The iPhone isn’t about value for money
4th August 2008 by David North
So the new iPhone 3G is out and there seems to be talk about how much it costs to own. It’s about time too I never understood the first version being released without 3G access - it wasn’t exactly a new technology.
Lets face it the iPhone is mainly a fashion statement, a bit of a status symbol for people to show off. It’s the prettiest phone you can get (although it will be covered in scratches and fingerprints within seconds of leaving the box). You can get other phones that do the same functions but maybe not in such a well rounded package.
The iPhone is a designer item which people are willing to pay a premium for. Whether everyone will be put off this premium phone due to Apple pushing the limits as much as they can with changing interfaces with every new model:
Stef Lewandowski: “I got an iPhone 3G and now wish I hadn’t - it’s slow and glitchy, and I have to replace all of my charging devices including my bedside clock radio because they have subtly changed the interface it uses. “Free”? Sure.”
There are certainly features in the iPhone that are great and will push the entire mobile market forward to provide much more useful mobile devices (not just phones) which certainly isn’t a bad thing.
The mobile phone market is very cut throat and Apple again have carved their own high-end niche which is their to lose rather than others to gain. I’m interested to see a real iPhone contender stepping up and see where that makes new innovations to lead.
