| We are at the dawn of a new revolution in mobile | | | | applications. Only recently has Apple decided to make |
| communications, the fantastic new 3G iPhone is | | | | public the software development kit (SDK) for the |
| tantalizingly close to being released. Mobiles phones | | | | iPhone, which will open the flood gate for third party |
| these days are not simply just a phone anymore, in | | | | applications to be developed. For a small fee you can |
| fact Nokia now claim to make portable computers | | | | download the standard or enterprise edition of the |
| rather than portable phones. However the new, all | | | | SDK, both allowing developers to make free and |
| singing, all dancing iPhone is just a little bit more special, | | | | commercial applications for both the iPhone and iPod |
| so much so, that paradoxically it could even spell | | | | Touch. Apple have most likely realised the immense |
| disaster for the very network operators that supply it. | | | | competition of the open source mobile platform |
| The iPhone, despite not being the most technologically | | | | Android, which Google hopes to release before the |
| advanced handset on the market, still has a variety of | | | | end of the year. |
| significant strengths which puts it in a league of its own. | | | | The iPhone v2, also debuts as a pay as you go |
| Most significantly is the unique tariff bundled with the | | | | handset in the UK too. Despite the new iPhone being |
| iPhone deal, which unlike most other tariffs offers | | | | marketed as considerably cheaper than the previous |
| unlimited data usage and free wifi access to 9500 | | | | model, I am still intrigued just how much pay as you go |
| hotspots in the UK. This deal is nothing new with the | | | | users will need to fork out for the handset. Additionally |
| second generation iPhone, however the fact that the | | | | how the all important unlimited data will work on |
| new handset incorporates high speed 3g data | | | | PAYG, hopefully o2 will still grant this with a 10GBP top |
| transfers, means the already freely available data will | | | | up each month. |
| now always be high speed! | | | | The pay as you go alternative will almost certainly be |
| The fact that an iPhone is always online immediately | | | | one of the most expensive handset only deals. |
| springs to mind the application of voice over IP. As we | | | | However, as this article set out to demonstrate, PAYG |
| all know thanks to Skype etc. making VOIP calls, no | | | | might ultimately work out cheaper in the long run, |
| matter where you are in the world, is free. Combining | | | | compared to expensive high value tariffs, the network |
| the nature of a mobile phone which encompasses a | | | | operators want to lock you in to. If you fork out the |
| microphone and speaker, with the excellent | | | | initial hefty sum for the handset on PAYG, you might |
| connectivity of the iPhone, not to mention the huge | | | | never have to pay for a phone call again with the |
| storage capacity, makes the iPhone the perfect VOIP | | | | opportunity of a VOIP applications. Imagine completely |
| client. | | | | free local, national and international phone calls, internet, |
| One potential pitfall, which explains why this idea hasn't | | | | email and text all from your new iPhone, it does sound |
| been exploited previously, is the ability to make iPhone | | | | pretty tempting! |