What the small print doesn't tell you, is that AT&T is the "exclusive carrier of iPhone in the US." This translates to not being able to have any other service for this phone - at least for the first five years. A deal with Verizon fell through after they felt Apple wanted "too much control". It also means that phone will not work in most parts of Europe, or any other foreign country that doesn't have AT&T for that matter.
Apple's monopoly nothwithstanding, carriers in Europe are salivating for a shot at the latest must have gadget. The leader of the pack is rumored to be T-mobile, the third largest carrier in the world. The trouble is, they are only the sixth largest in Europe, so if they truly want to sell a lot of product, they might need to rethink this.
I'll just sit back and wait for the dust to settle for a couple of years. I just renewed my contract and upgraded to the Cingular 8525.
UPDATE: My man, David Pogue of the NYT, reviews the Jesus Phone in a hilarious video piece. Enjoy.
Interesting. On "All Things Considered" this evening, the tech guru was complaining that no one in the media had been given an advance iPhone to review. Not to hold, not to handle, not even to review it and embargo the review until Friday. David Pogue is da man. I'll go take a look.
Based on the Pogue's review, the phone seems to have too many handicaps for a lot of people to confidently pony up 500 bucks -A sealed battery (big minus) and the ATT unlimited network looks dialup slow. Yes, you can get on a WiFi hotspot but what are the chances the network you're piggybacking on is not one where you have to buy a flavored coffee and a biscotti just to hop on? Lastly, the iPhone looks just way too fragile. No doubt that the "skin" industry is salivating over the money it will make over the myriad of designer sleeves they will be whipping up just to make the iPhone survive the clumsy rigors of its competitors.
I have to have a laugh since there was once a time where cell phones were part of a suitcase apparatus or they were anchored to the vehicles they were installed in, where people would say "oooh, thats so cool". Now cell phones are recyclable.
I like how the rate chart for the family plan is based on just one phone, when you must have at least 2 to have a family plan... I have cingular/att, and I LOVE my ipod, but now way in hell am I jumping on this bandwagon anytime soon!!! I do like the commercials though.
It seems that none of the eager iPhone consumers never heard of a 1st generation iPod or iPod Mini. Fools and their money.