Minute44 - Dan Schonhaar

So next month sees the release of Apple’s iPhone 2.0 with improved software, slimmer profile and other various improvements such as 3G and GPS. Now, as you may know, I’ve been sceptical of the iPhone and seriously slated version 1 for it’s price and kind of dated features. This time however Apple, and mobile networks seem to be doing something to combat the high cost of ownership to shift more of the already record-breaking device. O2, the UK’s only iPhone carrying network have slashed prices and will offer the phone free to high rollers on the £75 contract and a pretty reasonable £99 for lesser tariffs, a massive change from the shocking £269 price tag of the first iPhone. This is especially good when you consider this is still an 18 month contract. Compare that to what Canadian network Rogers plan to do by introducing the iPhone on a ridiculous 36 month term! Another carrot O2 are dangling in front of consumers is the promise of free unlimited data on all tariffs (subject to their fair usage policy) as well as free wi-fi access to thousands of TheCloud and BT OpenZone hot-spots across the country. But is all this enough to make me buy my first Apple product?

The iPhone has a lot going for it, not least of all the fact that it’s from Apple, the “coolest” technology company of the moment, but as a steadfast PC user for many years, none of this matters to me. I’m not some hip sandal-wearing metro-sexual hanging out at Starbucks with my obligatory MacBook Pro. For me, it’s about function and value and finding the right balance of the two to meet my needs. Take my recent purchase of a laptop for example. I chose to buy a Dell machine with a decent spec, similar to that of a MacBook Pro because when I weighed things up, I realised I could get a very similar spec’d machine for what turned out to be roughly 1/3 of the cost. Of course I had the mac lovers on my back talking about “it’s the OS that makes it better” and I do agree to a certain extent. It doesn’t take a genius to see that OSX is more stable than Windows and is known to be less prone to viruses. What it boiled down to was that the extra OS stability wasn’t worth the better part of £1000 of my money. This is with computers though, this post is about phones and what can I compare the iPhone 2.0 with? Well, I can confidently say that, at present, there are no competitors that compare on all levels. There was the LG viewty which there was a lot of hype about but on closer inspection it didn’t come close. The interface was infuriating and it, incredibly, lacked Wi-Fi connectivity. This was seen across the market. All the so-called “iPhone killers” have fallen short, at least in some areas. The iPhone 2.0 looks to continue this trend, at least for the near future.

Feature wise, the iPhone could be of great benefit to me, especially with the unlimited data package. I know from experience that the iPhone’s browser handles web content very well and many sites are now making iPhone specific style sheets. There’s even a WordPress plugin to make your blog play ball with the iPhone!

So, excellent stable OS, unmatched user interface, improved tech specs and all for way less than half the price of it’s predecessor? Why wouldn’t I get one? Well, for a few reasons. Firstly the reason I find most annoying is that the iPhone 2.0 will still only be available on O2, a network I moved away from nearly 2 years ago because, as well as getting piss-poor network coverage (What good is unlimited 3G if you’re in a 3G blackspot?), the calls and text package I got was a joke. Also, don’t get me started on the O2 customer service or lack thereof. Like I said, however, this was some 2 years ago, with 3G becoming the norm and customers demanding data packages, O2 have likely improved their network. Certainly, several friends of mine have nothing but good things to say about them. the other reason is that, although they have made several other big improvements, Apple have yet again neglected the camera and there is still no sign of any flash or auto-focus on the 2 mega pixel on-board camera. It does support video now but, come on, that’s a given, right? Lastly, I’ll admit it. I’m a tightwad. I’ve never paid anything for any contract handset… ever. As a matter of fact I demand my handsets free or I leave the phone shop. The fact that O2 holds exclusivity means that the £99 price tag is non-negotiable. “You don’t want to pay? Fair enough, next please…” I’ll also have to look at what sort of calls and texts package I’d get because at present Orange make sure my text and minute cup runneth over… and I get free cinema tickets.

Check out O2’s full range of iPhone tariffs.

So, the question remains. Should I buy one? I’d love to hear your opinions.

Dan