The 3.0 OS update is gonna make the iPhone even better (can you say full landscape QWERTY keyboard for all apps? WOOT! =)

There are only two things that would make the iPhone better in my opinion:

1) ability to tether my netbook
2) Verizon's network =)

I'll agree that AT&T's 3G network is nowhere near what they claim it to be, but it gets me by (for now).

If Verizon is ever able to offer/support the iPhone, I'd likely switch in a heartbeat.

 

Well, that answers a few more questions..... So I can get an Iphone, but can't use it on the verizon network, which is claimed to be faster. But I can get the Iphone and use ATT, which has a slower 3G.....
Is this "tethering" something they can offer with the new OS, or does it have to be a new phone design?

I'm with ATT now, and am not under contract with them. So, unless I want to pay $700 for an Iphone w/out a contract, they got me.

I'm going to call ATT and ask em what they'll do to keep me as a customer. I've been with them for years. Anybody else wheel and deal with them to get a few perks?

I appreciate all the help, guys/gals, I definitely need direction as all this technology is very confusing and overwhelming at times. Thanks-

So many things, so many choices, and so little money

 

I dont know what ATT will do. but I can tell you what sprint will do after having 3 and more phones for 12 + years. ZERO. I am in the middle of going back to my old career track. (regional or district Retail Management) as soon as I do, Sprint will never see another dime of mine. service gets worse here everyday. I am thinking verizon will be the way I go.

 

While I agree that AT&T's "3G network" isn't as big as Verizon's, I would have to say that, providing they are utilizing a Standards Based implementation, 3G is 3G, regardless of the operating company and speeds are purely dependent on the volume of traffic on that particular network.

AT&T does need to work on their network. I've called in, escalating up 4 or 5 levels before I state my complaint, and I've been assured (for whatever that is worth) that they are working to improve both reliability as well as speed. I do not work for them (nor would I want to).

With all of that said, AT&T and Apple are working to extend their agreement into 2011...

 

If you have their service, but aren't obligated under contract, they may offer you an 'upgrade' in phone equipment at a discounted price, for renewing your plan, or upgrading your plan. Basically, if you see an advertised price on the ATT phone you want for new customers, you should ask for that same price for committing to a new term w/ them, just keeping your old number and all that.

The way the cell game works is the phones themselves are often more costly to the carrier or dealer than they are to you, they often lose money on the phone, to make it up on the service contract. That's why if you break a phone and need to replace it, while still under contract, they hit you for more than you originally paid for the phone, w/ service, unless you have insurance on the phone.

But as stated by others, I don't know if the iPhone is insurable, prob not coz it's so expensive. So if you do buy one, you better not lose it, spill liquids on it, have it in a rain soaked pocket, drop it (especially while riding down the road), or have it stolen, coz you're gonna be on a 1-2 year commitment and they'll hit you for $100-$300 or so MORE than you originally paid for the phone, if you replace it w/ another iPhone.

Therefore, I'd stongly recommend some sort of protective case for it, at least a shock proof one, or possibly water proof one, depending on how you care for things.

As for the tethering, I googled it last night and it seems like current phones w/a certain hack can get an app to do it, but don't know if it will be plug and play at some point. That's one of the issues I have w/ the smart phones, and the iPhones in particular, they can do about anything you want, but it requires so much cutomization, which involves a learning curve, time to figure out what you want to do, how to do it, sometimes a hack in the software from a potentially shady source (as far as you know), and then downloading and sometimes paying for the additional apps. Then, if you do have something happen to your phone, or you want to do a natural upgrade down the road, you have to start all over w/ the customizing and everything to get it back to the way you had it/want it.

I generally have taken very good care of my cell phones in the past, despite using thousands of minutes a month for 15 years now. However, I've noticed w/ the smart phones, I've had to get new ones more often, whether it's because it had glitches out of the gate, or failed to work properly sometime before the warranty was up, then I had one fly out of my pocket blazing down the road on my RKC, then the lady hit me on my RKC totalling my bike, and my phone, I'm on my 4th smartphone in 15 months throug unexpected circumstances. Insurance took care of one of those replacements do to a phone failure after the warranty ended, Insurance took care of the second replacement after it flew off my bike, an upgrade took care of that third phone when the lady hit me and totaled my bike, making me on the 4th phone now. I would hate to invest too much time or money customizing something only to have to go through it all over again, so I try to get the phone that does the most stuff I need it to, out of the gate, in case I have to swap it out again.

Maybe someone that just uses the phone for personal use doesn't care about the time, but using mine personally and for business, influences my opinion. While some things can be backed up and loaded back on the new phone, I'm just not sure how smooth some apps, especially if they involve hacks, can be loaded onto the replacement phone.

Just FWIW...

 

Well I bit the bullet and got my new iPhone yesterday. This thing is the coolest gadget I have ever seen. I have been glued to it for hours, setting it up and downloading music. The internet is great and the forum is very doable.

I can't believe all the things this phone can do. I'm very impressed. Wife is out of town on business, and I told her I got one. She is going to be jealous, her blackberry doesn't hold a candle to this phone.

Any recomendations on a some good "free" aps? I loaded Shazam, and that is cool. Recognizes songs on the radio, tv, etc and tells you tons of info on them. Also got the MLB ap to keep up with my Mariners.

A+, and thanks for all the info.

 

I have the blackberry curve and it works great. Especially after the software upgrade that just happened a couple of weeks ago. I use google maps for navigation.

I take pictures of the hot girls or bikes at the place I go and can send them to all my friends except for those who have the IPhone. They cant see the pics without using a password.

 

pandora radio is awesome! Its like having free satelite radio.

 

Motorola came out with a phone just for folks like you....

Reliable as all get-out, and no need to worry about "upgrading apps".

 

I've had Verizon (great customer service, but no world-wide GSM coverage); currently with AT&T and have had no issues with coverage. I travel all over the US and world with the military and have used my phone everywhere (Iraq, Africa, Europe)without probs.

Currently have the AT&T Tilt; its a 3G cell phone, Windows-based computer, 3MP camera and GPS all-in-one. With Google Maps (free program) one can type in "Harley Davidson" and get all the dealers in your current area with phone #, directions, etc. Same with "pizza", 'car repair', etc. I also have TomTom Navigator 6 on it (free pgm) and took the USA/Canada map out of my car's Tom Tom ONE Plus. Between those programs, I'm never lost and can find everything. When I find it, I can then CALL them