Guest Author - Meg Meyer
Many gadget lovers exhaled a collective sigh of relief on June 29th, 2007, as the Apple iPhone was finally released to the public. Apple had postponed development and release of their new operating system, while the finishing touches & hype were spun on the new communication productivity tool.
It's sleek. It's stylish. It does it all - kind of. You could almost replace your computer with the thing. And with the new G3, it's fast, too!
With a cost between $299 - $699 & a minimum of nearly $60 per month for AT&T service, whiney "I want one's" aside, is it worth the expense, for your business?
Status Symbol - It works for that! You'll be the envy of other execs in the airport waiting area, just don't let them "hold" it... they likely wont reimburse you if they drop it.
Phone - Contacts from your Mac or PC sync up with your iPhone. Just touch a name to dial - you may never punch numbers again. Or call up the touchscreen keypad. Or scroll through your contacts alphabetically.
Surfer - Surf with Safari, and see the actual internet, not just a "mobile version" of the internet. It's Wi-Fi enabled, so anywhere you have a hotspot, you have internet at your fingertips.
PDA - There are calendar & note functions. That, combined with access to any online services that you use. (I use Google's family of products.)
Text Star - The intuitive QWERTY keyboard may start out a little strange to work with, but as you grow to trust it, your dexterity for sending SMS text messages & emails will expand exponentially. No more trying to get across your message using only a numeric keypad.
Jukebox Hero - If you spring for the more expensive, higher memory version, you'll have what Apple calls "the best iPod ever." When in landscape view, you can view videos in real movie aspect ratio, or in full-screen mode. If you're listening to music, turn the iPhone to landscape mode to flip through your music by viewing the cover art in "coverflow."
Lobby Hobbyist - What it doesn't do is play solitaire. No games on or currently in development for the iPhone. Never fear, however, with Safari giving you access to the Web 2.0, you'll likely have access to online games. And you can always pass the time by downloading and viewing the latest craze from YouTube.
Photo Bug - It boasts a 2 megapixel camera. Memory depends whether or not you get the upgrade. Apple claims to have a revolutionary photo management system in the phone, but previewers of the device say there are better camera-phones on the market for less money.
The Pro - You can open Microsoft Word & Excel items for viewing. To my knowledge you can't yet edit via the iPhone, but if you're needing to review something away from the office, this do-it-all gadget accommodates.
Overall, it's design, style and touchscreen are revolutionary and quite impressive. It works with both PCs & Macs, so don't worry about which OS you use.
I think this gadget is best for those who travel a lot, and want to take their world with them. The partnering of the iPhone's address book & Google maps, give you easy access to turn-by-turn directions & maps. It even has an "airplane" function, that turns off the Wi-Fi and any transceiver signal, leaving access to your iPod & Video functions.
It may require a bit of a learning curve for those that have never owned iPods. Almost everything is controlled by the touch screen. If you need buttons, this gadget will possibly frustrate you.
With my Small Business Services & Executive Business Coaching business, have an all-in-one gadget like the iPhone would indeed have it's advantages, like keeping me in contact with my clients and interns at all times. I'm a little accident prone, so until the iPhone is fumble proof, I'll have to pass.
