That has got to be one of the most intelligent commentaries that I have heard on the iPhone or tech products in general. Great thoughts man, seriously, your comment raised the intelligence level of this discussion a few notches.

Also, this is just the first step. Like its customers, Apple is an early adaptor as well and needs to be the first company on the block to push technology and its involvement in human life. Remember, there is always a long term. So what may seem expensive, excessive, and even wasteful may in turn end up being affordable, simple, and ecological.

On the matter of luxury item, I really don’t think that it 100% is a luxury item. I think that it is the next stage in cell phone evolution. Yes it is way expensive for the average consumer. Yet it still carries neccessary functions that are ever increasing within our wireless lives. If you want to compare the money spent on this item as opposed to donating it to the starving people in the world, then yes, it is a luxury item. Then what isn’t?

Just like every product it will either fit your needs or not. Whether one has the money to afford the iPhone does not necessarily mean they will buy it. One buys what works for them because of a familiarity of how it works. There is a definite target demographic here as defined by its features.

Anyway i’ll stop here…great article.

PJ–There is a phone out there with very simple features just for YOU. ;-)
http://www.fireflymobile.com/

Tim – Nice news catch – could you imagine if they had to change the name after all this hype? That would be very un-Apple…

Kellie – Oh man, I didn’t know Al Gore was involved in this. It’s a star-studded conspiracy! ;)

My only thought on why they went with one network is that they got some sort of financial kickback. Honestly, I would have thought T-Mobile would have been the best network as it is international (Germany, UK, Poland & US) and has many more subscribers than Cingular. More info here. Perhaps they chose Cingular because it has the larger number of American subscribers (barely).

Kevin – I had the same exact concern about dropping the damned thing. Considering how many times I have dropped my cell, I have no doubt that I would ruin an iPhone in the first month of owning it. The only reason why I think it may have mass appeal is that it essentially improves upon everything the iPod does (wider screen, I assume you could directly purchase from iTunes on it) and more (WIFI, phone, etc.). I definitely could be wrong here, but that’s just my take on it.

Matthjis – I totally agree with you – they need to come up with an economy model that has the great core features (touchscreen, great interface) without all the extra doo-dads many of us either do not want or cannot afford. I am totally with you on a stripped down (call/hang-up) phone. I have been looking for one of those for years.

For me the ultimate phone would be one with a single button “call” which functions as “hang up” when finishing the conversation. Then maybe a scroll wheel like the iPod to search through your contacts. That’s it :)

I’m sure some younger people may go for it for the cool factor but I don’t think it’s got the immediate mass appeal of the iPod.

The WiFi functionality looks great though, there’s so many things I do on my PC at home, like reading blogs, checking email, cinema times, weather etc… It would be great to use something like the iPhone to do all that while sitting on my sofa, rather than firign up my PC. Though, i’m not sure i’d be that comfortable bringing my €500 phone to the pub on a night out.

Does anyone know why Apple is doing an “exclusive” deal with Cingular? Once again, I think this may be Apple’s way of shooting themselves in the foot. With so many consumers spread out amongst various phone companies like Verizon or Sprint, does Apple expect everyone to drop their current providers to join Cingular? Canceling a cell phone contract before it’s over is another financial nightmare…

By the way, I still love Apple.

As for me, it looks very nice (like anything Apple related really) and it would be great to have one but the price is too much for me.

Good points you guys brought up by the way. :D

A video iPod, already considered a luxury item could be bought at $299+. Once the iPod is purchased, all other extras such as carrying case, warrenty, is optional investments. $299 isn’t anywhere as steep as the iPhone’s starting price, which is $499. Now THAT is extravagant! A kid’s going to take forever to save his/her pennies for that phone. Not to mention the obligated monthly phone bills. How much will the lowest plan go for, with so many mandatory extra features on the iPhone? I honestly don’t know if many of the average folks out there with modest incomes will be able to afford this.

Therefore, a company who can come out with a BETTER deal (unless Apple beats them to it) aimed to the general public may actually do well.

I really do think these phones are going to fly off the shelves. I personally think the Playstation instance is a completely different matter because the Wii was so damned innovative and fun. The Playstation bit the dust because it was not as innovative, not as fun and twice the price as the Wii. In the case of the iPhone, it is just as innovative (if not more) than the Wii. Add that to the fact that most other phone are not only inferior to the iPhone, but they just are not good.

I would be absolutely shocked if the iPhone does not have the same impact (if not more) than the iPod. The market seems to think the same thing…

Fortunately, the price tag is definitely making me think long and hard about it. I wonder if the steep cost will do more damage than good? For example, the much anticipated Playstation 3 with its impressive technology didn’t do as well as expected because of its $600+ cost. Instead, the Wii, a much more affordable gaming device swooped in, and is selling a lot better.

At the very least, I would enjoy sampling an iPhone once it begins distribution.