Apple iPhone : what you need to know
Well it’s been a hectic week for Apple, and the iPhone isn’t even out yet! First, Apple released a 20-minute guided tour video highlighting the various functions of the iPhone. It’s an interesting watch, and it also reveals some previously unknown facts. Of course, if Apple had chosen a more dynamic (or female?) host for the video, the overall experience would have been even more enjoyable.
Next, Apple and AT&T (don’t call them Cingular) unveiled their packages for the iPhone voice and data plans. The prices are more reasonable than expected (and probably less than what a lot of people would have been willing to pay for). There are 3 plans, all of which include unlimited data, Visual Voicemail, 200 SMS text messages, roll-over minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling. The packages are US$60 for 450 minutes, $80 for 900 minutes and $100 for 1,350 minutes.
Apple also announced that you can activate your iPhone from home, via iTunes. Phone activation requires an Internet connection; an iTunes Store account or a major credit card; a valid Social Security number (as required by AT&T); the latest version of iTunes. You can activate on your Mac or PC. If Apple & AT&T had enabled activation via the iPhone’s own Safari browser, then I would really have been impressed.
Apple also did something (again) out of ordinary for them, by actually allowing some writers to publish their reviews of the iPhone before the device is even out. The lucky writers are :
- Walt Mossberg – (Wall Street Journal) “Despite its network limitations, the iPhone is a whole new experience and a pleasure to use”.
- David Pogue – (New York Times) “The iPhone matches most of its hype”.
- Ed Baig – (USA Today) “Apple’s iPhone isn’t perfect, but it’s worthy of the hype”.
- Steven Levy – (NewsWeek) “the phone that finally fulfills the promise of people-friendly palm-top communication and computing”.
There’s still 2 days before the iPhone formally launches; I’m sure we’ll have some more announcements for the iPhone until then. After all, those folks already waiting in line for their iPhones sure need something to read about….