NationStates Jolt Archive

I need to gather information and thoughts about mobile telephones for coursework, feel free to discuss your ideas. :)

More specifically, I need information about your views on Apple's new product- the iPhone. Do any of you own one? Do you find it reliable? Is there anything which could be done to improve it?

Also; how do you use your telephone? What services and applications do you make use of? Are there any of you that don't actually use it as a phone and merely text people or use it as a camera?

If you could state your age and location that would be wonderful and most helpful (If you are British, could you please specify- e.g. England, Cumberland, Carlisle).

Cheers! :)

I can't even buy an iPhone up here! AT&T has no coverage in North Dakota, so they're not being sold.
As far as my own mobile phone is concerned -- I'm through Virgin Mobile, which is a pay-as-you-go service. I use my phone to make calls, though I have been known to indulge in ringtones (my current ringtone, which has me praying people will never call me in class, is "Brave Sir Robin"). I'm in college and underage, which is as much about my age as you need to know. :)

I have no opinion on the iPhone itself, other than the fact that it has cool technology and the geek factor.

However, it is tied to AT&T service. As long as that is true, I'll never buy an iPhone, even if I have the money for one. I will never use that cell phone company again, no matter how many name changes they go through.

I use my phone as a phone, for texting, and sometimes picture taking.
I'm 27 and I live in the US - GA to be specific.

We can't the iPhone in Canada yet, and that's a good thing. The damn thing costs more than my Wii (brand new) did!

Right now I'm on a $20/month plan from Virgin Mobile that includes no "access fee" (what bullshit! All because the Canadian government made it mandatory back when cellphones first came out), voice mail, caller ID and call waiting.

As for my location... look in the panel under my user name.

I use mine (not an IPhone) mostly for texting as I find that talking takes up way too much time. The people who call me tend to be very talkative for some unknown reason. It's only really my girlfriend or parents (who got pissed off because I would only text them for 2 months straight) that I talk to

I'm not sure if we have the iPhone yet, but as I understand it it's going to be tied to O2, like it's tied to AT&T in the US. So yeah, won't be buying one. My phone, I probably use the light for the camera more than anything. I hardly ever have cause to call or text anyone. And when I do I generally text them. I probably should switch to bill pay, but I'm lazy.

I do not own an iPhone, nor do I plan to as I already have a mobile phone, an MP3 player, a digital camera, and a computer with internet access, and there's nothing the iPhone can do that any of those can't -- a lot better, too. As for my mobile, I use it to make and receive calls. I suppose it supports games, instant messaging, a camera, text messaging, and ringtones; but I've never looked to find out.

age: not young enough to know everything; location would be the United States.

I have no use for an iPhone. I get wi-fi on my PDA and my cell phone is mostly used for making calls, rarely texting and often a timepiece. I'm in the US.

i have no use for a cell phone that does more than make phone calls and text messages.

i think of the iphone as a stupid toy that has far too many unnecessary features (although i do accept that there are a few people who can benefit from all those features)

50 new mexico usa

I usually use my phone to, text, phone, take daft pictures, and occiasonally use the calculator when i'm too lazy to figure out a tricky sum, don't use it much for games (they're just eye-hurting on a smaller level), and they kill the batteries way too quickly, i never use the web on my phone, or speed dial.
Videos are okay, but i only use them because i can, not necessary.
What really irritates me is when the thesarus starts up automatically on the phone (i know how to switch it off), but it's just plain wrong.
but pictures are good, always handy to have a little camera around.
hope that helps.
To improve it, make it easy to use from the word "go", (which most usually are these days) drop the games, they pale in comparison to any computer you care to mention.
have a battery that lasts longer, would be an invaluable part of it.
what i'd like is a phone you could power by hand (like those cool cadgets, e.g. some torches or radios), then if the power goes out and it's an emergency just power your phone by hand for a bit.
Again i love to hand powered thingys.*nod nod wink wink*

I'm 18 and this is a homework thread

the iPhone is actually a conspiracy to make you do homework with some amount of effort you see

I need to gather information and thoughts about mobile telephones for coursework, feel free to discuss your ideas. :)

More specifically, I need information about your views on Apple's new product- the iPhone. Do any of you own one? Do you find it reliable? Is there anything which could be done to improve it?

Also; how do you use your telephone? What services and applications do you make use of? Are there any of you that don't actually use it as a phone and merely text people or use it as a camera?

If you could state your age and location that would be wonderful and most helpful (If you are British, could you please specify- e.g. England, Cumberland, Carlisle).

Cheers! :)
My view of the iPhone? a status symbol. no I don't own it, nor do I plan to own one.

to me, Phones are communication devices. ok, its nice that it can do all these things but really, how long does the battery last? I certanly would hate to have my car break down in the middle of nowhere and can't make a call becuase I was busy playing mp3's or games on it.


That being said, yes, my phone has internet connection, I have three games on it and it does have a camera feature.

but I rarely use them but got em because they were free with the offer.

if I want to play games, I use either my PSP or DS.

If I want to go on the internet, I use my computer.

If I want pics... I'll buy a camera.

i pretty much dislike Apple and the iphone is just another case where they've taken technologies and products that already exist, put it in swizzy packaging, slapped their logo on it, and claimed they've invented the fucking wheel.


i don't own it. i'd rather have a smartphone, or a PDA

but then my phone already has Opera (browser) on it, a 3MP camera, and that's about all i want. if i could have any phone i'd go for the Nokia N95 (iirc) with built-in GPS, because i hate getting lost :P

About the iPhone specifically? Overpriced, gimmicky, and more restraints than a hardcore B&D enthusiast would want.

Cell phones in general, meh. I hate the little things, too many people use them for frivolous crap. There are few things so damned important they can't wait until you get home. People do not need to be calling you to chat during work hours. Speakerphone was never meant to actually be used to idiot prat!

I'm 18 and this is a homework thread

the iPhone is actually a conspiracy to make you do homework with some amount of effort you see

It all makes sense now! :eek:

More specifically, I need information about your views on Apple's new product- the iPhone. Do any of you own one? nope. I do not need all that crap on my phone. It already makes me sad that most the phones nowadays have mp3 players.
Are there any of you that don't actually use it as a phone and merely text people or use it as a camera? yup, that would be me! ;) I am a text freak. Although I do make the occasional phone call.

However, it is tied to AT&T service. As long as that is true, I'll never buy an iPhone, even if I have the money for one. I will never use that cell phone company again, no matter how many name changes they go through.

I had them for their 30 day trial a while back. Not only are they pricey..but my calls kept getting dropped. I turned the phone in and canceled my account, and I got a bill from them for $222.00. Still haven't paid it.

iPhone: Looks cool, but not cool enough to justify the expense. Not just the cost of the phone itself, but the monthly plan features (as I understand them) to which one must subscribe in order to realize its full functionality. Also, I've heard from several sources that its web features are frustratingly slow and that its phone features are sometimes unreliable: in other words, what I've heard (admittedly with no clear evidence one way or the other) is that it does a lot of cool things but doesn't do any of them particularly well. Considering the cost, then, even rumors to this effect are very troubling.

Perhaps more importantly, I just don't use my phone that way. When I want to use the Internet, I don't think there is any way the capabilities of a phone could match my notebook computer... which is extremely light and portable, so I just carry it everywhere. Most places I actually care to work on the web have WiFi. When I'm not so fortunate... oh well, I read a fucking book.

I use my mobile phone to make and receive calls... and this none too often. I make arrangements with my friends by email or instant messenger, then use the phone only to coordinate at the last minute or while we are out. I rarely talk for any extended period on the phone, as most of my good friends are close enough that if we want to hang out we can just meet up or visit each other.

I text, but again mostly for the same purpose: quick notes to make and coordinate plans, occasionally a little joke or something.

I don't play games on my phone, and probably wouldn't even if the games were decent (though the possibility of a future PSP-phone is somewhat tempting). My phone has a decent web browser, but again I don't use it. It has AOL Instant Messenger, but I don't use it.

My phone has a camera function, but it sucks. It's okay in good light, but several months ago I was trying to take pictures of raccoons in a mildly lit parking lot... and got nothing. That was actually the moment I decided to buy a real phone.

I'm 27 and I live in the U.S. (New Jersey, specifically).

I only need a phone for making calls and text messaging and as a clock and a 'note pad', so you could probably guess that I don't need the iPhone. If people thing they need it, good for them, but I don't. I also don't think they're available here.

I need information about your views on Apple's new product- the iPhone.
It looks nifty. I don't know enough about it to be honest. I understand they are not readily available here, but if they were, I'd consider getting one if it met my needs. Until then I'm happy with my Nokia.

Also; how do you use your telephone?
The obvious, texting, voice mail, listening to mp3s or radio, taking pictures on holidays (5 mpix camera is enough for me - not too keen a photographer), read my e-mail, occasional web browsing...yeah, I though internet in a phone would be awkward and clumsy too. It's surprising how often I have to Google something up when I don't have my laptop with me, though...
The only applications I don't use, it seems, are the office(!) program, video player and games.

37
Finland

I have no plans to get a cellphone. Maybe if they produced one where you DON'T pay for incoming calls and don't pay a monthly fee, but...

And if you care, I'm 28 and a resident of suburban NY.

Maybe if they produced one where you DON'T pay for incoming calls...
Someone pays for incoming calls?!?

iphone - overhyped shite.

I have no plans to get a cellphone. Maybe if they produced one where you DON'T pay for incoming calls and don't pay a monthly fee, but...

And if you care, I'm 28 and a resident of suburban NY.

my phone costs me £10 including sim card, no charge for incoming calls, i only pay for the calls i make. intra network calls are like 5p/min; inter network calls are 30p. text messages are 10p. i probably spend less than £5 per month on it as long as i don't go back to jersey, then it's ~£10 per week. fucking roaming is suck a scam.

this is a homework thread

Indeed it apears to be.

i pretty much dislike Apple and the iphone is just another case where they've taken technologies and products that already exist, put it in swizzy packaging, slapped their logo on it, and claimed they've invented the fucking wheel.

Exactly so. My phone is four years old and has functions the iPhone doesn't. The bleeding edge cell phones where I live in Japan are miles beyond iPhone.

No iPhone for me, I'd like a Nokia N95 instead but only own a Nokia 6131.

I use to make calls, text, my MP3 player, sync with my laptop, alarm clock (best one I've used so far), and I use for Sudoku when I'm bored and no working computer around. I don't use to web browse as GPRS charges by the kilobyte.

Live in OzStralia.

I see no point in the iphone, sure it has loads of extra features but not a single one that I would use. I only ever use my mobile for texts and phone calls, anything else is just pointless and can be done better with a dedicated product. Sure my phone can do other things, but I don't use those features and I only have them because I had to replace my phone recently and the replacement was a present.

As to the other stuff you asked for, 23 and I live in Essex in a tiny village no one has ever heard of.

Someone pays for incoming calls?!?

That's how it is here in the USA. I was shocked to hear that...I was so used to having incoming free.

I don't think I will get an iPhone..too little storage capacity for my mp3s and the Blackjack that I have is sufficient for my email and internet needs.

Exactly so. My phone is four years old and has functions the iPhone doesn't. The bleeding edge cell phones where I live in Japan are miles beyond iPhone.

Japan and SK are miles ahead in any electronics tech toys.

That's how it is here in the USA. I was shocked to hear that...I was so used to having incoming free.

I don't think I will get an iPhone..too little storage capacity for my mp3s and the Blackjack that I have is sufficient for my email and internet needs.

Incoming calls aren't charged to the receiver in Australia, thank God ... it's double dipping to me.

I need to gather information and thoughts about mobile telephones for coursework, feel free to discuss your ideas. :)

More specifically, I need information about your views on Apple's new product- the iPhone. Do any of you own one? Do you find it reliable? Is there anything which could be done to improve it?

Also; how do you use your telephone? What services and applications do you make use of? Are there any of you that don't actually use it as a phone and merely text people or use it as a camera?

If you could state your age and location that would be wonderful and most helpful (If you are British, could you please specify- e.g. England, Cumberland, Carlisle).

Cheers! :)
We deal with them on a daily basis
The two features they desperately need are

1) Support for common wireless encryption schemes I mean for the love of god mobile 05 supports WPA enterprise! They had years more to make it supported but fail

2) The ability to interface with an exchange environment if they ever actually hope to win the business class phone people over (and they are a hard hitting section of the smart phone/PDA market)