June 16, 2008

Iphone 3g announced and prices slashed or is it?

As rumoured, Steve Jobs announced the Iphone 3g last week bringing about a buzz in the industry as to updates that it might include and what extra we can expect.

People are expecting some real awesome new features to be included in the iphone 3g with updated 2.0 software. This includes microsoft exchange server compatability (outlook mail can be checked on ur phone), also ppl are expecting some killer new applications from the SDK (Software Development Kit) that they introduced some time which gave developers the chance to creat applications to be used on the iphone! There is still a lot of divide among corporates as to incorporating the iphone for business purposes mainly because there is still a lot of uncertainty among the users esp when it comes to distrubution of the applications. See presently, every iphone user has to use the itunes application to download and install any app. Also developing of custom software for the iphone esp corporate users might be a sore point. Of course companies would want to test the iphone prior to implementation but I dont see a large scale implementation in the near future.

Coming to the price slashing!! Of course people jumped at the $200 price tag. Damnit, i was so excited. I paid $300 for my 8gig ipod touch. I was like damn what a waste, but upon further reading it turns out that's its a marketing gimmick. In fact if u buy a premium plan in the states u wont pay a dime for ur iphone!! The way it is planned out is that u pay small for the phone and pay big for the service. Now the question ppl will ask is this. What abt unlocked iphones? Wont there be a quantum leap in those cases? Well the answer as i see it is a big N O, NO!

Why, Arjun u ask me? People used to pay much more to buy and then unlock their iphones. Won't more people want a cheaper iphone which can be unlocked making the entire deal way cheaper than before? Here are some of the new "security" features introduced to virtually stop unlocking of iphone 3g. First and foremost, they will stop selling the iphone online. I think this move is gonna hurt them the most. People still prefer to buy it online esp in the states, no time wasted in going to the store. Next they have said that you cannot buy an iphone and leave the store without buying an AT&T plan. If you do buy a plan and dont activate it within 30 days there is a stipulated penalty that will be levied. Also incase u say buy the iphone and contract and then cancel it, there is a rumour that u will have to return the iphone to cancel the contract so that loophole is also covered.

They have basically found out all the ways to get consumers buy their iphones and get the AT&T plan. Sometimes you gotta give something to get something.

Oh well, I have always wanted an iphone and i know i will get one when its launched. When after launch is a bridge to be crossed when i come to it. I shall withhold judgement until its launched and consumer reviews start coming in.

Till then, keep watching this space!

Cheers

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