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Seems like Apple has captured that not quite a smartphone, but a little more than a feature phone niche.

Have any of you heard any rumors about the next generation...version 2 of the iphone yet? I'm sorely tempted to buy one now...but I think I want to wait until January and MacWorld to get the next model....and till then struggle along with my old LG flip phone....

Any "reliable" rumors out there?

The word "rumor" and "reliable" in the same sentence? That's like writing "analyst" and "intelligent" in the same sentence.

@ Niche Marketing

"not quite a smartphone"? My iPhone is better than any Blackberry or Treo I've ever used. I couldn't imagine going back to one of those.

iPhone is in a class all by itself - above the rest.

The iPhone will explode when it can match the BlackBerry with corporate features like push email.

I was put in a class by myself once.
Boy, did I learn my lesson....

@drz

The iPhone can be configured with Corporate Push eMail now. I did it for a client who has more than 300 of them and replaced all blackberry's with senior execs. Setting it up is no more difficult than configuring a proper corporate blackberry server installation. Security is better, co-operation with corporate firewalls is better, usability with corporate Intranet and web based applications make it a no brainer.

Support costs for my client for just this one area are down about 15% and expected to go lower.

can't provide a link because i can't find the online article, but in a scatter chart about classes of phones and prices, a harvard business review this month puts iphones in their own category (above smartphones). if someone plotted units sold against price, another unexpected pattern would probably appear.

@ fenman

Can you give more details on what kind of configs you are using?

And some of these iPhone reviews are just catty and gory.

@ Tower one"

You are on a roll today, lol

@fenman

Do you advertise your services any where? you may have found a nice niche for your self

"iPhone is in a class all by itself - above the rest."

Not really if you want fast 3g data, corporate email/calendaring/contacts synchronized wirelessly over the the air, GPS and turn by turn mapping and solid 3rd party app support.

It's great if you want a wireless web browsing iPod with basic mail and phone capability.

It's not as good a corporate email/calendaring/contacts device as a Blackberry or Windows mobile device.
It doesn't have the sophisticated local applications available that these devices do.
It is not as sophisticated phone as many cheaper handsets.

It IS a better mp3 player and web browser than most phones.

Hence it's in a class of it's own, a phone which prioritizes the iPod and web browsing part and deprioritizes almost all other features.

Above feature phones in some areas. Below true smartphones.

What is the big hairy deal about "push" email? Are there really that many people for whom it is vital to receive email the second it hits your server? I can understand it if you have a big sales deal ongoing, but come on. My iPhone checks every five minutes, which seems pretty often to me. What am I missing?

but in actuality
the iPhone is such a work of art
in a sea of sickening handsets.

Apple thinks different and wins

Having played with a Blackberry Curve (RIM is still a very minor player in Asia), I thought that the Blackberry's interface was not a significant advancement over that of Windows Mobile 6 (WM6 is itself is a less elegant mobile/PDA OS than a Palm OS).

I would place using a Blackberry about on par with a Palm Treo running Palm OS. I wouldn't touch any Windows Mobile device with a 100 foot bargepole. Having had extensive experience using WM5/6 "stupidphones" wherein I had a raft of problems with constant reboots, loss of information on the SD card, lack of synchronisation with Outlook (you better believe that ActiveSync is a broken application - worse than useless) and other headaches, I would put the iPhone GUI heads and shoulders above that of any competing device.

The iPhone truly is a device in its own category. Having said that, the current lack of third party software cripples the iPhone's usability somewhat. There are hacked iPhones for sale here in Asia and they are gaining in popularity, if nothing else for what Apple is famous for - ease of use on a level that leaves Microsoft in the dust.

@ Niche

We are supposed believe your drivel, because....... ?

I don't need internet accessibility from my cell phone so if there was a version of the iPhone that was more like a 'regular' phone that'd fit me fine. GSM quad band and unlockable (i like to travel) i'm sold.

The stats in this post are only the rising tide of a tsunami due to hit after Feb 08.

@fenman

Fenman it would a very nice gesture it you posted more feedback or a link to the services you have setup for users.

That's Apple's usual business strategy. Create products that do not have true competitors. Macs have something that no other PC has - Mac OS X. iPods have something that no other digital media player has - iTunes. iPhone has many things: iTunes, OS X, and a touch screen/interface that will not be duplicated. Apple competes my choosing not to compete. Truly "brilliant."

"We are supposed believe your drivel, because....... ?"

Because you can independently verify each claim and see that they are in fact true.

The iPhone does a fraction of what other smartphones can. However it does what limited things it does do well. Hence it's in a category of it's own.