With Apple introducing the faster, more powerful and less expensive iPhone 3G S, I think it’s time to officially declare the cell phone dead.
Yup, the simple wireless device that lets you make and receive phone calls while away from the home or office looks to be going extinct. Why would anyone possess such a primitive device when they can have a mini-computer that can do pretty anything you could imagine…and make phone calls.
Over the past few months, one of the more interesting things I’ve noticed is how many people now have smart phones such as the iPhone or Blackberry. People who would never imagine to have to need a smartphone have become well-armed mobile warriors.
Borrowing a well-worn phrase, yesterday’s announcement by Apple is the “tipping point” for smart phones. At $99 for an 8GB model, the iPhone is so inexpensive that it’s almost irresistible if you want to do anything more than just make phone calls.
The key, of course, will be data plans because that’s where wireless carriers make their margins and profits. You could give away the iPhone but it wouldn’t matter if the data rates were sky high. In Canada, Rogers is hoping jump-start iPhone 3G S sales by re-introducing the 6GB for $30/month plan, while offering 500MB for $25/month.
Having used an iPhone for the past couple of months, 500MB is a lot of data unless you’re regularly watching videos, so the 6GB plan is sexy and attractive but not really practical. Mind you, paying an extra $5 for 5.5GB is a smart move. (Note: Existing iPhone customers with Rogers can switch to the $30/6GB plan but it involves accepting a new contract.)
Along the Blackberry Storm, Nokia E95, Android, and Palm Pre, we’re entering an amazing period for the smart phone market. With blinding speed, the devices are getting better and less expensive, making it increasingly attractive to climb on the bandwagon.
Before getting too excited, keep in mind the smart phone market is not unlike the razor/razor blade market. While you won’t cough up too for the razor, it’s the razor blade that you’ll keep paying for. The question is how much you’ll pay.
More: TechCrunch has a post on how it will cost iPhone users in the U.S. (AT&T) to upgrade to the new iPhone, while Gizmodo has a complete feature guide.
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The Cell Phone is Dead; Long Live the Smart Phone!
With Apple introducing the faster, more powerful and less expensive iPhone 3G S, I think it’s time to officially declare the cell phone dead.
Yup, the simple wireless device that lets you make and receive phone calls while away from the home or office looks to be going extinct. Why would anyone possess such a primitive device when they can have a mini-computer that can do pretty anything you could imagine…and make phone calls.
Over the past few months, one of the more interesting things I’ve noticed is how many people now have smart phones such as the iPhone or Blackberry. People who would never imagine to have to need a smartphone have become well-armed mobile warriors.
Borrowing a well-worn phrase, yesterday’s announcement by Apple is the “tipping point” for smart phones. At $99 for an 8GB model, the iPhone is so inexpensive that it’s almost irresistible if you want to do anything more than just make phone calls.
The key, of course, will be data plans because that’s where wireless carriers make their margins and profits. You could give away the iPhone but it wouldn’t matter if the data rates were sky high. In Canada, Rogers is hoping jump-start iPhone 3G S sales by re-introducing the 6GB for $30/month plan, while offering 500MB for $25/month.
Having used an iPhone for the past couple of months, 500MB is a lot of data unless you’re regularly watching videos, so the 6GB plan is sexy and attractive but not really practical. Mind you, paying an extra $5 for 5.5GB is a smart move. (Note: Existing iPhone customers with Rogers can switch to the $30/6GB plan but it involves accepting a new contract.)
Along the Blackberry Storm, Nokia E95, Android, and Palm Pre, we’re entering an amazing period for the smart phone market. With blinding speed, the devices are getting better and less expensive, making it increasingly attractive to climb on the bandwagon.
Before getting too excited, keep in mind the smart phone market is not unlike the razor/razor blade market. While you won’t cough up too for the razor, it’s the razor blade that you’ll keep paying for. The question is how much you’ll pay.
More: TechCrunch has a post on how it will cost iPhone users in the U.S. (AT&T) to upgrade to the new iPhone, while Gizmodo has a complete feature guide.
Technorati Tags: iphone, wireless