Apple fails BlackBerry test
| Release Date: 18 July 2008 | From:http://www.ft.com | By: Paul Taylor | keyword: 3G iPhone |
Like one million other eager beavers around the globe, I have now been playing with Apple's new third-generation iPhone for a week – much to the chagrin of my four 20-something children who all believe it would fit better in their technology-adept hands. When my review unit arrived I set out to discover whether the 3G iPhone deserved all the hype that greeted its launch last Friday from the perspective of a business user as well as a typical consumer. I can report that it is definitely one of the best smartphones built to date. But while it is good, it is not quite perfect and still lacks some features that business users may consider essential. 
The 3G iPhone, which costs $199 with a two-year contract from AT&T in the US (£99 in the UK from O2 ), addresses some, but not all, of the limitations of the first-generation device and is arguably still the sexiest and most elegantly designed smartphone on the market today. In particular, a faster data service and built-in GPS location-finder are welcome additions to the WiFi capabilities of the first-generation iPhone – as is the now standard headphone socket that replaces the annoyingly recessed socket on the earlier model. Other improvements include a more comfortable case, better predictive text capabilities and – perhaps most important for business customers – the fact that the iPhone now supports Microsoft Exchange (and therefore the Outlook e-mail application). Alas, there still remains no way to get all messages from Yahoo, Mac.com, Gmail, AOL and your business account on one screen page. For me, the most exciting new feature of the 3G iPhone is the simultaneous launch of the online Apple App Store, a showcase for third-party add-on software. By opening up the iPhone platform to external developers Apple has unleashed a wave of creativity that promises greatly to enhance the features of the iPhone. The Apple App Store, which opened last week, already lists hundreds of iPhone applications ranging from games and entertainment to education and productivity tools (see below left). The ability to develop new applications for the iPhone or use it as a mobile platform to access company IT systems may also raise its appeal among business customers. In time this may help the iPhone to challenge devices such as Nokia's business-orientated E series, Palm's Windows Mobile-based Treos and members of the BlackBerry family, all of which are supported by large software developer bases. In the case of the BlackBerry, its server software is embedded deep inside many companies. Yet the new iPhone's failure to address other issues make it less than an ideal device for business. The two most glaring problems from a business perspective are the lack of a physical Qwerty keyboard and, as most other commentators have noted, rather disappointing battery life. The 3G iPhone has perhaps the best touchscreen and screen interface on the market – better in my view than those on either the Treo 800w or the Samsung Instinct, which comes a close second. But despite improvements in the 3G iPhone's virtual keyboard, I continue to have a strong preference for the real mini keyboard on my BlackBerry Curve and most other business smartphones, including the new Nokia E62 and Treo 800w launched in the US this week. I suspect most business users will feel the same way. Another minor gripe: curiously, while the 3G iPhone's virtual keyboard can be flipped horizontally for some software applications, making it somewhat easier to use, it does not do so when using the built-in e-mail, notes and maps applications. As with the original iPhone, the rechargeable battery is sealed in the case, which means you cannot rely on carrying an extra battery pack. During the first week of use, my 3G iPhone battery has barely lasted a full day between charges. Interestingly, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs cited concerns about battery consumption as one of the main reasons why the first-generation iPhone relied on a slower but more frugal 2.5G radio rather than the power-hungry 3G radio in the new device. Business users will probably not be as concerned as consumers about other 3G iPhone limitations including the inclusion of a relatively low (2 mega pixel) digital camera, the lack of a built-in flash and the inability to record video or send multimedia (MMS) messages. But, like me, they may be disappointed with the GPS features built into the 3G iPhone which, compared to other devices including some BlackBerry models and the Treo 800w, are rather unsophisticated and certainly no substitute for a dedicated portable satellite navigation system. Despite these drawbacks, the 3G iPhone will undoubtedly be a success for Apple and its network operator partners including AT&T. Personally, I am still not ready to ditch my BlackBerry Curve and am looking forward to reviewing the 3G BlackBerry Bold. But the gap is closing.
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