Do You Really Want an iPhone?
Apple's iPhone isn't the only cool smart phone out there; here are some alternatives worth considering.James A. Martin
Contributing Editor James A. Martin offers tools, tips, and product recommendations to help you make the most of computing on the go. Martin is also author of the Traveler 2.0 blog. Sign up to have the Mobile Computing Newsletter e-mailed to you each week.
Without a doubt, Apple's iPhone is one of the most compelling new electronic devices in years. I'd love to have one--but am I willing to pay $500 or $600 for a first-generation device? Would I shell out $150 to exit my current Sprint Nextel contract to switch to AT&T, the iPhone's exclusive carrier? Would I sign a two-year contract with AT&T after I left Cingular last year as an unhappy customer? (AT&T recently acquired Cingular.) Would I be satisfied tapping out an e-mail using my fingers on the iPhone's touch screen? The answers: No; no; not on your life; and I doubt it.
If, like me, Apple's iPhone has stirred up some discontent with your current smart phone, read on. Here are some iPhone rivals worth considering. Also, check out Michael Lasky's article, "iPhone Versus Your Phone: Tips to Avoid iPhone Envy."
Samsung UpStage (M620)
U.S. Carrier and Price: Sprint Nextel, $150 with two-year contract.
Available: Now.
Why It's a Contender: The UpStage is a candy bar-style multimedia/camera phone that offers phone functions on one side and multimedia features on the other. The phone has plenty of features and the device should please music fans. But the screen is small for video viewing and there's no QWERTY keyboard, which makes messaging and e-mail a chore.
For More Information: Read "First Look: Samsung's Two-Faced iPhone Fighter."
BlackBerry Curve 8300
U.S. Carrier and Price: AT&T, $300 with two-year contract (recently going for $200 with a mail-in rebate).
Available: Now.
Why It's a Contender: Unlike the iPhone, BlackBerrys don't use touch screens. Even so, the chic Curve gives the BlackBerry line a much-needed style injection. The phone features a QWERTY keyboard, multimedia, and 2-megapixel camera. But there's no Wi-Fi, and data transfer rates max out at 2.5-G EDGE speeds.
For More Information: Read our review and view the test report.
Nokia N95
U.S. Carrier and Price: AT&T and T-Mobile, about $750 (unlocked).
Available: Now.
Why It's a Contender: Nokia's phone has oodles of features, including quad-band GSM connectivity, GPS, Wi-Fi, multimedia, stereo speakers, and a 5-megapixel camera. The dual-slider design makes it easy to toggle between phone and multimedia playback. But the phone lacks a touch screen and it's way too pricey.
For More Information: Read our review and browse the lowest prices.
HTC Touch
U.S. Carrier and Price: Not announced at press time.
Available: In Europe and Asia now; the U.S. later this year.
Why It's a Contender: The Windows Mobile 6 Professional device lets you perform many frequent tasks using your fingertip (hence the name "Touch"). Swipe your finger up from the navigation button to the center screen and a scrollable list of contacts appear. Swipe left and contacts are replaced by multimedia application buttons. Fingertip input is augmented by a slide-out stylus for text input and navigation and a central main input button.
For More Information: Read "First Look at the HTC Touch" and "HTC's New Touchy-Feely Cell Phone."
LG Prada (aka KE850)
U.S. Carrier and Price: None announced at press time, but you can buy an unlocked model online for about $540 or more.
Available: Now.
Why It's a Contender: As the Prada logo would imply, the phone is stylish, with a beautiful 3-inch touch screen, a 2.0 megapixel camera, music player, and document viewer. But as the Prada logo would also imply, the phone's price tag is high (though no more so than the iPhone's).
For More Information: Read "New Touchscreen Cell Phones: iPhone Killers?" and "New LG Phone Wears Prada."
And Furthermore...
Finally, can the iPhone cause family turmoil? I crunched the numbers to learn what the financial impact would be on my Sprint family plan, if I bought an iPhone and signed up for an AT&T service plan. The results are on my blog, Traveler 2.0.
Have You Bought an iPhone?
If so, share your likes and dislikes by sending me an e-mail. Please include your name and the city or town you live in. I'll include comments from iPhone users in a future column.
Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips
How Tough is the iPhone? What happens if you drop your new iPhone? Will loose car keys scratch its beautiful screen? Read our report and watch our video to see what happens when we torture-test an iPhone.
Recharge Your iPhone in Flight: A new device from InflightPower.com converts the power emitted from an airplane seat's headphone jack into power that can recharge your iPhone battery. The converter also recharges BlackBerry and Motorola smart phones.
Top 10 Cell Phone-PDAs: In the market for a new smart phone? Our Test Center's recently updated ranking of the top 10 cell phone-PDAs can help. Sitting atop the heap are the BlackBerry 8300 Curve, T-Mobile Wing, and Nokia E62.
Suggestion Box
Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it. However, I regret that I'm unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.