iphone will make errant calls during conversations - this is caused by your cheek pressing against the touch screen and making an accidental phone call; I was hoping that these issues would be resolved with iphone 2, but I am not so sure; I suggest taking the phone on a serious test drive before purchasing

[paul_swansson]

I have been looking forward to the iPhone since day one. Thought about getting an unlocked iPhone since I live in Australia, but then thought it would be worth waiting till the 3G. But now that it is coming and it is at a discounted price I know that the plans are going to be expensive. I am thinking it will be better to keep my iPod Touch and my Motorola phone combo. I love the iPhone and the simplicity of it but do not want to be locked into a contact for 2 years that I am expecting will cost $88 a month ($49 cap plan + $39 data plan) and that is if we are really lucky.

[studiodave56]

I can hardly wait for my current Verizon contract to expire.
Verizon in my neighborhood is bad, once a month I have no service for a day.
They blame my phone for not working, if that's right then I must have nanites repairing the phone because after I call Verizon it suddenly works.

[amandachuck]

Since the revenue agreement is over, expect iPhones from other carriers soon enough. As for Verizon v. ATT. Those in good Verizon regions love it, those in good ATT regions (like mine) are quite happy. It's when it goes in reverse that everyone says how awful the other is. ATT's 3G service was fast last summer when I tried it in Houston, but it was spotty. The faster version of 3G they are rolling it is truly as fast as basic DSL for most people. If you live and work in a reliable ATT area like Los Angeles or San Francisco, you will be happy.

[Thomas, David]

I want to upgrade my iPhone, but like most others, the extra charge for the 3G seems a little twisted if AT&T is trying to use the iPhone to entice new customers. The fact the price of the phone has dropped so much could have driven a large number of people to AT&Ts' doors. That alone should have been promise enough for them not to charge an additional 10 dollars a month for 3G (if I have been reading correctly).

Too bad, AT&T seems to want to find ways to screw themselves. If the 3G network is reliable, and as fast as people hope, the number of consumers they could've gained should've been more than enough to subsidize the introduction of the network.

[David Dudley]

To me, it looks like Steve Jobs is just wasting away and turning into an ever so small version of what he used to be. To contrast, look at Steve Wozniak - he is an absolute friend of any kind of food he can get ahold of, while Jobs looks like he is going to grow up to be a replica of Monty Burns, if he makes it that long.

[kennyleeinc]

I hope that they've improved the battery consumption when using app's such as email or web access... I read that they didn't release 3G with the first gen due to battery consumption issues (which I think is a bunch of Bull-loney). I caught a lot of flack from friends and family when I switched from my Treo 750 to the iPhone, mainly because it can't send or receive MMS. So, I wonder if that has been addressed... Even if it hasn't, I still think that I'll be one of the 10million to purchase the phone upon release :) I can't stand Verizon's service, switch to At&t... You'll be happier

[Bruce Torres]

I?m live in Mexico, and I been waiting the iPhone to come to my country since day one, it´s a shame Apple didn?t have a plan to sell it in this country. There are rumors that will be available until fall 2009 or 2010.. So I did what every Mexican does to get an iPhone, I buy an unlocked iPhone. :-) I?m very happy with my iphone v 1.4 16GB. Enjoying from 3rd party apps. and other cool stuff without itunes.. Even if you live in a country where you can buy an iPhone I strongly recommend to unlock it.. There are thousands apps out there that brings new live to an iPhone.
If iPhones where sale it legally in Mexico may be I never discover what I missing from the unlocked iphones. By now.. Thanks to Apple ´s discriminatory practices that push to get an unlocked device. Every Mexican who has an iPhone, enjoys a better product more than Apple couldn?t imagine it.
Why still wating a decade for a 3G iPhone in México if the cost for a mounth of data transfer costs at least $100 dollars monthly.. Now I start to believe that the rest of the GSM iPhones out of stock are already selling every where in Mexico´s streets.

[exxtraz]

iPhone is available in Mexico. What are you talking about. Unlock iPhone can't go on 3G or have GPS. I think unlocking really kills the purpose of having an iPhone.

[jameskatt]

For those who want a Verizon iPhone, tough luck. Verizon uses a completely different technology for their cell phones than other countries in the world. GSM is the standard in Europe. 3G is fast becoming the world standard. A Verizon user has to rent a GSM phone if they want to go to another country. An AT&T customer doesn't have to - their phone works wherever there is GSM or 3G.

It makes no sense for Apple to design a completely different iPhone just for Verizon. It's time Verizon join the rest of the world. Of course it would have to spend billions on new network hardware and antennas. But then it chose to make it's own mistake and isolate itself from the rest of the world. This is one reason a Verizon user can't text message to anyone in the world. Verizon can only text message to certain countries where it specifically has negotiated connections to. If one has AT&T, they can text to anyone in the world. Verizon can't.

[thelemurking]

Well then, why not off Sun Com and T Mobile the chance to sell the iPhone in the US? If I was selling a product, I would try to offer it for sell in the most places I could, so limiting it to just one store seems rather silly. Apple doesn't make sense a lot of times.

I am not switching carriers for any phone... I can stick around and wait for the Samsung Instinct and Omnia and probably be just as happy as I would with an iPhone.

Besides, how many people text to other people in other countries? How many people travel outside the US on a regular basis? If I had to go to Hong Kong once or twice a month then yes, I would understand the need for me to have a 3g phone, but since I am hardly outside of my calling area, I can stick with CDMA, EVDO or whatever and not be affected. I don't see myself texting a bunch of Japanese school girls in the near future so what's the point?

[Martijn van Berkum]

[laxmanchip]

Apple originally proposed a deal to VZW, but VZW turned it away; the deal was not "mutually beneficial."

[thelemurking]

Now Verizon is set to buy Alltel for $28.1 billion, so I don't think the iPhone going to AT&T hurt their business.

It's a shame though because I really like Alltel!

[Mr. Dee]

Yup, I'm buying one, the time is very right! I am from Jamaica one of the countries that should be receiving it after the first 22. Sorry Windows Mobile.

[exxtraz]

Well if Verizon did accept the offer in the first place Apple would have gone with them. But since verizon has too much pride, now they cut off from Apple's global domination. I think Apple is very happy with AT&T, they are expanding their 3G faster than any other wireless carrier.

Apple will reach the goal of 10Million by September and then make history with their numbers.

[DrtyDogg]

I really do hope they hit the 10Mil. They sure are trying to make it interesting though, by forcing themselves to take a month off. As for global domination, they've got a long way to go for that. As they are still sitting at the bottom of the world market share.

[WTFuge]

I am so mad at Apple! The iPhone has many issues that have not been fixed. Sure 3G is great, but what about all the issues?

1. Bigger Hard Drive - 16gig is toooo small especially when you can now download third party software and pay for it!
2. Camera - No Video Recording
3. Cut / Paste - In Notes and Emails
4. Straight to Voice Mail - When you are on uTube you don't get in coming phone calls. LAME!
5. Can't send multiple pictures in an email - Do I really want to give someone access to my pic folder? I don't think so.
6. Text in landscape so the keyboard is easier to type faster - In Notes
7. Allowing to download plugins so you can watch your videos on certain web sites ie. ESPN Highlights or G4 - Daily Feed Video
8. Allowing to download plugins so I can listen to my favorite radio station in the morning ie. 96.5 Wire - Chio - P1 Fan!

I am so sure that Apple will fix some of the problems or request within 6 months to release the new iPhone 2.5 version! The people (like myself) that have the old iPhone will realize after the hype of the new iPhone 2.0 is a real rip off. I will tell everyone that is going to buy iPhone 2.0 to wait for the newer version! Because, remember how the people felt when they purchased the 4gig iPhone. SHAFTED and SCREWED!

[Thomas, David]

o.k. Mr. Ballmer ... whatever.
#1. Get a laptop
#2. Get a camcorder, I'm sure people want to drain the life from their PHONE by using it as a camcorder.
#3. Sorry. No joy, maybe ...
#4. I've gotten calls while in youtube.
#5. Get a laptop
#6. Check the keynote, and to date, only the native apps are horizontal, but they demonstrated their 2.0 version switching to landscape mode while in text mode. Have to wait and see if this is new for all of their native apps.
#7. Hackers would love plug-ins, OH they do now! But not on an iPhone
#8. Get 3rd party accessory for to turn into a radio, I think it's smaller than the size of a quarter.

I never felt shafted, or screwed. I knew it was the first release, R&D costs were very high. Fortunately the demand has been so good, they've been able to produce enough to drop the price drastically. If you think 199 for this device is expensive, then you truly must be Ballmer.

[MaverickTrader]

What's Wrong with the iPhone 2.0
"personal memo to steve jobs" - From Maverick

5 DEAL BREAKERS ON THE IPHONE

1. File Storage is key to mobile productivity. I have 16GB of memory, but I still can't store a PDF file on my phone. Let's say you are a Salesman, or a Lawyer, Doctor, Broker, Computer Nerd, whatever; We all have documents that we want to take with us wherever we are. Sell Sheets, Books, Manuals, Briefs, Whatever. You are taking to a client on the phone, and you want to email him a sell sheet, or a document. You want to be able to quickly open a couple of them, find the right file without transferring 3.1MB files over the network. Opening 3 x 3.1MB files over the network takes time. How about reading a PDF while you are on the subway ? or a plane ? or a underground parking garage where there's no signal. Shouldn't you be able to store files on your own phone ?
Apple thinks that there's a network everywhere. There isn't. This is a terribly flawed assumption. Even a OS as bad a Windows Mobile opens PDFs from the built-it Memory Card.

2. Document Storage Access. A directory where you can drop all your Word, Excel, Power Point, and PDF files, and you can navigate to them on the phone through the interface. A folder that can accessed from the computer, like a USB stick. Drop your files and go. No itunes syncing. Every computer in the world does NOT have itunes. I'm at work, I plug in my iPhone, and copy my documents into the documents folder. Simple.

3. PDF Reader. Such a sophisticated phone, yet such a poor PDF reader. Open a PDF of a newspaper or magazine on the iPhone, and try reading the text. It's very unfortunate. Either get a proper PDF reader, or have those ******-bags at Adobe build one for you.

4. Battery Life is still not up to Apple Standards. Better than the rest doesn't say very much. Don't make it thinner, use the extra 2mm for more battery. As soon as Wi-Fi gets turned on, your battery life sinks to 3 hours. Not Cool. Not Apple Cool.

5. No Copy/Paste Functionality.


NOT DEAL BREAKERS BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED

6. Camera Resolution should be raised.
7. Camera should flip around for ichat.
8. No Flash for camera.
9. Battery should be user replaceable.
10. MMS Support.


Having said all that, I applaud Apple for 3G, somekind of GPS, great SDK, nice Exchange Server support, cool connect me, and thank God for the headphone jack.

Thanks Steve.

[Kool_Breeze]

I would like to know if anyone out here know if this new iphone will have the capabilities to sent and receive MMS messages with there actual animations and will the iphone be able to video record. It sucks knowing you have a quote on quote "Jesus" but you can't do everything with it. So how will the iphone compete with the NOkia E82 and the N95. Now those are some bad --- phones.

[Geek_Tech]

This is for anyone that thinks that the iPhone can't do everything... It's not that we want it do everything, but we want it do all the popular features that?s available on other phones. We want things that are so useful for the work place and the common features that have been around since first camera phone been outdated to the first video phone. Then, create one or two more eye catching features that no other phones have. That's what gadgets geeks like me will buy. I knew that old iPhone didn't have much to offer, but you couldn?t resist on not getting it. I was so sure that the next generation will have all the things that people complained about on the Apple?s Web Page (And I was one of Them). But, nothing was done. And it was second biggest let down in Apple?s gadget history. First one was iTouch 16GB. It looked too much like the iPhone and if you can?t call on it... Then, why buy it? You were wasting your money on a 16GB, while you could've purchased the iPod Classic 160GB. If you are wondering if the iPhone 2.0 can do something that it hasn't mentioned by someone, than more likely it can't do it.

[kidballa8]

why? i dont understand why wouldnt apple think to add copy/paste for its business users theyre going after or 1 up every one with video conferencing, didnt even add video recording thats important as well, or your standard mms. which they have it through email., why no voice activated dialing? that shouldve been standard for people who dont wanna use the touch screen often or why didnt they add theyre own email service like blackberry so you dont have to pay to use an outlook on there phone., im with verizon wireless but if apple had all those things or at least 75 % of those things they wouldve had my business for sure. , i heard that 3rd party will be able to create programs on the iphone for the copy/paste and plugins also voice activated dialing/words for emails is that true?

[anti3g]

The actual price of the new apple iphone 3G = $399!

The published price being advertised all over for the new apple iphone 3G is $199?what they are not telling you is that price is only for new ATT customers and those current ATT customers who happen to be eligible for an equipment upgrade (according to ATT, upgrade eligibility is ?generally? determined by the amount of time remaining on a current contract). For all those current ATT customers who do not happen to be at the end of their contract, the actual price for you is $399 plus an $18 upgrade fee along with a new 2-year contract. ATT is penalizing their long-time, account in good standing, customers a whopping $200. Why is the actual price of the new iphone not being advertised for what it is?$399? It?s the same price as the old iphone with an increase in the data plan.

Post your 3G iPhone activation experience or opinion at:
www.themissingasterisk.blogspot.com

[veedubnj]

the new nokia 5880 may be the way to go?