iPhone's have more fun

I recently picked up the 3G iPhone and to help those of you who are still unsure if it’s the right phone for you, I have put together a brief list of the pros and cons of the iPhone 3G.

Pros

Great interface.

Superbly designed including the packaging.

The touch screen works just the way you want it to and is very easy to adapt to.

The applications are easy to find and download, with some silly and some very useful.

Email works amazingly well, including the way you can view documents and PDF’s.

The size is surprisingly small, but large enough for all that you will need.

Having email/camera/address book/internet/phone/calendar/calculator/map/itunes all in one place is incredible and cuts out the need for multiple gizmos.

The GPS works well, but the exciting news is that TomTom are working on a download for iPhones that will enable your iPhone to work like a TomTom Sat-Nav.

The ability to tap into wireless networks is great, meaning that you’re not always reliant on 3G networks.

In essence the iPhone 3G is unbelievably fun AND cool.

Cons

Short battery life, which can be aided by turning off 3G and the frequency which the phone ‘fetches’ your emails.

No copy and paste function.

No MMS, although if you’re that way inclined you can ‘crack’ the iphone and download some opensource software to allow MMS.

Bluetooth is poor, it has no ability to transfer documents between one Bluetooth device and the iPhone.

Safari sometimes crashes for no reason.

Summary

Now that the iPhone has 3G and a lower price tag it is more accessible to regular phone users and not just the early adopters. The battery is a huge let down, but the features and ability to sync with itunes makes up for this.

The iPhone is much like (the old) VW beetle, it’s fun and everyone secretly wants one or is happy to admire them from a distance. However, whilst the VW Beetle owners look great and have lots of fun it isn’t long before they’re stranded on the hard shoulder, whilst the sensible boring cars chug on by en-route to their final destination.

If you want fun, mixed with multi-functionality, a dollop of new technology and a dash of smugness then the iPhone is for you. If you need something that will not conk out on you whilst you’re nipping up the M1, then save the iPhone for the weekends and get a blackberry or a nokia.

Having said this, I wouldn’t swap my iPhone for anything, except when the battery icon veers unnervingly towards 0% and I’m a long way from a charger.

Blue Cherry is an ethical, creative and friendly Public Relations and Marketing Consultancy based in Leicester, providing affordable and effective solutions for start-ups and small to medium sized businesses across the East and West Midlands.