I can't believe so many people would line up at stores to sign up for such a terrible deal. Unsubsidised lock-in contracts?
"2.5G"?
Can't even remove a battery or SIM card?
Can't use any phone company except for the one Apple says?
It's a bad phone, it's a bad iPod, and unless you're very close to a wireless network, it's got very little to do with the internet.
With all the money it costs, you'd think people would be able to buy some perspective.

The SIM card can be removed and replaced. Please get the facts straight. The issue is that the device comes locked, so you cannot replace the SIM with a none AT & T SIM...at least for now. But that should be just a matter of time before unlocked versions surface. Nothing new here.

Mark - It appears you're right about removal of the SIM. I just read that off Joes article.
It's still a terrible lock-in deal to a bad phone, bad iPod & bad internet device (unless you're close to a wireless network), costing a whole lot of cash.
That's the crux of my feelings towards it.
Here's hoping it fails and Apple re-evaluate's how bad a deal they can give people.
To paraphrase Penny Arcade: I don't know why they should feel the need to improve their offer if everyone has already given Apple the gold star.

First, if you think the iPhone would normally only command a $150 premium over the top iPod, you're mistaken. The iPhone is easily an $800 device, so it is being "subsidized," but simply by Apple taking a lower than margin.

As for "hidden" costs, what are you talking about? Apple and AT&T released their plan pricing this week, and by any reasoned analysis it's easily in line with other smartphone plans. Did _you_ think you'd get unlimited data for $60 a month? I didn't.

When Verizon, et all, advertise a Motorola Q or similar for $149, it alsor equires a two-year contract, typically at $80 a month. The extra $20 a month swallows the price differential between them.

Will your AT&T bill contain the same myriad nickel and dime charges allegedly for the FCC, taxes, etc.? Sure, like any other phone. I think the cost argument is way overstated.

As for SIM, AT&T compromised a _lot_ to get this phone. If you thought they were going to allow it to operate on T-Mobile or some other network via a new SIM card two weeks after it was purchased, you weren't paying attention. No way. It was _obvious_ there would be a lockdown in the US.

You want an open SIM slot? There may be one in the Europe version in six motnhs. Heck, Europe and other markets are why they went with GSM in the first place! On the other hand, if they go exclusive in Europe, too (Vodaphone?) then maybe even the initial European release will be locked SIM as well.

As I understand from previous dealings, in the UK (and presumably the rest of the EU too) you can legally demand the Phone Operator to give you the unlock codes for your phone once youve paid back, with your contract, the subsidy. Of course, we cant get them here yet, but perhaps the day they do.. well.. given there is no subsidy, potentially things could look very differnt...

Let's get one thing straight. If somebody is willing to pay $600 for phone plus at least $2000 in 2 years for a closed contract, then at least he should not be complaining about Vista pricing...

Yes the sim comes out if u use a paper clip in the eject sim lil hole on the side, as i work in the web activations dept for at&t

Mark: "The SIM card can be removed and replaced. Please get the facts straight."

Hi, Mark,

If I'm mistaken about the sim card, I'll make a correction.

As for the facts, I got the information yesterday by placing two calls to two different AT&T representatives with questions about iPhone, including the sim card. I was told that it's not removable. One of the reps told me an existing customer's cell number would transfer from one sim to other during activation

If there is misinformation, AT&T sales people are giving it out. I'll confirm and update if necessary.

Thanks,

Joe

I think I am in wrong section, I was trying to go to Microsoft Watch..

Oh wait....

For me it's obvious - iPhone replaces a laptop, iPod, and cell phone, and for travelers that's a significant savings of size and weight. Yes there are Windows Mobile devices, but they cost the same and suck out loud in terms of usability. Please remember this is V1.0 and it will only improve. Once again Apple has redefined an entire category and all the usual suspects find themselves years behind.

I had my reserved doubts about Job's abandonment from form follows functionality and the overcrowding market of the other cell phones. So I waited until I got my mits on one earlier today and run it through its paces.

First the phone quality aspect that I shall rate from 1 to 5, 5 being the best. I give the phone quality a 2 for voice and a 3 for userability. Still there is nothing like the old "numeric" keypad.

The graphics, eye candy is certainly nice, a 4 for sure, and what about that hady dany microscopic keyboard, yeah, a solid 1 -- What the heck is Jobs smoking nowadays?

I like the glass scratch resistant surface, I give that a 5 over my most favorite all time Apple device, my trusted G5 iPod.

4 Gigs of a whopping hard drive is loaded into this model I have been raking over the coals, and for a fist full of $100.00 more you can get it doubled -- So I'm told. Also you must realize this 4 gig magical and all expanding drive is already being used partically by its internal files, so you get even less available. In the past, I was hoping for at least an 80 gig hard drive, something like the size of the great state of Texas -- Not Rhode Island, come on Jobs... Since my ipod has a 40 gig and was made a couple of years ago. So I give the hard drive hardware and storage space a dismal, but deserving 1.

Sound quality, such as the beeps, clicks, and media, a respectable, okay just joking, a so-so 3
Darn, I can't put on my Led Zeppelin Collection at 320Kbyte 48,000hrz stereo AAC format because of the limited drive space. So if I cannot listen to Led Zeppelin IV's Misty Mountain Hop -- What's the sence of using this for a music device too? I mean, shall I reformat my collection from wma lossless to AAC 320 down to what, say 90 VBA -- No way, 320 is the lowest I can stand to go, I am an audiophile and have some pretty terrible high standards on my part, I freely admit.

Okay, the battery life, so I am told, just like the G5 iPod I have, when the battery goes bad, you take the whole device in and have them, apple get you a new one... Okay, that's terrible, if this is your only cell phone, you're out of business for a few days -- 1 for that Jobs.

Woow, the Internet browsing on this device is to die for, I mean, darn, what magic, and the userablity on this is very, very, well, is certainly worth a dull one handed hand clap given in the middle of the night, give it a solid 2 (I'm stretching it). Someone might say, this is the fault of the phone or service provider -- Not so fast you Apple Simpleton, iPhone is seriously in bed with these folks, and the service cost plus the iphone will certainly run you in the upper $2,000.00 range for a two year plan.

Nevertheless, the blazing cobalt pressed lightning speed -- NOT connecting speed, please, a solid 1. I've tried plain text and that seemed a shade quicker, possibly a robust 2, that is if you just like plain text only.

I am sure, eventually Steve Jobs and the wonderful Apple crew will address some of these issues along with the Phone providers in due time, right along the same time that Bill Gates at Microsoft iron out Vista.

Steve, you've been having a laugh at Microsoft's expense, and justifiably so in most parts that I shall agree, but realize, you're taking a hit on this one.

Well that's all I have to say about my testing thus far, and yes it has to go back to the store. Thankfully the return policy is great, least for me. I give that a solid 5!

Yup, in my region, AT&T/Cingular is dead last in J.D. Power Call Quality Satisfaction. In my city, the last time I looked, Consumer Reports ranked Cingular as dead last. How cool is that?

As Pogue put it "If Verizon's slogan is, "Can you hear me now?" AT&T's should be, "I'm losing you."

when does it come 2 australia? :(

i think im in wrong section, i was trying to go to Microsoft Watch..

oh wait...

Joe, you asked Microsoft to follow the iPhone marketing and other stuffs. You praise Apple iPhone to heaven . But now you are lamenting the "the ridiculous iPhone hype will come to an end.."

Are you comparisons based on hype ? You are the right candidate to be a Gartner consultant

I don't think the iPhone is that great. And I don't think it's worth buying. That begin said I feel the same way about the iPod, yet somehow Apple has fooled a lot of people into thinking otherwise, so it's possible they'll do the same thing this time.

Sweet, glorious specs of the 11.6 millimeter device (that's frickin' thin, by the way) include a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 touchscreen display with multi-touch support and a proximity sensor to turn off the screen when it's close to your face

www.mp4-converter.net/iphone-converter/dvd-to-iphone/