i-phone users. A few questions

[OffWithTheirHeads]

My wife and I are currently eligible for upgrades and I think it may be time to embrace some newer technology. I don't want to say that our current phones are outdated, after all, I hold the device in my hand, push a series of buttons and, as if by magic, I am suddenly able to communicate with other people in different locations on Earth, and how cool is that? That is, after all, what I own a cell phone for but I am tired of people covering their mouths so I don't see them laughing when I pull my phone out. Sadly, when I pull my phone out of my pocket, everyone in the immediate vicinity suddenly looks like this:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: . O.K, O.K. I get it. Seriously, my existing phone makes and receives calls. That's it. It won't text, it won't take pictures, it won't blue tooth, it won't even do ring tones. Time for an upgrade.

A few friends own i-phones and gave me a brief, hands on tour and I must admit, I'm impressed. I have spent some time on the internet tubes trying to further my understanding of this newfangled gizmo and from what I can gather, it will do much more than I will ever use it for. I don't text,and I don't do social networking (unless you include D.U. as social networking)and I don't play computer games but the ability to send and receive photo's and video would be invaluable in my job and the ability to increase the screen font size so I don't have to find my glasses every time I want to use the phone would be a Godsend.

My biggest and most important question and the one that I can't seem to get a straight answer for is what are the monthly service charges? Our current monthly bill is about $120.00 which is already excessive in my opinion but you can call me up and read me War and Peace and it won't make any difference to my bill. I'm concerned that, with internet access, my bill could soon rival my mortgage and that would definitely be a deal breaker. I would really appreciate some input from folks who own this machine. What does it cost to use?

Assuming that the answers to the first question are within acceptable parameters, my next question: Is the new "S" version worth the extra $$$

Third, how is the battery life?

Fourth, What do you like best about it?

Fifth, what DON'T you like about it?

Sixth, what are your favorite apps?

And lastly, is there anything else I need to know before I take the plunge?

I know my good friends at D.U. will give me the straight scoop and I trust the info I will get here much more than any corporate website so, If you have a moment for some input, it will be much appreciated.

Oh, and for what it's worth, we have been ATT customers for ages so that part is not a problem and I have looked into various other 3g type phones and I'm pretty much set on an i-phone. Besides, my wife read a poll some ware that said that Democrats use i-phones and Republistinks use Blackberries. I know that that poll has about as much validity as the data on Sarah Palin's hillbilly Palm Pilot but the wife has her mind made up and I've learned to pick my battles.

Thank you all.

Bud

[Lex]

1. I believe you have to pay an extra monthly fee for being able to connect

to the internet. On my Blackberry it's $19.99 extra per month JUST for the internet/email.

[sammytko]

2. I bought one about 4 months ago - love it!

My monthly bill is 83 dollars. I do have the IPhone 3GS.

Battery life is kind of short - for me I have to charge every night. My nephew suggested I get a larger battery pack

I love the large screen. It is so easy to read.

What don't I like about it - NOTHING

Kindle is my fav app.

I bought a neat little grippy skin for it - made by Belkin. I just felt it needed some protection.

I had a Palm and I never used all the features. My sisters probably have cells as old as you. One is on the verge of taking the plunge.

[Lex]

4. Just curious, what is the required monthly data plan for it? $30 or ?

[sammytko]

12. I pay 30 dollars

[av8rdave]

3. I began using an iPhone on December 25th

OK, you can guess why I have an iPhone.

I resisted the idea mostly because of the data plan charge (about $30/month under my plan), although Mrs. av8rdave came up with some ideas to save at least that much per month (more on that in a second).

I have the "S" version, but getting it as a gift I have no idea if it's any better or if I should be smug, grateful, conceited or just happy.

Battery life. My favorite answer: It depends. If you're using the 3G network, it's nowhere near as good as Apple claims. Absent 3G, it's excellent. Lots of talk and standby time. Here's the deal on 3G. Use it if you're doing anything internet based and there isn't a wireless LAN available. (When I'm home, my iPhone uses my existing wireless network for internet access). When you're only using it as a phone (or for very light internet duty - no heavy graphic stuff), just go into your settings and turn off 3G. It will still use the AT&T cell phone network, use a lot less battery, and generally work just fine. If you're on someone's LAN, battery life isn't a big issue either.

What I like best (several things): I used to carry a cell phone, an iPod, a small photo album, a few books and a digital camera. Now they are all integrated into one thing. I also like being able to quick access certain internet stuff (mostly work related) without always having to pull out my laptop. I also like that the cell phone portion of it works a lot better than my old phone. Also it synchs with all your info on your computer (REALLY slick if you're a Mac user). Also, the Mac gestures work on it (finger swipes, enlarging/shrinking, scrolling, etc). Very slick.

What I don't like: It's a little bigger than my old phone. But I can still carry it in my pocket, and it's way sturdier than my old phone.

Favorite apps: Lots. Back to the data plan price. I use redlaser, the bane of all retailers. Any item you're thinking of buying, scan with redlaser (turns your camera into a scanner), and it will instantly tell you the best price and where - both online and retail. I also like shazam (instantly ID's a song you hear and tells you where to get it). Kindle for iPhone is awesome - I always have books to read. AOL radio is great, and you have to have AppBox Pro (full of tools). I also have several apps for work that give me airport and weather data.

Anything else to know? Be sure to ask the dealer if you get a discount for multiple data plans, if you're getting more than one. Also ask if you get a discount on the plan through your employer (I got either 10% or 15%...can't remember).

If you're a music/book/internet junkie, you'll like it.

[av8rdave]

5. I almost forgot...

That redlaser app? So far, it's saved me more than the data plan on stuff I had to buy anyway.

[Heidi]

6. I can't answer your questions about charges, because I connect via Swisscom, BUT:

Third, how is the battery life?
-- If I just keep it in my handbag and only tag calls, check email, etc.: 12 hours. If I use it to surf around while I'm traveling, four or five hours.

Fourth, What do you like best about it?
-- It's extremely intuitive, easy to use. I had a very fancy Nokia cell phone that I never figured out how to use (and that's NO JOKE...I didn't even know how to use the built-in phone book to make calls and couldn't figure out how to reply to a phone message). The iPhone is soooooooooo easy to use.

Fifth, what DON'T you like about it?
-- It's another device in our household alongside: CMW's iPhone, CMW's Kindle, my laptop, CMW's desktop, a stereo, an iTouch, two iPod nanos. We've got way too many devices. HOWEVER, I'd be perfectly happy with just my laptop and my iPhone.

Sixth, what are your favorite apps?
-- I'll get back to you about that. I don't have a whole ton of aps. Most are photo aps, anyway.

And lastly, is there anything else I need to know before I take the plunge?
-- Find out how much you're gonna be charged per month. I sent VERY few text messages and make few phone calls via iPhone, and I pay about $35 per month. But I understand that US rates are way difference (in many cases, more generous).

[huskerlaw]

7. Answers...

1. The data plan is extra, but it's not bad. Like $20/month for unlimited data (internet, etc). Each plan comes with a certain amount of free texts, but those aren't unlimited unless you pay for that, so be aware of that. I pay $90/month for 450 anytime minutes (which rollover if you don't use them), 5000 night/weekend minutes, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes (calls to/from anyone else w/ AT&T), no roaming, no long distance,unlimited data and 1500 text messages per month.

2. Do you live in an area with 3G coverage? (translation: a large metropolitan area) If not, then the S part really isn't going to be worth it. It wasn't that big of an upgrade to begin with, but if you're not even going to be able to take advantage of the 3G part, then the S is really overkill.

3. The battery life on the 3G really depends on what you're doing with it. If you're on the 3G network and you're playing with apps and/or the internet, the battery life is pretty well crap. Something like 4-6 hours. If you're basically using it as a phone with limited apps/internet usage, more like 8-10. You can optimize that by turning off the 3G and/or wireless connectivity if you're not using them. I have a car charger and just plug in the phone when I'm in the car, and I easily make it through the day without the battery dying.

4. I love it for the apps and the internet. Everything is available at your fingertips. Need to find a restaurant? Prove some random piece of trivia in a debate? Don't want to get lost? I love it.

5. Honestly, the only thing I don't like is having to use AT&T. Their coverage can be spotty (particularly out in the boonies) and the company sucks. I don't dislike anything about the phone itself.

6. Pandora (listen to radio stations you create on your phone), Shazam (what is the name of that song?? Shazam can tell you), NY Times, NPR, IMDb, Kindle, Facebook, Tweetie...half the fun is finding new ways to entertain yourself. ;)

[OffWithTheirHeads]

9. Sounds perfect! I live in downtown Silicon Valley (San Jose)

so that's not an issue and I don't text. Never saw the point as just calling someone has served me well for over 50 years.

You can do Kindle on an I phone? COOL! I've been dying for a kindle but just couldn't justify the price.

I'm sold! Next Sunday, I-phones for us!

Thanks! Have a heart on me.

[huskerlaw]

11. Awww, thanks...

for the heart! :)

You can do Kindle on the iPhone. It's a free app, you just pay to download the books. It's a small screen, but you can adjust text size so that the screen size becomes less of an issue. One of my coworkers swears by it...I don't think he's read a paper book since the Kindle app came out.

You won't regret it! I have honestly never met anyone who has an iPhone that doesn't love it...aside from the annoying AT&T factor, but that can't really be helped.

[pink-o]

21. I love the Kindle app too! That's what decided me to buy it.

I've had mine since last April. I too traded in my Palm for it--however, the one thing I miss on the IPhone is the external qwerty keyboard. I guess Apple has no intention of giving us one, but I would love to be able to write and blog on the IPhone as I always could on the Palm. Writing stories when traveling, then synching them to the home computer has been fabulous. If the IPhone had that one single feature, it would be perfect.

I've been told I'm an old lady and just suck it up and deal with 140 characters like a good tweeter!

[GermanDem]

13. Kindle on the i-phone

I am not sure, but I think you can only have kindle for the i-phone if you already have a kindle. If this is important for you, you should look into this before buying...

[sammytko]

14. nope, kindle app is free for the IPhone.

lots of free books available for download. I'm reading Howard's End again.

[huskerlaw]

19. Nope

I don't have a Kindle, and I have books on my iPhone via the free Kindle app. As does my co-worker. Sounds too good to be true, I know, but it is. For now, at least.

[rcrush]

8. I got rid of mine cause AT&T charges an arm and a leg for all that data service.

Unlimited talk and text plus a $30 data plan plus almost $20 in taxes and other stupid iphone fees. I was paying $115 a month for that thing.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

10. I hear you but, like I said, I'm paying more than that per month now

and just for phone calls. Besides, I think I can get my employer to kick in a few Benjis per month cause he won't have to give me a work phone.

[KeepItReal]

15. Been an iPhone user from day 1 and now have a 3GS

1) Price Plans:

ATT now has an unlimited individual plan for $69.99 (family with up to 5 lines for $119)
The iPhone requires a data plan (unlimited data but does not include texts) at $30

So you're looking at $99.99 per month before you get a text message package ($20 unlimited texts or $15 for 1500 texts or $5 for 500 texts).

2) Is the 3GS worth it?:

For me, at the time is was worth it. I have lots of music on my PC and wanted to take it with me. The 32Gigabyte storage on the biggest 3GS was a real must-have.

Speed-wise the 3GS is markedly faster than the original iPhone. I sat out the iPhone 3G due to storage limitations and the fact that the web browsing experience wasn't that much faster than the original iPhone. If you are only a casual web user and don't care about performance or storage, the 3G would probably be ok.


3)Third, how is the battery life?:

Battery life on the iPhone is troublesome. If you stay on the 3G network (old network is called "Edge"), keep Wi-Fi enabled and use Bluetooth headset or car connection, don't expect your battery to stay in business for the advertised Talk time of Up to 5 hours and Standby time of 12 days. Not nearly.


4) Fourth, What do you like best about it?:

The Applications are what make the iPhone rock. I use it as an iPod and web surfing device primarily. I'd much rather have a flip-phone in terms for form factor, so looks don't do it for me.

5) Fifth, what DON'T you like about it?

The fact that it is tied to ATT's pitiful network. These folks can barely support voice call (Call Failures can happen when you are stationary with a full signal), so their 3G data can suck at times.

Also battery life can be a pain. You have to have a car charger or external changing source handy.

6) Sixth, what are your favorite apps?

Besides the web browser, phone and iPod apps: Shazam (music ID program), Huffington Post, ESPN ScoreCenter, Pandora (music streaming), and Facebook.

You can also create apps out of your favorite web pages to launch them easier with their own icon.


Hope that helps!

[rcrush]

16. I didn't like having to pay an extra $10 bucks a month for GPS that isnt crippled.

[mwooldri]

17. I'm not an iphone user - yet.

However the word on the street is that AT&T will lose its exclusivity clause with Apple, so the theory goes the other carriers may be able to offer you an iphone soon.

Until then, I've got a Blackberry, on the Sprint network, for about $160 a month I have four phones on the account all with unlimited data, text, mobile-to-mobile, evenings/weekends at 7pm and 1500 anytime minutes. When we just had a $99 plan with two phones we never used more than 700 anytime minutes - ever. The Blackberry can do a lot of what the iphone can but because each different model has a different operating system, it's just too hard for developers to keep up and launch nice applications for Blackberry. iphone is apparently a lot simpler to develop for, as is Googles' Android-based phones than any Blackberry.

But I am THANKFUL that Slacker and Pandora have apps for the Blackberry. Both of those apps make the Blackberry a very entertaining device to have indeed.

[huskerlaw]

18. I wouldn't hold my breath

on AT&T losing its exclusivity anytime soon. The new iPad is also exclusively AT&T, and if they were thinking of making a switch (say, to Verizon as rumored), I don't think they'd launch a new product with only AT&T.

[mwooldri]

20. It's possible...

in the UK O2 had the exclusive contract for the iphone... then it got broken and now all the carriers offer the iphone. It does help that they are all on the same GSM-type network infrastructure. Here in the good ol' US of A, the only carrier I know of who could sell iphones off the bat without a major redesign of hardware would be T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint would somehow need to persuade Apple to get that CDMA equipment into their iphone.

Now that might be the problem there... since I don't think Apple would want to pay Qualcomm money.

Mark.