Andy Adams asked:


Queues the length of Regent street, Internet forums alight with fervent discussion, astronomical sales figures it can only be a new release from computing powerhouse, Apple. In this case, the iPhone, after many months of waiting the UK public has now had some time to search for, purchase and show off the hotly anticipated mobile phone.

Many people didn’t think that the UK launch would draw the feeding frenzy experienced in the USA, but much like their American counterparts, UK Apple fans queued up outside Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores despite the typical drizzly British weather. The flagship Apple store in London

was awash with press and photographers as the doors opened where customers were greeted by hoards of Apple staff cheering them as they entered to buy the first batch of iPhones at 6:02pm, a clever play on the network which the iPhone is locked to for 5 years (Telephonica’s O2).

So now that the dust has settled on the media circus, the public has had a chance to live with the phone and draw their own conclusions. The response has been mixed to say the least with many people who didn’t buy the phone nay-saying and people who have bought it singing it’s praises to anyone that will listen. There is no doubt that the phone itself hits the mark with Apple’s styling: minimalist, sleek and innovative. The phone only has two physical buttons, the majority of the phone is operated by a revolutionary touch screen interface with such elaborate gestures as pinching the screen to move photos around the screen and pushing two fingers apart to zoom into a fully viewable web site.

The inclusion of the iPod media player has done away with the owner’s need for a separate mobile phone and MP3 player, but it’s in other areas that the iPhone has drawn some criticism; some may argue some very basic areas too.

For example, the iPhone, at present is unable to send or receive MMS messages, something most basic mobile phones with colour screens can handle these days. The exclusion of high speed 3G data has been a sticking point for most, with Apple claiming that battery life is improved drastically by its omission and the inclusion of WiFi provides high speed internet when you need it.
It’s not just Apple that is under the microscope, the UK’s exclusive carrier of the iPhone, O2 have been under fire on internet message boards that the signal strength of the iPhone is very weak, however O2 responds that they experience these sorts of problems with all handsets and should not be solely attributed to their flagship handset.

The fact that anyone who wants one for themselves has to pay for the handset (£269) is forced to be in a 18 month contract with O2 (Minimum line rental of £35 per month, subject to a credit check) is also off-putting to most UK buyers who expect more options such as buying their mobile phones on pay as you go for instance.. In a recent survey 46% of British public refused to consider buying an iPhone based on pricing alone, which is hardly surprising considering the mobile market in the UK where handsets are traditionally subsidised by the network, even with top range handsets like the Nokia N95 being free on some tariffs.

The main problem that seems to have dented interest in the device is that considering how long it has been anticipated and the staggered release in the USA then the UK, is that when it eventually

came out what was supposed to be a revolutionary, high tech mobile phone actually ended up having some decidedly “last Generation” features (lack of 3G, 2MP camera), the iPhone’s saying grace is probably the brands name and it’s interface, which luckily is something most buyers are impressed by.

Despite these criticisms all three companies involved stated that in the first weekend alone O2 estimated between 20,000 and 40,000 iPhones were sold. These figures would pitch the iPhone as one of the fastest selling mobile

phones in the UK and is not surprising considering the hype and press coverage of its release.

Sam Akiani asked:

Apple is rumored to be in talks with Verizon for 2010!

The once believed rejected to have it’s first chance at the iphone, Verizon is now claiming to be in discussion in Apple for it’s very own iPhone coming in 2010!

The latest Apple News points to it’s source, USA Today explains that Verizon reported entered serious talks Apple. The newspaper infers that the phone are able to have to be CDMA version, so that it’s compatible with Verizon’s existent networks. Such action would contradicts Apple COO Tim Cook’s own dismissal of CDMA go on week: When discussed about the iPhone making excessively justified the absence of CDMA model by declaring that a single, GSM phone model to produce than a CDMA model. Cook as well criticized CDMA by asserting it has no future, as most CDMA carries plan to phase out the technology in favor of the same 4G standard what will be used on GSM network.

More likely is a direct leap to a 4G. Verizon chief executive Ivan Seiderberng recently explained that a deal might be in the operates as 4G rolls out in 2010, and therefore experience at lest certain of it’s network ready for an iPhone CMDA version by then.

However, if Verizon does land an iPhone of its own AT&T may topple those ambitions in it’s own discussions. Although separate rumors reads this the up to date iPhone carrier is pushing Apple to extend it’s US exclusivity until 2011!

Any successful deal, no matter the network type, would likely be a serious blow to AT&T, which credited much of its ability to weather the ongoing economic crisis to iPhone sales and the resulting spike in data revenue. Aside from reducing incentives to launch massive, special upgrades to the network, a Verizon model would let those dissatisfied with AT&T’ s 3G coverage or its customer service defect to Verizon without giving up Apple’s handset.