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I totally understand the rationale here. I would be right there with you if I didn't have one sitting in my pocket. Its the same thing as trying to explain a Mac to a person who's ONLY ever used a PC. You just don't have ANY idea until you hold one and use it. Yes, blackberries are cool...the Treo has the potential to be cool...but only for those who wish to devote the time and energy to become user Ninjas.
As for developing countries. Heck, I've seen more ninja cell phone users living in grass shacks. They all have cell phones but can't feed their kids or send them to schoo...what's up with that?

Yes George, I agree with you. Frankly, Internet browser charges for cell phone use is what is going to keep me from investing in this new toy. The Canadian cell phone providers offer pretty steep prices for Internet access on cell phones.

I really don't like using my cell phone and embarrass myself with all the fumbling around I do with mine - ask my friends who despair at my ignorance. But there is something about people having instant access to me whenever, wherever that bothers me. There are just too many times I don't *want* to be found or interrupted with what I am doing. My husband, who works in the IT industry for voice recognition apps for cell phones, steadfastly refuses to own one.
Yes, I love my iPod and I love my access to Internet and would love to possess a device that combines all those things - but at what cost? And, ultimately, how much time do I have to devote to it all?

I saw my very first iPhone today at an Apple store who had an American getting it serviced. It is way cool. And I suffered from technolust just looking at it. But realistically, does my lifestyle demand it? No, I think not.

I think you're right on here George. However, I'd say "A $20 (or less) OPEN mobile phone ...".

I've seen some talk about the open phone, but even things like openMoko ... they are going to start at something like $450. You end up paying a premium for openness. Things have got to change in terms of hardware and openness ... we're still at the mercy of our factories, it's much easier with software.

I'm with you on this one George. All the excitement is tough to challenge. I'll be watching to see if anyone disputes your claims.

Hi Brent - are you taunting us deprived non-iPhoner's? That cuts deep. What till we get some cool products you Americans don't have (do polar bears count? They're really neat, but have stayed at version 1.0 for as long as I can remember). I agree it takes time to learn to use blackberry/treo to full capacity, and obviously, the more fun it is to work with a tool, the more people want to do with it. iPhone certainly has that going for it.

About nine or ten years ago, while traveling in Mexico, I noticed many homes - made of mud bricks basically, no windows - but with a satellite dish. I'm not sure of the basis of that choice in relation to poverty, but a mobile phone makes sense to me (even in poverty-stricken regions)...it allows family/friends to stay in touch, easier to seek employment with a call back number, learning, etc. Mobile learning has the capacity to change quality of life for these communities. In December, I attended a conference in Berlin...and the minister of education for Kenya spoke on the prominence of mobile phones: about 3% of the population had a PC...30%+ had a mobile phone. In those instances, phones open doors to opportunities (and if I were designing learning in a country like Kenya, gee, would I pursue mobile or PC-based??).

Hi Sharon - heh, I can relate. I have a Blackberry with a $40 monthly data plan. I have to be VERY careful not to exceed it (more accurately: I have to be very careful to not exceed it by too much :)).

You also highlight important points - many people don't want to be hyper-connected...or commit the time required. With those things said, and recognizing that I have no need for an iPhone, I'm still rather tempted. And when it's available in Canada, my will power may be surprisingly weak...

Hi Alex - yeah, that's a concern (i.e. huge costs for openness). I agree that a low cost open device would be ideal. The more I think about it, the more surprised I am that the $100 laptop project didn't take advantage of the high levels of mobile use in many countries. The laptop is nice for school (and the size makes it more portable and versatile than a regular laptop)...but mobile phones bring in strong social elements - staying in touch with family/friends, etc. The monthly access cost would be a concern, however...

Hi Dean - yeah, the hype level is tough to ignore. My concern doesn't rest so much with the hype (it's an Apple product, after all), but with the strong claims that the iPhone is a game changer (numerous tech blogs and news services have taken this angle). I agree that it's a really neat looking tool. But, it doesn't change "the game". It's just the new kid in town who everyone wants to meet, hangout with, draw energy from, etc.

I'm not sure from a *function* standpoint if it's a game changer. There is not much on it you can't do on another phone. I do think it's a game changer in *how* you carry out the function. As with all apple products the process of *doing* matters. See ipod for example-i owned 3 different mp3 players until the ipod came out-never looked back. It's the same for the iphone. The experience of doing the same functions but doing them better is what will drive the iphone adoption. Although it will take longer as cell phones have all that crappy carrier related BS. And i think we will see other carriers such as verizon rework their interface to not stink from a usability standpoint. It will change the game in that way.

PS-
Even though I am an American, I have limited access to the iPhone, (college students + $600)=rent. I found solace in pretending that I had an iPhone, maybe this will help you : )

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